[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 237 (Monday, December 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64935-64943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31146]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): Notice of Review 
Timetable and Public Hearings Regarding Least Developed Beneficiary 
Developing Countries

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) provides this notice 
to identify the HTS numbers of articles (see attached list) imported 
from the LDBDCs (identified in the general note 4(b) to the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule (HTS) of the United States) that are proposed for 
designation as GSP eligible for duty-free entry. This notice also sets 
forth the timetable for public hearings for GSP Subcommittee 
consideration in reviewing the proposed list of articles for GSP 
eligibility, and the procedures for further public comment prior to the 
Presidential decision on which articles are to be designated as GSP 
eligible under the recently reauthorized GSP program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United 
States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW, Room 518, Washington, 
DC 20508. Telephone: (202) 395-6971.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The GSP program grants duty-free treatment 
to designated eligible articles that are imported from designated 
beneficiary developing countries. The GSP program is authorized by 
Title V of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (``Trade Act'') (19 U.S.C. 
2461 et seq.). The GSP program was implemented by Executive Order 11888 
of November 24, 1975, and modified by subsequent Executive orders and 
Presidential Proclamations.
    Legislation amending and reauthorizing the GSP program was signed 
by the President on August 20, 1996 (Public Law 104-188, 110 Stat. 
1755) (Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996. For the GSP related 
provisions, see subtitle J of Title I of the foregoing Act). The new 
law provides for the possible designation as GSP-eligible certain 
articles from LDBDCs that were previously ineligible. Specifically, the 
President may designate as eligible for purposes of duty-free treatment 
under the GSP articles imported only from countries designated as 
LDBDCs if, after receiving the advice of the U.S. International Trade 
Commission (USITC), the President determines that such articles are not 
import-sensitive in the context of imports from the LDBDCs.

I. Review of Products from LDBDCs for GSP Eligibility

    Notice is hereby given of a list of articles that are proposed for 
eligibility for duty-free treatment under the GSP, provided they are 
imported from the LDBDCs, as set forth in section 502 of the Trade Act. 
These articles are identified in the attached list. The countries that 
have been designated as LDBDCs are identified in general note 4(b) to 
the HTS.
    Listing the articles proposed for GSP eligibility does not indicate 
any opinion about the merits of granting eligibility for these 
articles. Placement on the list indicates only that the articles have 
been found eligible for review by the GSP Subcommittee and the TPSC, 
and that such review will take place.

A. GSP Eligibility

    Section 501 of the Trade Act provides that the President, in 
considering GSP eligibility for products from the LDBDCs, shall have 
due regard for the following:
    (1) the effect such action will have on furthering the economic 
development of developing countries through the expansion of their 
exports;

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    (2) the extent to which other major developed countries are 
undertaking a comparable effort to assist developing countries by 
granting generalized preferences with respect to imports of products of 
such countries;
    (3) the anticipated impact of such action on U.S. producers of like 
or directly competitive products; and
    (4) the extent of the beneficiary country's competitiveness with 
respect to eligible articles.
    In addition, for those articles listed as watches in HTS headings 
9101 and 9102, the President must determine that the designations of 
the watch as an eligible article will not cause material injury to the 
watch or watch band, strap or bracelet manufacturing and assembly 
operations in the United States or the U.S. insular possessions.

B. Communications

    The GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC invites submissions supporting or 
opposing the granting of GSP eligibility for any article on the 
attached list. All such submissions should include fourteen copies in 
English and conform to 15 CFR 2007, particularly 2007.0, 2007.1(a)(1), 
2007.1(a)(2), and 2007.1(a)(3). All submissions should identify the 
subject article(s) in terms of the current HTS nomenclature and should 
be provided by 5:00 p.m., January 3, 1997.
    All communications about public comments should be addressed to: 
Chairman of the GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United States Trade 
Representative, 600 17th Street, NW, Room 518, Washington, DC 20506. 
Telephone number: (202) 395-6971. Questions may be directed to any 
staff member of the GSP Information Center. Public versions of all 
documents relating to this review will be available for inspection by 
appointment in the USTR public reading room. Appointments may be made 
from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. by calling (202) 395-6186.
    Submissions that are granted ``business confidential'' status 
pursuant to 15 CFR 2203.6, and other qualifying information submitted 
in confidence pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.7, will not be available for 
public inspection. If a document contains such confidential 
information, an original and fourteen (14) copies of the confidential 
version of the document along with an original and fourteen (14) copies 
of the non-confidential version must be submitted. The document that 
contains confidential information should be clearly marked 
``confidential'' at the top and bottom of each page. The version that 
does not contain business confidential information (the public version) 
should also be clearly marked at the top and bottom of every page 
(either ``public version'' or ``nonconfidential'').

II. Requests To Participate in the Public Hearings

    The GSP Subcommittee will hold hearings on January 23 and, if 
needed, on January 24, 1997, beginning at 10 a.m., in the main hearing 
room of the U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., 
Washington, DC. The hearings will be open to the public, and a 
transcript of the hearings will be available for public inspection or 
it can be purchased from the reporting company. No electronic media 
coverage will be allowed.
    All interested parties wishing to make an oral presentation at the 
hearings must submit the name, address, and telephone number of the 
witness or witnesses representing their organization to the Chairman of 
the GSP Subcommittee by 5 p.m., January 3, 1997, as well as fourteen 
(14) copies, (in English) of all written briefs or statements. Oral 
testimony before the GSP Subcommittee will be limited to five minute 
presentations that summarize or supplement information contained in the 
briefs or statements submitted for the record.
    If, by the close of business on January 3, 1997, no witnesses are 
scheduled to appear at the hearing, the hearing will be canceled. Any 
person interested in attending the hearing as an observer or non-
participant may call the GSP Information Office (202) 395-6971 after 
January 10, 1997, to determine whether a hearing will be held.
    Post-hearing briefs or statements will be accepted if they conform 
with the regulations cited above and if fourteen (14) copies in English 
are submitted no later than 5 p.m., February 14, 1997. Parties not 
wishing to appear at the public hearings may submit pre-hearing written 
briefs or statements by January 3, 1997, and may submit post-hearing 
written briefs or statements by February 14, 1997. Rebuttal briefs or 
statements should be submitted in fourteen (14) copies, in English, by 
5 p.m., February 28, 1997.
    On behalf of the President and in accordance with sections 503(a) 
and 131(a) of the Trade Act, on September 17, 1996, the list of 
articles proposed for duty-free treatment eligibility under the GSP was 
furnished to the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) to secure 
its advice on: (1) The probable economic effect of the elimination of 
U.S. import duties under GSP on U.S. industries producing like or 
directly competitive articles, and on consumers; and (2) to the extent 
possible, the level of U.S. sensitivity to imports of such LDBDC 
articles.
    During March 1997, the public will have an opportunity to comment 
on the nonconfidential USITC analysis when a notice of the date of 
availability of this analysis and the timetable for comments is 
published in the Federal Register.

III. Announcement of Articles to be Accepted for Designations as 
Eligible Articles for GSP Purposes When Imported Only from the LDBDCs

    Pursuant to the law that the President signed on August 20, 1996, 
he is authorized to designate as GSP eligible certain HTS articles 
imported from LDBDCs. He may make this determination only after he has 
received advice from the USITC on the probable effects of the requested 
modification in the GSP on consumers and on industries producing like 
or directly competitive articles, and he has determined that such 
articles are not import-sensitive in the context of imports from least-
developed beneficiary developing countries. The list of articles 
designated as eligible for duty-free treatment under the GSP as a 
result of the review will be announced in the spring of 1997.
Frederick L. Montgomery,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
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[FR Doc. 96-31146 Filed 12-6-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M