[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 206 (Monday, October 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57150-57154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28589]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Generalized System of Preferences (GSP); Notice Regarding the 
1998 GSP Annual Review and Termination of the IPR Review of Panama

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the petitions that were accepted for the 
1998 GSP Annual Review for modifications of GSP product eligibility; 
lists the schedule for the public hearing on these petitions, for 
requesting participation in the hearing, and for submitting pre-hearing 
and post-hearing briefs; and terminates the IPR review of Panama.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Panama IPR Review

    In 1995, a review of Panama's protection of intellectual property 
rights was initiated in response to a petition filed by Nintendo. Since 
that time, Panama has improved its enforcement of intellectual property 
rights. On April 30, 1998, USTR removed Panama from the Special 301 
``Watch List.'' In light of Panama's improved enforcement efforts, this 
review is terminated.

II. 1998 GSP Product Review

    The GSP program grants duty-free treatment to designated eligible 
articles that are imported from designated beneficiary developing 
countries. The GSP program is authorized by Title V the Trade Act of 
1974, as amended (``Trade Act'') (19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.), and 
administered in accordance with GSP regulations (15 CFR Part 2007) 
which provide for a GSP annual review.
    In a notice dated April 16, 1998, USTR initiated the 1998 GSP 
Annual Review and announced a deadline of June 16, 1998 for the filing 
of petitions (63 FR 18963). The product petitions that we received 
requested changes in the eligibility of products by adding or removing 
products, or the waiver of ``competitive need limitations'' (CNLs) for 
eligible articles. Authorization for granting CNL waivers is set forth 
in section 503(d) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2464(d)).
    The GSP Subcommittee on the TPSC has reviewed the 46 product 
petitions that were received and has decided that 16 of these petitions 
should be accepted for consideration in the 1998 GSP Annual Review. The 
annex to this notice sets forth the case number, product 
identification, the change requested and the petitioner for each 
product included in the 1998 GSP Annual Review.

[[Page 57151]]

III. Opportunities for Public Comment and Inspection of Comments

    The GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC invites comments in support of, or 
in opposition to, any petition which is the subject of this notice. 
Submissions should comply with 15 CFR Part 2007, including section 
2007.0, and 2007.1. All submissions should identify the subject 
article(s) in terms of the current Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 
United States (``HTS'') nomenclature.
    Comments should be submitted in fourteen (14) copies, in English, 
to the Chairman of the GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff 
Committee, 600 17th Street, NW, Room 518, Washington, DC 20508. 
Information submitted will be subject to public inspection by 
appointment with the staff of the USTR public reading room, except for 
information granted ``business confidential'' status pursuant to 15 CFR 
2003.6 and other qualifying information submitted in confidence 
pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.7. If the document contains confidential 
information, an original and fourteen (14) copies of a nonconfidential 
version of the submission along with an original and fourteen (14) 
copies of the confidential version must be submitted. In addition, any 
document containing confidential information should be clearly marked 
``confidential'' at the top and bottom of each page of the document. 
The version that does not contain confidential information (the public 
version) should also be clearly marked at the top and bottom of every 
page (either ``public version'' or ``nonconfidential''). Comments 
should be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 30, 1998.

IV. Notice of Public Hearings

    Hearings will be held on December 10 and 11, 1998 beginning at 
10:00 a.m. at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building, 500 E. 
Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20436. The hearings will be open to the 
public and a transcript of the hearings will be made available for 
public inspection or can be purchased from the reporting company. No 
electronic media coverage will be allowed.
    All interested parties wishing to present oral testimony at the 
hearings must submit the name, address, and telephone number of the 
witnesses representing their organization to the Chairman of the GSP 
Subcommittee. Such requests to present oral testimony at the public 
hearing should be accompanied by fourteen (14) copies, in English, of a 
written brief or statement, and should be received by 5 p.m. on 
November 30, 1998. Oral testimony before the GSP Subcommittee will be 
limited to five minute presentations that summarize or supplement 
information contained in the briefs or statements submitted for the 
record. Post-hearing and rebuttal briefs or statements should conform 
to the regulations cited above and be submitted in fourteen (14) 
copies, in English, no later than 5 p.m. January 6, 1999. Interested 
persons not wishing to appear at the public hearings may also submit 
pre-hearing written briefs or statements by 5:00 p.m. on November 30, 
1998, and post-hearing and rebuttal written briefs or statements by 
January 6, 1999. Comments by interested persons on the USITC Report 
prepared as part of the product review should be submitted in fourteen 
(14) copies, in English, by 5 p.m. March 22, 1999.
Frederick L. Montgomery,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.

                                                      Annex
  [The bracketed language in this Annex has been included only to clarify the scope of the numbered subheadings
    which are being considered, and such language is not itself intended to describe articles which are under
                                                 consideration.]
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       Case No.             HTS  subheading                    Article                        Petitioner
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 Part A. Petitions to remove duty-free status from beneficiary developing countries, other than those designated
     as least-developed beneficiary developing countries, for a product on the list of eligible articles for
                                       Generalized System of Preferences.
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98-1                    2934.20.05............  Nucleic acids and their salts; other
                                                 heterocyclic compounds:
                                                Compounds containing a benzothiazole
                                                 ring-system (whether or not
                                                 hydrogenated), not further fused:
                                                N-tert-Butyl-2-
                                                 benzothiazolesulfenamide
                                                Flexsys America L.P., Nitro, WV.....
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Part B. Petitions for waiver of competitive need limit for a product on the list of eligible products for the
                                       Generalized System of Preferences.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
98-2                    2841.70.10............  Salts of oxometallic or               Chilean Copper Commission,
                        (Chile)...............   peroxometallic acids: Molybdates:     Chile; Corporacion
                                                Of ammonium                            Nacional del Cobre de
                                                                                       Chile, Chile.
                                                Unsaturated acrylic monocarboxylic
                                                 acids, cyclic monocarboxylic acids,
                                                 their anhydrides, halides,
                                                 peroxides and peroxyacids; their
                                                 halogenated, sulfonated, nitrated
                                                 or nitrosated derivatives:
                                                Aromatic monocarboxylic acids, their
                                                 anhydrides, halides, peroxides,
                                                 peroxyacids and their derivatives:
                                                 Benzoic acid, its salts and esters:
                                                Benzoic acid and its salts:
                                                [p-Sulfobenzoic acid, potassium
                                                 salt]
98-3                    2916.31.15............  Other...............................  Velsicol Chemical
                        (Estonia).............                                         Corporation, Rosemont,
                                                                                       IL.

[[Page 57152]]

                                                Plywood, veneered panels and similar
                                                 laminated wood: Plywood consisting
                                                 solely of sheets of wood, each ply
                                                 not exceeding 6 mm in thickness:
                                                With at least one outer ply of
                                                 tropical wood specified in
                                                 subheading note 1 to chapter 44 of
                                                 the HTS:
                                                Not surface covered, or surface
                                                 covered with a clear or transparent
                                                 material which does not obscure the
                                                 grain, texture or markings of the
                                                 face ply:
                                                [With a face ply of birch (Betula
                                                 spp.); with a face ply of Spanish
                                                 cedar (Cedrela spp.) or walnut
                                                 (Juglans spp.)]
                                                Other: [With at least one outer ply
                                                 of the following tropical woods:
                                                 Dark Red Meranti, Light Red
                                                 Meranti, White Lauan, Sipo, Limba,
                                                 Okoume, Obeche, Acajou d'Afrique,
                                                 Sapelli, Virola, Mahogany,
                                                 Palissandre de Para, Palissandre de
                                                 Rio or Palissandre de Rose]
98-4                    4412.13.50............  Other...............................  Government of Indonesia.
                        (Indonesia)...........
                                                Plywood, veneered panels and similar
                                                 laminated wood: Other, with at
                                                 least one outer ply of
                                                 nonconiferous wood:
                                                With at least one ply of tropical
                                                 wood specified in subheading note 1
                                                 to chapter 44 of the HTS:
                                                [Containing at least one layer of
                                                 particle board]
                                                Other:
                                                Plywood: Not surface covered, or
                                                 surface covered with a clear or
                                                 transparent material which does not
                                                 obscure the grain, texture or
                                                 markings of the face ply: [With a
                                                 face ply of birch (Betula spp.)]
98-5                    4412.22.30............  Other...............................  Government of Indonesia.
                        (Indonesia)...........
                                                Articles of jewelry and parts
                                                 thereof, of precious metal or of
                                                 metal clad with precious metal:
                                                Of precious metal whether or not
                                                 plated or clad with precious metal:
                                                Of silver, whether or not plated or
                                                 clad with other precious metal:
                                                 [Rope, curb, cable, chain and
                                                 similar articles produced in
                                                 continuous lengths, all the
                                                 foregoing, whether or not cut to
                                                 specific lengths and whether or not
                                                 set with imitation pearls or
                                                 imitation gemstones, suitable for
                                                 use in the manufacture of articles
                                                 provided for in heading 7113]
                        ......................  Other: [Valued not over $18 per
                                                 dozen pieces or parts]
98-6                    7113.11.50............  Other...............................  Government of Thailand.
                        (Thailand)
                                                Of other precious metal, whether or
                                                 not plated of clad with precious
                                                 metal:
                                                [Rope, curb, cable, chain and
                                                 similar articles produced in
                                                 continuous lengths, all the
                                                 foregoing, whether or not cut to
                                                 specific lengths and whether or not
                                                 set with imitation pearls or
                                                 imitation gemstones, suitable for
                                                 use in the manufacture of articles
                                                 provided for in heading 7113].
                                                Other: Necklaces and neck chains, of
                                                 gold: [rope; mixed link]
98-7                    7113.19.29............  Other...............................  Government of India.
                        (India)
                                                Refined copper and copper alloys,
                                                 unwrought (other than master alloys
                                                 of heading 7405):
                                                Refined copper: [Cathodes and
                                                 sections of cathodes; wire bars]
98-8                    7403.13.00............  Billets.............................  Chilean Copper Commission,
                        (Chile)...............                                         Chile; Corporacion
                                                                                       Nacional del Cobre de
                                                                                       Chile, Chile.
98-9                    7403.19.00............  Other...............................      Do.
                        (Chile)...............
                                                Table, kitchen or other household
                                                 articles and parts thereof, of
                                                 copper; pot scourers and scouring
                                                 or polishing pads, gloves and the
                                                 like, of copper; sanitary ware and
                                                 parts thereof, of copper:
                                                Table, kitchen or other household
                                                 articles and parts thereof;
                                                pot scourers and scouring or
                                                 polishing pads, gloves and the
                                                 like:
                                                [Pot scourers and scouring or
                                                 polishing pads, gloves and the
                                                 like)
98-10                   7418.19.20............  Other: [Coated or plated with         Government of India.
                        (India)...............   precious metals].
                                                Other: Of copper-zinc base alloys
                                                 (brass)

[[Page 57153]]

98-11                   8483.10.30............  Transmission shafts (including        Cummins Engine Company,
                        (Brazil)..............   camshafts and crankshafts) and        Columbus, IN.
                                                 cranks; bearing housings, housed
                                                 bearings and plain shaft bearings;
                                                 gears and gearing; ball or roller
                                                 screws; gear boxes and other speed
                                                 changers, including torque
                                                 converters; flywheels and pulleys,
                                                 including pulley blocks; clutches
                                                 and shaft couplings (including
                                                 universal joints); parts thereof:
                                                Transmission shafts (including
                                                 camshafts and crankshafts) and
                                                 cranks:
                                                Camshafts and crankshafts: [Designed
                                                 for use solely or principally with
                                                 spark-ignition internal combustion
                                                 piston engines or rotary engines]
                                                Other...............................
                                                Reception apparatus for
                                                 radiotelephony, radiotelegraphy or
                                                 radiobroadcasting, whether or not
                                                 combined, in the same housing, with
                                                 sound recording or reproducing
                                                 apparatus or a clock:
                                                [Radiobroadcast receivers capable of
                                                 operating without an external
                                                 source of power, including
                                                 apparatus capable of receiving also
                                                 radiotelephony or radiotelegraphy;
                                                 radio- broadcast receivers not
                                                 capable of operating without an
                                                 external source of power, of a kind
                                                 used in motor vehicles, including
                                                 apparatus capable of receiving also
                                                 radiotelephony or radiotelegraphy]
                                                Other radiobroadcast receivers,
                                                 including apparatus capable of
                                                 receiving also radiotelephony or
                                                 radiotelegraphy: [Combined with
                                                 sound recording or reproducing
                                                 apparatus; not combined with sound
                                                 recording or reproducing apparatus
                                                 but combined with a clock]
98-12                   8527.39.10............  Other...............................  Pioneer Electronics
                        (Indonesia)...........                                         (U.S.A.), Inc., Long
                                                                                       Beach, CA; P.T. Dahw
                                                                                       Electronic Indonesia,
                                                                                       Indonesia.
                                                Reception apparatus for television,
                                                 whether or not incorporating
                                                 radiobroadcast receivers or sound
                                                 or video recording or reproducing
                                                 apparatus; video monitors and video
                                                 projectors:
                                                Reception apparatus for television,
                                                 whether or not incorporating
                                                 radiobroadcast receivers or sound
                                                 or video recording or reproducing
                                                 apparatus:
                                                Color: Non-high definition, having a
                                                 single picture tube intended for
                                                 direct viewing (non-projection
                                                 type), with a video display
                                                 diagonal not exceeding 35.56 com:
                                                Incorporating video recording or
                                                 reproducing apparatus: [With a
                                                 video display diagonal not
                                                 exceeding 33.02 cm]
98-13                   8528.12.16............  Other...............................  Government of Thailand;
                        (Thailand)............                                         Orion Sales, Olney, IL;
                                                                                       Thomson Consumer
                                                                                       Electronic, Inc,
                                                                                       Indianapolis, IN; Thomson
                                                                                       Television (Thailand)
                                                                                       Co., Ltd., Thailand World
                                                                                       Electric (Thailand),
                                                                                       Ltd., Thailand.
98-14                   8531.20.00............  Electric sound or visual signaling    Government of the
                        (Philippines).........   apparatus (for example, bells,        Philippines.
                                                 sirens, indicator panels, burglar
                                                 or fire alarms), other than those
                                                 of heading 8512 or 8530; parts
                                                 thereof: Indicator panels
                                                 incorporating liquid crystal
                                                 devices (LCD's) or light emitting
                                                 diodes (LED's).
                                                Parts and accessories of the motor
                                                 vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705:
                                                Brakes and servo-brakes and parts
                                                 thereof: [Mounted brake Linings]
                                                Other: [For tractors suitable for
                                                 agricultural use]
98-15                   8708.39.50............  For other vehicles..................  Bosch Braking Systems
                        (Brazil)..............                                         Corporation, Sumter, SC;
                                                                                       Robert Bosch Limitada,
                                                                                       Brazil.
98-16                   9001.30.00............  Optical fibers and optical fiber      Government of Indonesia.
                        (Indonesia)...........   bundles; optical fiber cables other
                                                 than those of heading 8544; sheets
                                                 and plates of polarizing material;
                                                 lenses (including contact Lenses),
                                                 prisms, mirrors and other optical
                                                 elements, of any material,
                                                 unmounted, other than such elements
                                                 of glass not optically worked:
                                                 Contact Lenses.
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[[Page 57154]]

[FR Doc. 98-28589 Filed 10-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3901-01-M