[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 28, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55297-55303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21965]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): Notice of Special GSP 
Review of Product Petitions for Argentina, Philippines and Turkey

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a Special Review of product petitions 
for Argentina, Philippines, and Turkey, received in the 2001 GSP Annual 
Review for modifications in the list of articles that are eligible for 
duty-free treatment under the GSP program, and sets forth the schedule 
for comment and public hearing on these petitions, for requesting 
participation in the hearing, and for submitting pre-hearing and post-
hearing briefs. Notices providing information regarding the acceptance 
of other petitions submitted in the 2001 GSP Annual Review and 
regarding the initiation of a 2002 GSP Annual Review will be published 
in the Federal Register in September 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United 
States Trade Representative (USTR), 1724 F Street, NW., Room F-220, 
Washington, DC 20508. The telephone number is (202) 395-6971 and the 
facsimile number is (202) 395-9481.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The GSP program grants duty-free treatment 
to designated eligible articles that are imported from designated 
beneficiary developing countries. The GSP program is authorized by 
Title V of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (``Trade Act'') (19 U.S.C. 
2461 et seq.), and is implemented in accordance with Executive Order 
11888 of November 24, 1975, as modified by subsequent Executive Orders 
and Presidential Proclamations, and is administered in accordance with 
GSP regulations (15 CFR part 2007). The GSP program expired on 
September 30, 2001, but was renewed retroactively by section 4101 of 
Public Law 107-210 through December 31, 2006.

Announcement of a Special Review of Products for Argentina, Philippines 
and Turkey

    In a Federal Register notice dated April 13, 2001, USTR initiated 
the 2001 GSP Annual Review and announced a deadline of June 13, 2001, 
for the filing of petitions (66 FR 19278). The received product 
petitions requested changes in the eligibility of products by adding or 
removing products, or by waiving the ``competitive need limitations'' 
(CNLs) for a country for eligible articles. Authorization for granting 
CNLs waivers is set forth in section 503(d) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 
2463(d)).
    The interagency GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff 
Committee (TPSC) has reviewed the petitions and decided to initiate a 
Special Review of petitions from Argentina, Philippines and Turkey 
involving 17 products. The Annex to this notice sets forth the case 
number, product identification, the change requested and the petitioner 
for each product included in this review. Acceptance of a petition for 
review does not indicate any opinion with respect to disposition on the 
merits of the petition. Acceptance indicates only that the listed 
petitions have been found eligible for review by the GSP Subcommittee 
and that such review will take place.
    Any modifications to the list of articles eligible for duty-free 
treatment under the GSP resulting from this Special Review will be 
announced on or about January 31, 2003, and any changes may take effect 
30 days from publication in the Federal Register.

Opportunities for Public Comment and Inspection of Comments

    The GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC invites comments in support of or 
in opposition to any petition which is the subject of this Special 
Review. 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. The Public Comment and Hearing 
Schedule is included as part of the Annex.

Requirements for Submissions

    In order to facilitate prompt processing of submissions, USTR 
strongly urges and prefers electronic e-mail submissions in response to 
this notice. In the event that an e-mail submission is impossible, 
submissions should be made by facsimile. These submissions should be 
single copy transmissions in English with the total submission not to 
exceed 50 single-

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spaced pages. Persons making submissions by e-mail should use the 
following subject line: ``2001 Special 3-Country Review'' followed by 
the Case Number (for example, 2001-SR-01) found in the annex and, as 
appropriate ``Written Comments'', ``Notice of Intent to Testify'', 
``Pre-hearing brief'', ``Testimony'', ``Post-hearing brief'' or 
``Comments on USITC Advice''. Documents, in English, should be 
submitted as either WordPerfect (.WPD), MSWord (.DOC), or text (.TXT) 
files. Supporting documentation submitted as spreadsheets are 
acceptable as Quattro Pro or Excel suitable for printing only on 8\1/2\ 
x 11 inch paper.
    Facsimile submissions should include, among other identifying 
information specified in the regulations, the following information at 
the top of the first page: ``2001 Special 3-Country Review'' followed 
by the Case Number found in the annex and, as appropriate ``Written 
Comments'', ``Notice of Intent to Testify'', ``Pre-hearing brief'', 
``Testimony'', ``Post-hearing brief'' or ``Comments on USITC Advice''.
    For any document containing business confidential information 
submitted electronically, 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 submitter. Persons who 
make submissions by e-mail should not provide separate cover letters; 
information that might appear in a cover letter should be included in 
the submission itself. 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. The e-mail address for these 
submissions is [email protected].
    Information submitted will be subject to public inspection shortly 
after the due date 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 original 
document contains business confidential information, a nonconfidential 
version must be submitted along with the confidential version. In 
addition, the 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 business confidential 
information (the public version) should also be clearly marked at the 
top and bottom of every page (either ``PUBLIC VERSION'' or 
``NONCONFIDENTIAL''). Comments must be submitted by 5 p.m., September 
30, 2002. Comments by interested persons on the nonconfidential USITC 
report prepared as part of this product review must be submitted, in 
English, by 5 p.m., January 8, 2003.
    Public versions of all documents relating to this review will be 
available for review shortly after the due date by appointment in the 
USTR public reading room, 1724 F Street NW., Washington, DC. 
Appointments may be made from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday by calling (202) 395-6186.

Notice of Public Hearings

    Hearings will be held on October 18, 2002 beginning at 10 a.m. at 
the Office of the United States Trade Representative, 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 make an oral presentation at the 
hearings must submit the name, address, telephone number, and facsimile 
number of the witness(es) representing their organization to the 
Chairman of the GSP Subcommittee by 5 p.m., September 30, 2002. 
Requests to present oral testimony in connection with the public 
hearings must be accompanied by a written brief or statement, in 
English, and also must be received by 5 p.m., September 30, 2002. Oral 
testimony before the GSP Subcommittee will be limited to five-minute 
presentations that summarize or supplement information contained in 
briefs or statements submitted for the record. Post-hearing briefs or 
statements will be accepted if they conform with the regulations cited 
above and are submitted, in English, by 5 p.m., November 13, 2002. 
Parties not wishing to appear at the public hearings may submit pre-
hearing written briefs or statements, in English, by 5 p.m., September 
30, 2002, and may submit post-hearing written briefs or statements, in 
English, by 5 p.m., November 13, 2002.

Steven Falken,
Chairman, GSP Subcommittee.
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[FR Doc. 02-21965 Filed 8-27-02; 8:45 am]
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