[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54099-54100]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22831]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Generalized System of Preferences (GSP); Worker Rights; Deadline 
for Submitting Public Comment on Withdrawal of Duty-Free Treatment of 
Certain Products Imported From Swaziland

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

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: This notice informs the public that because Swaziland has not 
taken sufficient steps to provide internationally recognized worker 
rights, the U.S. Government is preparing to withdraw duty-free 
treatment accorded to imports from Swaziland under the U.S. Generalized 
System of Preferences (GSP) and sets forth the deadline for submitting 
public comments. All GSP eligible products imported from Swaziland 
would be affected.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United 
States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW, Room 518, Washington, 
DC 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 is authorized pursuant to 
Title V of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (``the Trade Act'') (19 
U.S.C. 2461 et seq.). The GSP program grants duty-free treatment to 
designated eligible articles that are imported from designated 
beneficiary developing countries. Once granted, GSP benefits may be 
withdrawn, suspended or limited by the President with respect to any 
article or with respect to any country. In making this determination, 
the President must consider several factors, one of which is whether or 
not such country has taken or is taking steps to afford to workers in 
that country (including any designated zone in that country) 
internationally recognized worker rights (19 U.S.C. 2462(c)(7)). 
Swaziland is a beneficiary of the GSP program. In 1999, nearly all 
imports from Swaziland benefitted from GSP.
    The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial 
Organizations filed a petition from USTR in February 1997 contending 
that Swaziland was not providing internationally recognized worker 
rights, particularly the rights to associated and bargain collectively. 
The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) agreed.
    Subsequently, with encouragement from the United States and 
technical assistance from the International Labor Organization (ILO), 
Swaziland developed new industrial relations legislation consistent 
with internationally recognized worker rights. After the Swaziland 
legislature adopted the new law, however, the legislation was modified 
in a manner that makes it inconsistent with ILO conventions on the 
rights to associate and bargain collectively. Swaziland has not put the 
modified legislation into effect.
    Swaziland's enactment of ILO inconsistent legislation has led the 
TPSC to conclude that Swaziland has made no appreciable progress toward 
affording internationally recognized worker rights. As a result, the 
TPSC is seeking public comment on the impact of suspending duty-free 
treatment for articles imported from Swaziland.

Opportunities for Public Comment and Inspection of Comments

    The GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC invites comments in support of, or 
in opposition to, withdrawal of duty-free treatment on imports from 
Swaziland under the GSP program. The deadline for submissions is 5 PM 
on Friday, September 29, 2000.
    Comments must be submitted in 15 copies, in English, to the 
Chairman of the GSP Subcommittee, Trade Policy Staff Committee, 600 
17th Street, NW., Room 513, Washington, DC 20508. Information and 
comments 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 2007.7. 
If the document contains business confidential information, 15 copies 
of a nonconfidential version of the submission along with 15 copies of 
the confidential version must be submitted. The business confidential 
version of the submission should be clearly marked ``Submitted in 
Confidence'' at the top and bottom of each and every page of the 
document. A nonconfidential summary of the business confidential 
information must be included with the business confidential submission, 
along

[[Page 54100]]

with a written explanation of why the business confidential material 
should be protected. The version which does not contain business 
confidential information (the public version) should also be clearly 
marked at the top and bottom of each and every page (either ``public 
version'' or ``non-confidential''). Submissions should comply with 15 
CFR Part 2007, including sections 2007.0, and 2007.1.

Don Rosenbaum,
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Trade and Development.
[FR Doc. 00-22831 Filed 9-5-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M