[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 30 (Monday, February 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7410-7412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3400]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Generalized System of Preferences (GSP); Deadline for Submitting 
Comments on the Withdrawal of GSP Benefits for Belarus and Schedule of 
Hearings and Deadlines for Submitting Comments on Petitions for the GSP 
1999 Country Practices Review

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representatives (USTR).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to set forth the timetables for 
(1) public comment on the proposal of the Trade Policy Staff Committee 
(TPSC) to withdraw GSP benefits from Belarus because of lack of 
progress on internationally recognized worker rights and (2) public 
hearings on petitions requesting modifications in the status of certain 
GSP beneficiary developing countries in regard to their intellectual 
property practices, as specified in 15 CFR 2007.(b)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United 
States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW, Room 518, Washington, 
DC

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20508 (Tel. 202/395-6971). Public versions of all documents relating to 
this review may be seen by appointment in the USTR public Reading Room 
between 9:30-12 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. (Tel. 202/395-6186).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (``Trade Act'') (19 U.S.C. 
2461 et seq.) To Qualify for GSP privileges, each country must comply 
with several eligibility requirements set forth in sections 502(b) and 
502(c) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2462(b) and 2462(cc)), including 
whether the country is taking steps to afford internationally 
recognized worker rights and the extent to which it is providing 
adequate and effective protection of the intellectual property rights. 
Once granted, GSP benefits may be withdrawn, suspended or limited by 
the President with respect to any article or with respect to any 
country. The statute also provides that if as a result of changed 
circumstances such country would be barred from designation as a 
beneficiary developing country under Act, the President shall, after 
notifying Congress, withdraw or suspend the designation of any country 
as a beneficiary country. (19 U.S.C. 2462(d)(2)).

I. Withdrawal of GSP Benefits for Belarus

    In June 1997 the TPSC received a petition by the American 
Federation of Labor that requested a review of labor law and practice 
in Belarus under the auspices of the GSP program. This petition was 
accepted for review and public comment was received and hearings held. 
The United States also raised its concerns with the government of 
Belarus. Notwithstanding the subsequent dialogue with the Government of 
Belarus, the TPSC is unable to recommend that Belarus is ``taking 
steps'' to afford internationally recognized worker rights, as required 
by the GSP statute. Accordingly, absent a substantial improvement in 
Belarus labor practices, the TPSC proposes to recommend that the 
President withdraw all GSP benefits for Belarus.

A. Opportunity for Public Comment

    This notice solicits public comments on the Trade Policy Staff 
Committee's proposal to withdraw GSP benefits for Belarus. All written 
comments should be addressed to: GSP Subcommittee, Office of the U.S. 
Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20508. 
All submissions must be in English and should conform to the 
information requirements of 15 CFR 2007. A party must provide fourteen 
copies of its statement which must be received by the Chairman of the 
GSP Subcommittee no later than 5 p.m., Thursday, March 9, 2000. 
Comments received after the deadline will not be accepted.
    Comments should be submitted in fourteen (14) copies, in English, 
to the chairman of the GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Police 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 business 
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 market ``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'').

II. Petitions Accepted for Review Regarding Country Practices

    Pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.0(b), the Trade Policy Staff Committee has 
accepted petitions to review the status of Armenia, the Dominican 
Republic, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan as beneficiary 
developing countries in relation to their practices concerning 
intellectual property protection.
    Any modifications to the list of beneficiary developing countries 
for purpose of the GSP program resulting from the Country Practices 
Review will take effect on such date as will be notified in a future 
Federal Register notice.

A. Opportunities for Public Comment

    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 sections 
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 tot 15 
CFR 2003.6 and other qualifying information submitted in confidence 
pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.7. If the document contains business 
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 p.m. 
on March 9, 2000.

B. Notice of Public Hearings

    Hearings will be held on April 3 and 4, 2000 beginning at 10:00 
a.m. at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, 1724 F Street, 
N.W., Washington, D.C. 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 
witness(es) representing their organization to the Chairman of the GSP 
Subcommittee, Such requests to present oral testimony at the public 
hearings should be accompanied by fourteen (14) copies, in English, of 
a written brief or statement, and should be received by 5 p.m. on March 
9, 2000. 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. on April 21, 2000. Interested persons not 
wishing to appear at the public

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hearings may also submit pre-hearing written briefs or statements by 
5:00 p.m. on March 9, 2000 and post-hearing and rebuttal written briefs 
or statements by April 21, 2000.

Jon Rosenbaum,
Assistant USTR for Trade and Development.
[FR Doc. 00-3400 Filed 2-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M