[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 163 (Monday, August 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45102-45103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22585]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Renewal of Preferential Treatment for Government Purchases of 
Products from Caribbean Basin Countries

AGENCY: Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is requesting written 
public comments on the possible renewal of preferences that certain 
federal government agencies accord in their purchases to eligible 
products of countries designated under the Caribbean Basin Economic 
Recovery Act (commonly called the Caribbean Basin Initiative or CBI). 
Since 1995, these preferences have been granted in one-year extensions, 
the most recent of which, set out in the Federal Register on October 
31, 1997 (62 FR 59014), remains in effect until September 30, 1998. 
That notice stated that future extension for any CBI countries would be 
conditioned on individual CBI beneficiaries' participation and 
cooperation in initiatives and agreements on government procurement in 
the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Free Trade Area of the 
Americans (FTAA) Working Group on Government Procurement. The TPSC 
seeks public comments in connection with its consideration of a further 
extension of preferences for products of CBI countries.

DATES: Public comments are due by noon September 23, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Barnicle, Director for Central 
America and the Caribbean, (202) 395-5190, Office of the United States 
Trade Representative (USTR).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since 1986 the United States has granted 
products of CBI countries the same government purchase preference that 
it grants to products of countries that are members of the Government 
Procurement Agreement (GPA) (currently administered by the WTO). This 
preference does not apply to products originating in CBI countries that 
are excluded from duty-free treatment under 19 U.S.C. 2703(b). A list 
of CBI beneficiary countries appears as an annex to this notice.

[[Page 45103]]

    Since 1995, USTR has extended the preferences for CBI-origin 
products a year at a time, under authority delegated by the President 
in section 1-201 of Executive Order 12260 of December 31, 1980. 
Preferences are currently in effect until September 30, 1998. In its 
October 31, 1997 Federal Register notice announcing the current 
extension, USTR stated that future extensions would be conditioned on 
the extent to which CBI beneficiary countries participated and 
cooperated in the WTO Working Group on Transparency in Government 
Procurement, made efforts to accede to the GPA or supported continuing 
multilateral WTO negotiations in the future; and participated in the 
FTAA Working Group on Government Procurement. USTR also stated that 
those countries making significant efforts to meet these conditions 
would be considered for multiple-year extensions of preferences. 
Interested parties are asked to comment on the impact on U.S. industry 
of extending government procurement treatment to CBI beneficiaries 
beyond September 30, 1998; on these countries' performance under the 
criteria set out in the 1997 Federal Register notice; and on possible 
criteria for renewal of such treatment in future years.

Public Comments

    Those persons wishing to submit written comments should provide 
twenty (20) typed copies (in English) to Gloria Blue, Executive 
Secretary, Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the U.S. Trade 
Representative, Room 501, 600 17th Street, NW., Washington DC 20508.
    If the submission contains business confidential information, 
twenty copies of a confidential version must also be submitted. A 
justification as to why the Information contained in the submission 
should be treated confidentially must be included in the submission. In 
addition, any submissions containing business confidential information 
must be clearly marked ``Confidential'' at the top and bottom of the 
cover page (or letter) and of each succeeding page of the submission. 
The version that does not contain confidential information should also 
be clearly marked, at the top and bottom of each page, ``public 
version'' or ``non-confidential.''
    Written comments submitted in connection with this request, except 
for information granted ``business confidential'' status pursuant to 15 
CFR 2003.6, will be available for public inspection in the USTR Reading 
Room, Room 101, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 
17th Street, NW., Washington, DC. An appointment to review the file may 
be made by calling Brenda Webb (202) 395-6186. The Reading Room is open 
to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon, and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday.
Frederick L. Montgomery,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.

Annex

List of Countries Designated as Beneficiary Countries for Purposes of 
the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Bahamas, The
Barbados
Belize
Coasta Rica
Dominica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Granada
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Montserrat
Netherlands Antilles
Nicaragua
Panama
Saint Lucia
Trindad and Tobago
Saint Kitts-Nevis
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Virgin Islands, British

[FR Doc. 98-22585 Filed 8-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M