[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15318-15319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7065]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE


Offsets in Defense Trade

AGENCY: Department of Defense.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Interagency Offset Steering Committee is seeking 
information that will assist the Committee in developing strategies for 
discussions/consultations with other countries on reducing or 
eliminating the adverse effects of offsets in defense trade. Offsets by 
their nature are market distorting and result in inefficient business 
practices. Interested parties are involved to submit written comments, 
opinions, data, information, or recommendations relative to this 
objective, including information that will help the Committee more 
accurately assess the effects of offsets in defense trade. If 
sufficient interest is demonstrated, a public hearing might be 
scheduled in the future.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than May 8, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments to Domenico C. Cipicchio, Deputy Director, 
Defense Procurement, Foreign Contracting, OUSD (AT&L), 3060 Defense 
Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-3060.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan M. Hildner, Procurement Analyst, 
Defense Procurement, Foreign Contracting, OUSD(AT&L), 3060 Defense 
Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-3060, (703) 697-9352.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with Section 123 of the 
Defense Production Act as amended in 1992 (Public Law 102-588, October 
28, 1992), an Interagency Offset Steering Committee has been conducting 
a series of discussions with its allies on defense offsets. The 
Committee is chaired by the Department of Defense and includes 
representatives from the Departments of Commerce, State and Labor and 
the Office of the United States Trade Representative. The Committee 
plans to hold discussions with all 21 countries with which we have a 
reciprocal procurement Memorandum of Understanding. These countries 
include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, 
France, Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, 
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and 
the United Kingdom. The Committee is interested in data and 
recommendations that will support these discussions and aid in strategy 
development with respect to reducing or eliminating offsets in defense 
trade. Interested parties are invited to submit written comments to 
assist the Committee in its deliberations and discussions.

[[Page 15319]]

    All materials should be submitted with 5 copies. Material that is 
business confidential information will be exempted from public 
disclosure as provided for by 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4) (Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) rules). Anyone submitting business confidential 
information should clearly identify the business confidential portion 
of the submission and also provide a non-confidential submission, which 
can be placed in the public file. Comments not marked business 
confidential may be subject to disclosure under FOIA.

Michele P. Peterson,
Executive Editor, Defense Acquisition Regulations Council.
[FR Doc. 00-7065 Filed 3-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M