[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 62 (Monday, April 1, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15448-15449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7736]


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

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket No. WTO/DS-245]


WTO Consultations Regarding Japanese Measures Affecting the 
Importation of Apples

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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

[[Page 15449]]

SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is 
providing notice that on March 1, 2002, the United States requested 
consultations with Japan under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the 
World Trade Organization (WTO), regarding measures imposed by Japan on 
the importation of U.S. apples to protect against the introduction of 
fire blight. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning 
the issues raised in this dispute.

DATES: Although the USTR will accept any comments received during the 
course of the dispute settlement proceedings, comments should be 
submitted on or before April 30, 2002, to be assured of timely 
consideration by USTR.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted (i) electronically to 
[email protected] or (ii) by mail to Sandy McKinzy, Attn: Japan--
Measures Affecting the Importation of Apples, Office of the United 
States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20508, with a confirmation copy sent electronically or by fax to (202) 
395-3640.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Juan A. Millan, Assistant General 
Counsel, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th 
Street, NW., Washington, DC, (202) 395-3581.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 127(b) of the Uruguay Round 
Agreements Act (URAA) (19 U.S.C. 3537(b)(1)) requires that notice and 
opportunity for comment be provided after the United States submits or 
receives a request for the establishment of a WTO dispute settlement 
panel. Consistent with this obligation, but in an effort to provide 
additional opportunity for comment, USTR is providing notice that 
consultations have been requested pursuant to the WTO Dispute 
Settlement Understanding (DSU). If such consultations should fail to 
resolve the matter and a dispute settlement panel is established 
pursuant to the DSU, such panel, which would hold its meetings in 
Geneva, Switzerland, would be expected to issue a report on its 
findings and recommendations within six to nine months after it is 
established.

Major Issues Raised by the United States

    The United States has requested WTO consultations with Japan 
regarding its quarantine restrictions on U.S. apples imported into 
Japan to protect against the introduction of fire blight (Erwinia 
amylovora). These restrictions include, inter alia, the prohibition of 
imported apples from orchards in which any fire blight is detected, the 
requirement that export orchards be inspected three times yearly for 
the presence of fire blight, the disqualification of any orchard from 
exporting to Japan should fire blight be detected within a 500 meter 
buffer zone surrounding such orchard, and a post-harvest treatment of 
exported apples with chlorine. None of these restrictions is supported 
by scientific evidence.
    The United States contends that Japan's measures are inconsistent 
with the obligations of Japan under Article XI of the General Agreement 
on Tariffs and Trade 1994, Articles 2.2, 2.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.6, 6.1, 
6.2, and 7 and Annex B of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary 
and Phytosanitary Measures, and Article 14 of the Agreement on 
Agriculture. Japan's measures also appear to nullify or impair the 
benefits accruing to the United States directly or indirectly under the 
cited agreements.

Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions

    Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning the issues raised in the dispute. Comments must be in 
English. Commenters should send either one copy by U.S. mail, first 
class, postage prepaid, to Sandy McKinzy at the address listed above, 
or transmit a copy electronically to [email protected]. For 
documents sent by U.S. mail, USTR requests that the submitter provide a 
confirmation copy, either electronically or by fax to (202) 395-3640. 
USTR encourages the submission of documents in Adobe PDF format, as 
attachments to an electronic mail.
    A person requesting that information contained in a comment 
submitted by that person be treated as confidential business 
information must certify that such information is business confidential 
and would not customarily be released to the public by the commenter. 
Confidential business information must be clearly marked ``BUSINESS 
CONFIDENTIAL'' in a contrasting color ink at the top of each page of 
each copy. For any document containing business confidential 
information submitted by electronic transmission, the file name of the 
business confidential version should begin with the characters ``BC'', 
and the file name of the public version should begin with the 
characters ``P''. The ``P'' or ``BC'' should be followed by the name of 
the commenter. Interested persons who make submission by electronic 
mail should not provide separate cover letters; information that might 
appear in a cover letter should be included in the submission itself. 
Similarly, to the extent possible, any attachments to the submission 
should be included in the same file as the submission itself and not as 
separate files.
    Information or advice contained in a comment submitted, other than 
business confidential information, may be determined by USTR to be 
confidential in accordance with section 135(g)(2) of the Trade Act of 
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2155(g)(2)). If the submitter believes that information 
or advice may qualify as such, the submitter--
    (1) Must so designate the information or advice;
    (2) Must clearly mark the material as ``SUBMITTED IN CONFIDENCE'' 
in a contrasting color ink at the top of each page of each copy; and
    (3) Is encouraged to provide a non-confidential summary of the 
information or advice.
    Pursuant to section 127(e) of the URAA (19 U.S.C. 3537(e)), USTR 
will maintain a file on this dispute settlement proceeding, accessible 
to the public, in the USTR Reading Room: Office of the United States 
Trade Representative, 1724 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508. The 
public file will include a listing of any comments received by USTR 
from the public with respect to the dispute; if a dispute settlement 
panel is convened, the U.S. submissions to that panel, the submissions, 
or non-confidential summaries of submissions, to the panel received 
from other participants in the dispute, as well as the report of the 
panel; and, if applicable, the report of the Appellate Body. An 
appointment to review the public file (Docket WTO/DS-245, Japan--
Measures Affecting the Importation of Apples) may be made by calling 
Brenda Webb, (202) 395-6186. The USTR Reading Room is open to the 
public from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday.

Christine Bliss,
Acting Assistant United States Trade Representative for Monitoring and 
Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 02-7736 Filed 3-29-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M