[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 233 (Monday, December 4, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 75763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-30782]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Implementation of Tariff-Rate Quota for Imports of Beef

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION:  Correction of Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is 
providing notice that USTR has determined that effective January 1, 
2001, all imports of beef from New Zealand will need to be accompanied 
by an export certificate in order to qualify for the in-quota tariff 
rate. The exception to this certificate requirement for exports made 
prior to January 1, 2001, announced in the Federal Register on October 
26, 2000, is hereby eliminated.

DATES: The action is effective December 4, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suchada Langley, Senior Economist for 
Agricultural Affairs, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 
600 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20508; telephone: (202) 395-6127.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States maintains a tariff-rate 
quota on imports of beef as part of its implementation of the Marrakesh 
Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization. The in-quota 
quantity of that tariff-rate quota is allocated in part among a number 
of countries. As part of the administration of that tariff-rate quota, 
USTR provided, in 15 CFR part 2012, for the use of export certificates 
with respect to imports of beef from countries that have an allocation 
of the in-quota quantity. The export certificates apply only to those 
countries that USTR determines are participating countries for purposes 
of 15 CFR part 2012.
    On September 26, 2000, USTR received a request and the necessary 
supporting information from the government of New Zealand to be 
considered as a participating country for purposes of the export 
certification program. Accordingly, USTR has determined that, effective 
January 1, 2001, New Zealand is a participating country for purposes of 
15 CFR part 2012. As a result, USTR published a notice on October 26, 
2000 stating that effective on and after January 1, 2001, imports of 
beef from New Zealand will need to be accompanied by an export 
certificate in order to qualify for the in-quota tariff rate, but that 
imports exported from New Zealand prior to January 1, 2001, including 
exports currently warehoused, will not require an export certificate.
    Since the publication of the October 26, 2000 notice, USTR has 
determined in consultation with the United States Department of 
Agriculture and New Zealand that given existing circumstances, 
including the imminent fill of the beef tariff quota for the current 
quota year, exemption of exports made prior to January 1, 2001, from 
the export certificate requirement for imports entered into the United 
States after January 1, 2001, is not necessary. Accordingly, the 
October 26, 2000 notice is hereby revised to provide that effective on 
January 1, 2001, imports of beef from New Zealand will need to be 
accompanied by an export certificate in order to qualify for the in-
quota tariff rate. There will be no exceptions made for exports of beef 
from New Zealand made prior to January 1, 2001.

Charlene Barshefsky,
United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 00-30782 Filed 12-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M