[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 181 (Thursday, September 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49028-49029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24725]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-383]


Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized 
System of Preferences

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission

ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of hearing

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SUMMARY: On September 5, 1997, the Commission received a request from 
the United States Trade Representative (USTR) for an investigation 
under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 for the purpose of 
providing advice concerning possible modifications to the Generalized 
System of Preferences (GSP). Following receipt of the request and in 
accordance therewith, the Commission instituted Investigation No. 332-
383 in order to provide as follows--
    (1) In accordance with sections 503(a)(1)(A), 503(e) and 131(a) of 
the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (``the 1974 Act''), and pursuant to 
authority of the President delegated to the United States Trade 
Representative by sections 4(c) and 8 (c) and (d) of Executive Order 
11846 of March 31, 1975, as amended, the articles identified in Part A 
of the attached Annex are being considered for designation as eligible 
articles for purposes of the United States GSP, as set forth in Title V 
of the 1974 Act. In accordance with sections 503(a)(1)(A), 503(e) and 
131(a) of the 1974 Act and under the authority delegated by the 
President, pursuant to section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930, the 
Commission is requested to provide its advice with respect to the 
articles in Part A of the attached Annex, as to the probable economic 
effect on the United States industries producing like or directly 
competitive articles and on consumers of the elimination of United 
States import duties under the GSP;
    (2) In accordance with section 503(c)(2)(E) of the 1974 Act, which 
exempts from one of the competitive need limits in section 503(c)(2)(A) 
of the 1974 Act articles for which no like or directly competitive 
articles was being produced in the United States on January 1, 1995, 
advice as to whether products like or directly competitive with the 
articles in Part A of the attached annex were being produced in the 
United States on January 1, 1995;
    (3) With respect to the article listed in Part B of the attached 
annex, advice as to the probable economic effect on U.S. industries 
producing like or directly competitive articles and on consumers of the 
removal of the article in Part B of the attached annex from eligibility 
for duty-free treatment under the GSP;
    (4) In accordance with section 503(d)(1)(A) of the 1974 Act, advice 
as to whether any industry in the United States is likely to be 
adversely affected by a waiver of the competitive need limits specified 
in section 503(c)(2)(A) of the 1974 Act for the country specified with 
respect to the articles in Part C of the attached annex.
    In providing its advice under (1) the Commission will assume, as 
requested by USTR, that the benefits of the GSP would not apply to 
imports that would be excluded from receiving such benefits by virtue 
of the competitive need limits specified in section 503(c) (2)(A) of 
the 1974 Act. With respect to the competitive need limit in section 
503(c)(2)(A)(I)(I) of the 1974 Act, the

[[Page 49029]]

Commission, as requested, will use the dollar value limit of 
$80,000,000.
    As requested by USTR, the Commission will seek to provide its 
advice not later than December 15, 1997.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 11, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

(1) Project Manager, Cynthia B. Foreso (202-205-3348)
(2) Agricultural and forest products, Douglas Newman (202-205-3328)
(3) Energy, chemicals, and textiles, Eric Land (202-205-3349)
(4) Minerals, metals, machinery, and miscellaneous manufactures, 
Vincent DeSapio (202-205-3435)
(5) Services, electronics, and transportation, Laura Polly (202-205-
3408)

All of the above are in the Commission's Office of Industries. For 
information on legal aspects of the investigation contact William 
Gearhart of the Commission's Office of the General Counsel at 202-205-
3091.

Background

    The USTR letter noted that the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) 
announced on August 13, 1997 in the Federal Register the acceptance of 
product petitions for modification of the GSP received as part of the 
1997 annual review. The letter stated that modifications to the GSP 
which may result from this review will be announced in the spring of 
1998, and become effective in the summer of 1998.

Public Hearing

    A public hearing in connection with this investigation is scheduled 
to begin at 9:30 a.m. on October 21, 1997, at the U.S. International 
Trade Commission Building, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, D.C. The 
hearing may, if necessary, continue on October 22. All persons have the 
right to appear by counsel or in person, to present information, and to 
be heard. Persons wishing to appear at the public hearing should file a 
letter asking to testify with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade 
Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20436, not later than the 
close of business (5:15 p.m.) on October 7, 1997. In addition, persons 
testifying should file prehearing briefs (original and 14 copies) with 
the Secretary by the close of business on October 10, 1997. Posthearing 
briefs should be filed with the Secretary by close of business on 
October 29, 1997. In the event that no requests to appear at the 
hearing are received by the close of business on October 7, 1997, the 
hearing will be canceled. Any person interested in attending the 
hearing as an observer or non-participant may call the Secretary to the 
Commission (202-205-1816) after October 17, 1997 to determine whether 
the hearing will be held.

Written Submissions

    In lieu of or in addition to appearing at the public hearing, 
interested persons are invited to submit written statements concerning 
the investigation. Written statements should be received by the close 
of business on October 29, 1997. Commercial or financial information 
which a submitter desires the Commission to treat as confidential must 
be submitted on separate sheets of paper, each clearly marked 
``Confidential Business Information'' at the top. All submissions 
requesting confidential treatment must conform with the requirements of 
section 201.6 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 
CFR 201.6). All written submissions, except for confidential business 
information, will be made available for inspection by interested 
persons. All submissions should be addressed to the Secretary at the 
Commission's office in Washington, D.C.
    Hearing-impaired individuals are advised that information on this 
matter can be obtained by contacting our TDD terminal on (202) 205-
1810.

    Issued: September 12, 1997.

    By order of the Commission.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.

Attachment

Annex I (HTS Subheadings) 1
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    \1\ See USTR Federal Register notice of August 13, 1997, (62 
F.R. 43408) for article description.
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    A. Petition to add products to the list of eligible articles for 
the Generalized System of Preference (GSP).

0409.00.00                            3204.12.45                        
0703.10.40                            3204.12.50                        
0712.90.75(pt.)                       3824.90.28                        
0812.10.00                            7108.12.50                        
2002.90.00(pt.)                       7108.13.70                        
2917.12.10                            8108.10.50                        
3204.12.20                            8704.10.50                        
3204.12.30                            ..................................
                                                                        

    B. Petitions to remove duty-free status from beneficiary 
countries for products on the list of eligible articles for the GSP. 
2

    \2\ While the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) review will 
focus on India, the TPSC reserves the right to address removal of 
GSP status for countries other than India as well as GSP status for 
the entire article.
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3920.62.00 (India)

    C. Petitions for waiver of competitive need limit for products 
on the list of eligible products for the specified country.

0811.20.20 (Chile)
1604.30.20 (Russia)
2849.90.50 (South Africa)
2933.71.00 (Russia)
4011.10.10 (Brazil)
4011.10.50 (Brazil)
4011.20.10 (Brazil)
4011.20.50 (Brazil)
8108.90.60 (Russia)

[FR Doc. 97-24725 Filed 9-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P