[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 157 (Monday, August 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49623-49624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20547]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Request for Public Comment Regarding the United States-European 
Union Transatlantic Economic Partnership as It Concerns Services Trade

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

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) 
seeks written public comments on general U.S. negotiating objectives as 
they concern the services trade component of the Transatlantic Economic 
Partnership (TEP). Under the TEP, the United States and the European 
Union (EU) have undertaken to facilitate opportunities for dialogue 
between regulators and to explore whether it is possible to develop 
mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) or other regulatory cooperation 
for certain insurance, architectural, and engineering services, while 
maintaining high standards of safety and protection for consumers. 
Comments received will be considered by USTR in its further work to 
formulate objectives and priorities for these deliberations.

DATES: Public comments should be submitted no later than September 11, 
2000.

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: Bernard Ascher (architectural and 
engineering services) or Ann Main (insurance or related services), 
Offices of Services, Investment, and Intellectual Property, (202) 395-
4510. Procedural inquiries concerning the public comment process should 
be directed to Gloria Blue, Executive Secretary, Trade Policy Staff 
Committee, Office of the United States Trade Representative, (202) 395-
3475.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 18, 1998, President Clinton and his 
EU counterparts issued a joint statement announcing the Transatlantic 
Economic Partnership (TEP) initiative. [Federal Register notice 
published on, June 9, 1998, describes the TEP.] On November 9, 1998, 
the United States and the EU agreed 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. On June 9 and December 9, 1998, USTR published Federal 
Register Notices requesting public comment on the TEP. This notice is 
an additional request for information, focusing on the TEP as it 
relates to trade in services.
    In the TEP initiative, the United States and the EU have undertaken 
to facilitate opportunities for dialogue between regulators and to 
explore whether it is possible to develop mutual recognition agreements 
(MRAs) or other regulatory cooperation for certain insurance, 
architectural, and engineering services, while maintaining high 
standards of safety and protection for consumers. Regulatory 
authorities are full participants in the process.
    Architectural and Engineering Services: U.S. trade agreements, such 
as the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement the North American Free Trade 
Agreement, provide a framework for the competent authorities and 
professional organizations to negotiate mutual recognition agreements 
with their counterparts in other countries. Mutual recognition in the 
architectural and engineering services sector would enable those 
licensed in one country to be licensed or recognized to practice in 
another country. U.S. officials are working with a number of national 
engineering and architectural organizations to develop negotiating 
approaches that could lead toward mutual recognition of U.S. and EU 
architects and engineers, while maintaining high quality standards of 
safety and protection of consumers. Licensed practitioners must meet 
the requirements of the jurisdiction in which they practice and must 
comply with all applicable laws and regulations of the host 
jurisdiction.
    Insurance and Related Services: Regarding insurance services, U.S. 
officials are working with state insurance regulators to determine 
whether it is possible to develop mutual recognition or other 
regulatory cooperation for certain insurance sectors (e.g., commercial 
lines, reinsurance, agency/brokers). Private pension fund management, 
which is regulated at the federal level in the United States, is also a 
subject of consideration. Mutual recognition or other regulatory 
cooperation for insurance and related services could take various 
forms, including the possibility of greater uniformity of regulatory 
practices, or for regulators in one country to recognize the other 
country's regulatory practices as being sufficient for home country 
requirements.
    Public Comments: All written comments should be addressed to Gloria 
Blue, Executive Secretary, Trade Policy

[[Page 49624]]

Staff Committee, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 
17th Street NW, Room 122, Washington, DC 20508. Persons submitting 
written comments should provide twenty (20) typed copies, as soon as 
possible, and by no later than September 11, 2000. USTR invites written 
comments from interested persons on the feasibility and desirability of 
negotiating MRAs in each sector identified above. Comments are invited 
in particular on: (a) The benefits of pursuing an MRA in each sector; 
and (b) any specific concerns regarding an MRA in any of the sectors, 
particularly any concerns regarding consumer protection. Comments 
should state clearly the position taken and should describe the 
specific information (including data, if possible) supporting that 
position. All submissions must be in English and should conform to the 
information requirements of 15 CFR Part 2003. Where possible, please 
supplement written comments with a computer disk of the submission, 
either in spreadsheet or word processing table format. The disk should 
have a label identifying the software used and the submitter.
    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 in the USTR Reading 
Room, Room 101, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 
17th 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 10 a.m. to 12 noon, and 
from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
    Business confidential information, including any information 
submitted on disks, will be subject to the requirements of 15 CFR 
2003.6. If the submission contains business confidential information, 
twenty (20) copies of a public version that does not contain 
confidential information 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 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.''

David Walters,
Acting Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 00-20547 Filed 8-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M