[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 117 (Friday, June 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32919-32920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15454]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket No. WTO/DS-162 and WTO/DS-136]


WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding Regarding the Antidumping Act 
of 1916

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative 
(``USTR'') is providing notice of the request by the Government of 
Japan for the establishment of dispute settlement panels under the 
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO'') 
to examine the Antidumping Act of 1916 (``the 1916 Act''). On February 
1, 1999, a separate WTO dispute settlement panel was established at the 
request of the European Communities (``EC'') to examine the same 
matter. Japan and the EC both allege that this statute is inconsistent 
with obligations of the United States under the General Agreement on 
Tariffs and Trade 1994 (``GATT 1994'') and the Agreement on 
Implementation of Article VI of GATT 1994 (``the Antidumping 
Agreement''). The USTR invites written comments from the public 
concerning the issues raised in these disputes.

DATES: Although the USTR will accept any comments received during the 
course of the dispute settlement proceedings, comments should be 
submitted by July 15, 1999, to be assured of timely consideration by 
the USTR.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted to Sandy McKinzy, Litigation 
Assistant, Office of Monitoring and Enforcement, Room 122, Attn: DS162 
and DS 136 Disputes, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 
600 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20508.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rhona Schnare, Assistant General 
Counsel, 202-395-3582.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 127(b) of the Uruguay 
Round Agreements Act (URAA) (19 U.S.C. 3537(b)(1)), the USTR is 
providing notice that on February 1, 1999, a WTO dispute settlement 
panel was established at the request of the European Communities to 
examine the Antidumping Act of 1916 and that, on June 3, 1999, the 
Government of Japan submitted a separate request for the establishment 
of a dispute settlement panel to examine the same matter.

Major Issues Raised and Legal Basis of the Complaint

    Both the EC and Japan allege that the 1916 Act is inconsistent with 
Article III:4 of GATT 1994 which requires that imported products shall 
be accorded treatment no less favorable than that accorded to like 
domestic products in respect of all laws, regulations and requirements 
affecting their internal sale, etc. The EC and Japan also assert that 
the 1916 Act is inconsistent with Article VI of GATT 1994 and various 
provisions of the Antidumping Agreement. Specifically, Japan alleges 
that the 1916 Act is inconsistent with Article VI:2 and 18.1 of the 
Antidumping Agreement, which Japan asserts permits the imposition of 
antidumping duties as the only possible remedy for dumping. Japan also 
alleges that the 1916 Act is inconsistent with Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 
9 and 11 of the Antidumping Agreement and Article XI of GATT 1994.
    The EC alleges that the 1916 Act is inconsistent with Article VI:2 
of GATT 1994, which the EC asserts provides the sole remedy for 
dumping. The EC also asserts that the 1916 Act is inconsistent with 
Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 of the Antidumping Agreement and Article VI:1 of 
GATT 1994.
    Finally, both the EC and Japan assert that the United States has 
failed to comply with Article XVI:4 of the Marrakesh Agreement 
establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO'') which requires that 
Members bring their laws into compliance with their obligations under 
the WTO agreements.

Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions

    Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning the issues raised in these disputes. Comments must be in 
English and provided in fifteen copies to Sandy McKinzy at the address 
provided above. A person requesting that information contained in a 
comment submitted by that person be treated as confidential business 
information must certify that such information is business confidential 
and would not customarily be released to the public by the submitting 
person. Confidential business information must be clearly marked 
``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL'' in a contrasting color ink at the top of each 
page of each copy.
    Information or advice contained in a comment submitted, other than 
business confidential information, may be determined by the USTR to be 
confidential in accordance with section 135(g)(2) of the Trade Act of 
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2155(g)(2)). If the submitting person believes that 
information or advice may qualify as such, the submitting person--
    (1) Must so designate the information or advice;
    (2) Must clearly mark the material as ``SUBMITTED IN CONFIDENCE'' 
in a contrasting color ink at the top of each page of each copy; and
    (3) Is encouraged to provide a non-confidential summary of the 
information or advice.
    Pursuant to section 127(e) of the URAA (19 U.S.C. 3537(e)), the 
USTR will maintain a file on these dispute settlement proceedings, 
accessible to the public, in the USTR Reading Room: Room 101, Office of 
the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20508. The public file will include a listing of any 
comments received by the USTR from the public with respect to the 
proceeding; the U.S. submissions to the panel in the proceeding, the 
submissions, or non-confidential summaries of submissions, to the panel 
received from other parties in the dispute, as well as the report of 
the dispute settlement panel, and, if applicable, the report of the 
Appellate Body. An appointment to review the public file (Docket WTO/
DS-162 or WTO/DS-136 United States--Antidumping Act of 1916) 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

[[Page 32920]]

and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
A. Jane Bradley,
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Monitoring and Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 99-15454 Filed 6-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M