[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 236 (Wednesday, December 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67973-67975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32627]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


United States-European Union Transatlantic Economic Partnership

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: Under the Transatlantic Economic Partnership (TEP) initiative, 
the Governments of the United States and the European Union (EU) have 
agreed to explore and identify possible sectors in which the potential 
to extend

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the U.S.-EU mutual recognition agreement (MRA) appears feasible and 
desirable. The United States is considering proposing to the EU that 
initially at least three new sectors be added to the U.S.-EU MRA: road 
safety equipment, marine safety equipment and calibration services. 
Such a proposal may be made as early as December 15, 1998, in 
preparation for the U.S.-EU Summit to be held on December 18, 1998. The 
Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) seeks public 
comment on the desirability and feasibility of negotiating mutual 
recognition agreements in these sectors.

DATES: Any initial comments should be submitted no later than December 
15, 1998, in light of the possibility that the issues might arise in 
the context of the U.S.-EU Summit meeting on December 18, 1998. 
Additional comments should be submitted no later than January 15, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Gloria Blue, Executive Secretary, Trade Policy Staff 
Committee, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Room 122, 600 17th 
Street, NW, Washington, DC 20508.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ralph Ives, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and 
the Mediterranean, (202) 395-4620; or James Sanford, Director for 
European Affairs and Technical Barriers, (202) 395-3320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 18, 1998, President Clinton and his 
EU counterparts issued a joint statement announcing the TEP. [Federal 
Register notice, June 9, 1998, describes the TEP.] On November 9, 1998, 
the United States and the EU reached agreement on a joint ``Action 
Plan,'' as called for in the May 18 TEP statement. A copy of the Action 
Plan is available on USTR's website (www.ustr.gov) or upon request from 
Ms. Gloria Blue.
    The U.S.-EU MRA was negotiated over a four year period. The MRA was 
signed on May 18, 1998. On October 30, 1998, the United States and the 
EU exchanged letters notifying the completion of their respective 
internal procedures, thereby allowing the MRA to enter into force on 
December 1, 1998.
    An MRA generally allows conformity assessment--e.g., testing, 
inspecting, certifying--to be performed in the United States to 
standards and regulations of the other country, and vice versa, which 
reduces cost and saves resources. Under an MRA, the United States will 
maintain its current high level of health, safety, and environmental 
standards. The existing sectoral annexes of the U.S.-EU MRA cover the 
following products and associated conformity assessment procedures: (1) 
telecommunications and information technology equipment; (2) network 
and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) for electrical products; (3) 
electrical safety for electrical products; (4) good manufacturing 
practices (GMP) for pharmaceutical products; (5) GMP and product 
assessment for certain medical devices; (6) and safety of recreational 
craft. Each sectoral annex contains specific provisions with respect to 
the products and associated conformity assessment procedures covered in 
the annex.
    An initial tranche of additional sectors to propose to the European 
Commission of the EU might include the following:

Marine Safety Equipment

    The U.S. Coast Guard of the Department of Transportation 
administers conformity assessment requirements for marine safety 
equipment used on merchant ships, which includes survival craft and 
other lifesaving equipment, as well as fire protection equipment and 
systems. The EU has similar conformity assessment requirements. Both 
conformity assessment systems are based on the same standards under the 
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

Road Safety Equipment

    The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in the Department 
of Transportation, administers an acceptance program for equipment 
purchased by U.S. authorities with federal or other highway funds. The 
road safety equipment sector includes such devices as guardrails, 
bridge rails, median barriers, crash cushions, breakaway supports, work 
zone devices as well as other devices used on highways to ensure safety 
of errant motorists. The FHWA accepts test and evaluation procedures by 
which all manufacturers can qualify to sell in the U.S. market. The EU 
maintain similar requirements under its Construction Products 
Directive. Both systems involve third-party tests and acceptance 
(certifications).

Calibration Services

    As the national metrological authority for the United States, the 
National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) generates 
measurement criteria used by U.S. regulatory agencies and the 
marketplace for such products as avionics and other electronic 
equipment. A mutual recognition agreement would recognize the 
equivalence of NIST's generated measures with those developed by EU 
national laboratories.

Public Comments

    All written comments should be addressed to: Gloria Blue, Executive 
Secretary, Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the United States 
Trade Representative, 600 17th Street NW, Room 122, Washington, DC 
20508.
    The Chairman of the TPSC invites written comments from interested 
persons on the feasibility and desirability of negotiating MRAs in each 
of the sectors identified above. Comments are invited in particular on: 
(a) the benefits for pursuing an MRA in each of the sectors; and (b) 
any specific concerns regarding an MRA in any of the sectors, 
particularly any concerns regarding public safety considerations.
    All submissions must be in English and should conform to the 
information requirements of 15 CFR Part 2003. Interested persons should 
submit initial written comments, particularly any objections to a 
proposed sector, in five (5) typed copies, as soon as possible, and by 
no later than December 15, 1998. All additional comments should be 
submitted by no later than January 15, 1999. Comments should state 
clearly the position taken and should describe the specific information 
(including data, if possible) supporting that position.
    If the submission contains business confidential information, 5 
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 at the USTR Reading 
Room, Room 101, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 
Seventeenth Street, NW, Washington, DC. An appointment to review the 
file may be made by calling Brenda Webb at (202) 395-6186. The reading 
room is open to the public by appointment only from

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9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through 
Friday.
Frederick L. Montgomery,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 98-32627 Filed 12-8-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M