[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 16 (Thursday, January 24, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3528-3530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-1683]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Generalized System of Preferences (GSP); Consideration of Two 
Petitions To Alter AGOA Benefits for Canned Pears and Manganese Metal; 
Notice of Review Timetable and Public Hearings Regarding These 
Petitions

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) provides this notice 
to identify the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) 
numbers of two articles proposed for designation or termination as GSP-
eligible articles when imported from African Growth and Opportunity Act 
(AGOA) beneficiary countries (see ANNEX). This notice also sets forth 
the timetable for public hearings for GSP Subcommittee consideration in 
reviewing the articles for GSP eligibility, and the procedures for 
further public comment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United 
States Trade Representative, Room F220, 1724 F Street, NW., Washington, 
DC 20508. Telephone: (202) 395-6971.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The GSP program grants duty-free treatment 
to designated eligible articles imported from designated beneficiary 
developing countries. The GSP program is authorized by Title V of the 
Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.). The GSP program 
was implemented by Executive Order 11888 of November 24, 1975, and 
modified by subsequent Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations. 
Legislation amending the GSP program to, inter alia, extend GSP 
benefits to AGOA beneficiaries through September 30, 2008, was signed 
by the President on May 18, 2000 (19 U.S.C. 2462-67).
    In a notice dated April 13, 2001, the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) initiated the 2001 GSP Annual Review and 
announced a deadline of June 13, 2001, for filing petitions (63 FR 
1893). The GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC has considered only those 
petitions involving AGOA benefits; the GSP program remains in effect 
for AGOA beneficiaries, notwithstanding the expiration of the GSP 
program for all other beneficiary countries on September 30, 2001.
    The Annex to this notice sets forth the case number, U.S. HTS 
number, change requested and petitioner for each AGOA petition that has 
been accepted for review.

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Opportunities for Public Comment and Inspection of Comments

    The GSP Subcommittee invites comments in support of, or in 
opposition to, any petition which is the subject of this notice. 
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 U.S. HTS nomenclature.
    Comments should be submitted, in English, to the Chairman of the 
GSP Subcommittee by facsimile at (202) 395-9481. Information submitted 
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 other qualifying 
information submitted in confidence pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.7. If the 
document contains confidential information, a confidential version of 
the submission also should be submitted. In addition, any document 
containing confidential information should be clearly marked 
``Confidential'' at the top and bottom of each page of the document. 
The version that does not contain confidential information also should 
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 20, 2002.

Notice of Public Hearings

    Hearings will be held on March 5, 2002, beginning at 10 a.m. at the 
Office of the United States Trade Representative, Annex, 1724 F Street, 
NW., Washington, DC 20508. 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 
witnesses representing their organization to the Chairman of the GSP 
Subcommittee. Such requests to present oral testimony at the public 
hearings should be accompanied by a written brief or statement, in 
English, and should be received by 5 p.m. on February 20, 2002. 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 English, no later than 5 p.m. on March 2, 
2002. Interested persons not wishing to appear at the public hearings 
may also submit pre-hearing written briefs or statements by 5 p.m. on 
February 20, 2002, and post-hearing and rebuttal written briefs or 
statements by March 20, 2002. Comments by interested persons on the 
U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) Report prepared as part of 
the product review should be submitted in English, by 5 p.m. on May 22, 
2002.

Jon Rosenbaum,
Assistant USTR for Trade and Development and, Chairman, GSP 
Subcommittee, Trade Policy Staff Committee.

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[FR Doc. 02-1683 Filed 1-23-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3901-01-M