[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 169 (Tuesday, September 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 46496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23387]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Exemption of Israeli Products From Certain Customs User Fees; 
Addition of Israel to the List of Eligible Countries Under the Rural 
Electrification Act

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In return for reciprocal concessions, the United States Trade 
Representative is exempting products of Israel from certain Customs 
user fees, effective with respect to articles entered, or withdrawn 
from warehouse for consumption, on or after the 15th day after the date 
of publication of this notice. In addition, the United States Trade 
Representative is adding Israel to the list of eligible countries under 
Section 401 of the Rural Electrification Act, as amended.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Madelyn Spirnak, Director for the Middle East and Mediterranean, (202) 
395-3320, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20508.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 112 of the Customs and 
Trade Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101-382, the U.S. Trade Representative upon 
determining that the Government of Israel has provided reciprocal 
concessions, may exempt products of Israel from the fees imposed under 
13031(a) (9) and (10) of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation 
Act of 1985, as amended (19 U.S.C. 58c(a)(9) and (10)). The U.S. Trade 
Representative has determined that the Government of Israel has 
provided reciprocal concessions, which include the following:
    The Government of Israel published on July 21, 1998 a notice in its 
official gazette Rashumot eliminating metric packaging requirements and 
adopting unit pricing procedures for domestic retail sales, thereby 
eliminating a significant non-tariff barrier on the import of U.S. 
goods.
    The government of Israel increased the tariff rate quota for U.S. 
in-shell almonds from 180 to 380 metric tons per annum, and has agreed 
to reduce substantially the in-quota import fee on U.S. shelled and in-
shell almonds.
    The Government of Israel has taken or is taking a number of steps 
to facilitate the importation of U.S.-manufactured automobiles. Those 
steps include the following: since January 1996, automobile 
registration fees have been imposed according to the price of the 
automobile, rather than the volume of the engine; as of April 1996, the 
basis of valuation for income tax purposes was changed from engine size 
to automobile value; the limitation on maximum engine size was deleted 
from government procurement tenders; differentiation of purchase tax 
rates according to automobile engine size was eliminated; and Israel is 
in the process of reviewing the system of compulsory insurance fees, 
with a view toward decreasing differentials based on engine size.
    Accordingly, pursuant to section 112 of the Customs and Trade Act 
of 1990 and 19 U.S.C. 58c(b)(11), any product of Israel that is 
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the 
15th day after the date of publication of this notice will not be 
charged the fees imposed under 19 U.S.C. 58c(a) (9) and (10).
    The United States Trade Representative has also determined that, 
for purposes of Section 401 of the Rural Electrification Act, as 
amended by Section 342(g) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, Pub. L. 
103-465 (7 U.S.C. 903 note), the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Area Agreement 
ensures reciprocal access for United States products and services and 
United States suppliers to the markets of Israel in the area of 
telecommunications products and services. Accordingly, under Section 
401 of the Rural Electrification Act, as amended (7 U.S.C. 903 note), 
Israel is hereby added to the list of eligible countries for purchases 
made by borrowers of funds lent for telecommunications products and 
services, effective September 1, 1998.
Richard W. Fisher,
Acting United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 98-23387 Filed 8-31-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M