[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3072-3073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1524]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Generalized System of Preferences; Intellectual Property Rights; 
Request for Public Comment on Products Affected by Partial Withdrawal 
of Argentina's Benefits

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice and request for public comment.

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[[Page 3073]]

SUMMARY: This notice informs the public that in light of his 
determination that Argentina fails to provide adequate and effective 
means under its laws for foreign nationals to secure, to exercise, and 
to enforce exclusive rights in intellectual property, the President has 
indicated his intention to withdraw partially duty-free treatment 
accorded Argentina under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) 
program. Specifically, the President has indicated his intention to 
withdraw fifty percent of Argentina's benefits under the GSP program. 
This notice invites public comments on which products will be affected.

DATES: Comments are due by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 19, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United 
States Trade Representative (USTR), 600 17th Street, N.W., Room 518, 
Washington, D.C. 20508. The telephone number is (202) 395-6971.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. The GSP Program

    The GSP program grants duty-free treatment to designated eligible 
articles that are imported from designated beneficiary developing 
countries. The program is authorized by Title V of the Trade Act of 
1974, as amended (``Trade Act'') (19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.). Once 
granted, GSP benefits may be withdrawn, suspended or limited by the 
President with respect to any article or with respect to any country. 
In making this determination, the President must consider several 
factors, one of which is the extent to which a beneficiary country is 
providing adequate and effective means under its laws for foreign 
nationals to secure, to exercise, and to enforce exclusive rights in 
intellectual property, including patents, trademarks and copyrights. 19 
U.S.C. 2462(c)(5).

II. IPR Protection in Argentina

    On April 30, 1996, the USTR announced that Argentina was being 
moved from the Watch List to the Priority Watch List under the 
``Special 301'' provisions of the Trade Act, given that Argentina's 
newly enacted patent legislation and an implementing decree fell fall 
short of adequate and effective protection, and failed to achieve 
earlier Argentine assurances. The USTR also announced that she would 
continue to seek improvements, monitor the situation and review 
Argentina's status through an out-of-cycle review in December 1996.
    Despite sustained efforts by the Menem Administration, there have 
been inadequate improvements in Argentina's patent regime since April 
1996, and Argentina's recently enacted legislation on the protection of 
test data submitted for marketing approval of pharmaceutical products 
falls well short of international standards. As a result, the President 
has determined that Argentina fails to provide adequate and effective 
means under its laws for foreign nationals to secure, to exercise, and 
to enforce exclusive rights in intellectual property. He has therefore 
indicated his intention to withdraw benefits for fifty percent of 
Argentina's exports under the GSP program. The public is invited to 
comment on which of the products of Argentina currently enjoying GSP 
benefits should be subject to the withdrawal.
    The Presidential Proclamation partially withdrawing GSP benefits 
will be issued and published in the Federal Register after all comments 
are received and reviewed. In order to give U.S. importers sufficient 
time to adjust, the partial withdrawal of GSP benefits for the products 
of Argentina will be effective 30 days after the publication of the 
Proclamation in the Federal Register.

III. Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions

    Interestedd persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning which products of Argentina should or should not be subject 
to the withdrawal of GSP benefits. Comments must be filed in accordance 
with the requirements set forth in 15 CFR 2007, including the 
information required by 15 CFR 2007.1, and must be filed on or before 5 
p.m. on Wednesday, February 19, 1997. Comments must be in English and 
provided with the original plus fourteen copies to: GSP Subcommittee, 
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, N.W., Room 
518, Washington, D.C. 20508. Comments received after the deadline will 
not be accepted.
    Pursuant to the requirements of 15 CFR 2007.7, information 
submitted in confidence will be exempt from public inspection if it is 
determined that the disclosure of such information is not required by 
law. A party requesting an exemption from public inspection for 
information submitted must clearly mark each page ``Submitted in 
Confidence'' at the top, and must submit the original plus fourteen 
copies of non-confidential version of the submission containing a non-
confidential summary of the confidential information. That party must 
also provide a written explanation of why the material should be so 
protected. The version that does not contain confidential information. 
That party must also provide a written explanation of why the material 
should be so protected. The version that does not contain confidential 
information must be clearly marked with ``public version'' on the top 
of each page.
    Written comments submitted in connection with these decisions, 
except for information granted ``business confidential'' status 
pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.7, will be available for public inspection 
shortly after the filing deadline by appointment only with the staff of 
the USTR Public Reading Room. An appointment to review the comments may 
be made by calling Brenda Webb (202) 395-6186. The USTR Reading Room is 
open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 
p.m., Monday through Friday, and is located in Room 101. Other requests 
and questions should be directed to the GSP Information Center at USTR 
by calling (202) 395-6971.
Federick L. Montgomery,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 97-1524 Filed 1-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M