[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 10, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2034-2035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-759]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Generalized System of Preferences (GSP); Schedule of Hearings and 
Deadlines for Submitting Comments on Petitions for the 2000 GSP Country 
Practices Review and Announcement of Termination of the Worker Rights 
Review of Swaziland and the Intellectual Property Rights Review of 
Moldova

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

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to set forth the timetable for 
hearings and public comments on petitions requesting modifications in 
the status of GSP beneficiary countries in regard to their practices, 
as specified in 15 CFR 2007.0(a) and (b). In addition, the notice 
announces the termination of the worker rights review of Swaziland and 
the intellectual property rights review of Moldova. The reviews have 
been concluded since the two countries have brought their laws and 
practices into conformity with GSP statutory requirements.

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 are available for public inspection 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. USTR has received a number of 
petitions requesting that certain practices in certain beneficiary 
developing countries be reviewed to determine whether such countries 
are in compliance with the eligibility criteria set forth in sections 
502(b) and 502(c) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2462(b) and 2462(c)).

Petitions Accepted for Review Regarding Country Practices

    Pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.0(b), the Trade Policy Staff Committee 
(TPSC) has accepted petitions to review the GSP status of Brazil, 
Pakistan, and Russia. The petitions involving Brazil and Russia were 
submitted by the International Intellectual Property Alliance and that 
involving Pakistan by the American Textile Manufacturers Institute. A 
decision on a petition relating to internationally recognized workers' 
rights in Peru has been deferred, and we will continue to closely 
monitor and assess the Government of Peru's workers' right practices 
over the next several months.
    Any modifications to the list of beneficiary developing countries 
for purposes 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.
    It also should be noted that public comment on the workers' rights 
review of Guatemala, initiated by the U.S.

[[Page 2035]]

Trade Representative, may be accommodated in the process described 
below.

A. Opportunities for Public Comment

    The GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC invites comments in support of, or 
in opposition to, any of the petitions that have been accepted for 
review by the TPSC. 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.
    Any comments should be accompanied by fourteen (14) copies, and 
submitted, 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 submitted in confidence pursuant to 15 CFR 
2007.7. If the document contains business confidential information, an 
original and fourteen (14) copies of a public 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 ``business 
confidential'' at the top and bottom of each page of the document. 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 February 5, 2001.

B. Notice of Public Hearings

    Hearings will be held on March 9, 2001 beginning at 10 a.m. at the 
Office of the U.S. Trade Representatives, 1724 F Street, NW., 
Washington, DC. 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 5:00 p.m. on 
February 23, 2001. 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 5:00 p.m. on April 6, 2001. 
Interested persons not wishing to appear at the public hearings may 
also submit pre-hearing written briefs or statements by 5:00 p.m. on 
February 23, 2001 and post-hearing and rebuttal written briefs or 
statements by April 6, 2001.

Jon Rosenbaum,
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 01-759 Filed 1-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M