[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 211 (Friday, October 31, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62158-62159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27398]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Determinations Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 62159]]

SUMMARY: The United States Trade Representative (USTR), as of the date 
of publication of this notice in the Federal Register, designates the 
Democratic Republic of Congo (DROC) as a beneficiary sub-Saharan 
African country eligible to receive the trade benefits provided for in 
the African Growth and Opportunity Act for articles other than textiles 
and apparel.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 31, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Constance Hamilton, Senior Director 
for African Affairs, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 
(202) 395-9514.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The African Growth and Opportunity Act 
(Title I of the Trade and Development Act of 2000, Pub. L. No. 106-200) 
(AGOA) provides trade benefits to the countries of sub-Saharan Africa 
to promote increased trade and investment between the United States and 
sub-Saharan Africa and economic development in the region.
    In Proclamation 7657 (March 28, 2003), the President designated the 
Democratic Republic of Congo as an ``eligible sub-Saharan African 
country'' pursuant to section 104 of the AGOA (19 U.S.C. 3703), and 
authorized the USTR to exercise the authority provided to the President 
under section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the 
``1974 Act'') (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(1)) to designate DROC as a 
``beneficiary sub-Saharan African country'' eligible to receive the 
trade benefits of the AGOA for articles other than textiles and 
apparel. The President directed the USTR to announce any such exercise 
of authority in the Federal Register.
    The President also proclaimed that, if it is designated as a 
beneficiary sub-Saharan African country, DROC would be a lesser 
developed beneficiary country for purposes of section 112(b)(3)(B) of 
the AGOA (19 U.S.C. 3721(b)(3)(B)). Lastly, the President decided to 
authorize the USTR, with respect to any designation of DROC as a 
beneficiary sub-Saharan African country, to exercise the authority 
provided to the President under section 604 of the 1974 Act (19 U.S.C. 
2483) to embody modifications and technical or conforming changes in 
the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).
    Based on progress DROC has made in stabilizing its political 
situation, I have determined that DROC meets the eligibility criteria 
set forth in section 506A(a)(1) of the 1974 Act and have decided, as of 
the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register, to 
designate DROC as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for 
purposes of receiving the trade benefits of the AGOA for articles other 
than textiles and apparel. In order to reflect this designation in the 
HTS, general note 16(a) to the HTS is modified by inserting in 
alphabetical sequence in the list of beneficiary sub-Saharan African 
countries ``Democratic Republic of Congo.'' This modification to the 
HTS is effective with respect to respect to articles entered, or 
withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the date of 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. DROC is also a 
lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for purposes 
of section 112(b)(3) of the AGOA. DROC may now begin the process to 
become eligible for the trade benefits of the AGOA for textile and 
apparel articles.

Robert B. Zoellick,
United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 03-27398 Filed 10-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W3-P