[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 36 (Tuesday, February 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 9292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4680]



[[Page 9292]]

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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket No. 301-117]


Initiation of Section 301 Investigation and Request for Public 
Comment: Intellectual Property Laws and Practices of the Government of 
Paraguay

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of initiation of investigation; request for written 
comments.

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SUMMARY: The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has initiated a 
Section 301 investigation with respect to certain acts, policies and 
practices of the Government of Paraguay that deny adequate and 
effective protection of intellectual property rights. USTR invites 
written comments from the public on the matters being investigated.

DATES: This investigation was initiated on Tuesday, February 17, 1998. 
Written comments from the public are due on or before noon on Monday, 
March 23, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th 
Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20508.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Claude Burcky, Director for Intellectual Property, (202) 395-6864; 
Kellie Meiman, Director for Southern Cone Affairs, (202) 395-5190; or 
Geralyn S. Ritter, Assistant General Counsel, (202) 395-6800.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 182 of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 
2242) requires the USTR to identify foreign countries that deny 
adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights or 
that deny fair and equitable market access to persons that rely on 
intellectual property protection. Accordingly, on January 16, 1998, the 
USTR identified Paraguay as a Priority Foreign County under that 
provision. In identifying Paraguay as a Priority Foreign Country, the 
USTR noted deficiencies in Paraguay's acts, policies and practices 
regarding intellectual property, including a lack of effective action 
to enforce intellectual property rights, as evidenced by the alarming 
levels of piracy and counterfeiting within the country and along its 
borders with Argentina and Brazil. The USTR also observed that the 
Government of Paraguay has failed to enact adequate and effective 
intellectual property legislation covering patents, copyrights and 
trademarks.

Investigation and Consultations

    Section 302(b)(2)(A) of the Trade Act) (19 U.S.C. 2412(b)(2)(A)), 
requires the USTR to initiate an investigation of any act, policy or 
practice that was the basis of the identification of a country as a 
Priority Foreign Country under section 182(a)(2) of the Trade Act, 
unless such acts, policies and practices are already subject to 
investigation or action under the Section 301 chapter of the Trade Act, 
or the investigation is not in the national economic interest. The 
purpose of the investigation initiated under Section 302 is to 
determine whether such act, policy or practice is actionable under 
Section 301 of the Trade Act.
    As required by Section 303(a) of the Trade Act, the USTR has 
requested consultations with the Government of Paraguay regarding the 
issues under investigation. USTR will seek information and advice from 
appropriate representatives provided for under Section 135 of the Trade 
Act in preparing the U.S. presentations for such consultations.
    Within 6 months after the date on which this investigation was 
initiated, (i.e., on or before August 16, 1998), pursuant to Section 
304 of the Trade Act, the USTR must determine on the basis of the 
investigation and the consultations, whether any act, policy or 
practice described in Section 301 of the Trade Act exists. If that 
determination is affirmative, the USTR must decide what action, if any, 
to take under Section 301 of the Trade Act. The deadline for making 
these determinations may, however, be extended to 9 months after the 
date of initiation of this investigation if the USTR determines that 
certain conditions are met.

Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions

    Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning the acts, policies and practices of the Government of 
Paraguay which are the subject of this investigation; the amount of 
burden or restriction on U.S. commerce caused by these acts, policies 
and practices; and the determinations required under Section 304 of the 
Trade Act regarding whether they are actionable under Section 301 and, 
if affirmative, the appropriate action to take in response. Comments 
must be filed in accordance with the requirements set forth in 15 CFR 
2006.8(b) (55 FR 20,593) and must be filed on or before noon on Monday, 
March 23, 1998. Comments must be in English and provided in twenty 
copies to: Sybia Harrison, Staff Assistant to the Section 301 
Committee, Room 416, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, 600 17th 
Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20508.
    Comments will be placed in a file (Docket 301-117) open to public 
inspection pursuant to 15 CFR 2006.13, except confidential business 
information exempt from public inspection in accordance with 15 CFR 
2006.15. Confidential business information submitted in accordance with 
15 CFR 2006.15 must be clearly market ``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL'' in a 
contrasting color ink at the top of each page on each of 20 copies, and 
must be accompanied by a nonconfidential summary of the confidential 
information. The nonconfidential summary shall be placed in the file 
that is open to public inspection. An appointment to review the docket 
(Docket No. 301-117) may be made by calling Brenda Webb (202) 395-6186. 
The USTR Reading Room is open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon 
and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and is located in 
Room 101.
Irving A. Williamson,
Chairman, Section 301 Committee.
[FR Doc. 98-4680 Filed 2-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M