[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 70 (Monday, April 12, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19258-19261]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8203]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): Request for Public 
Comments on the Possible Withdrawal, Suspension, or Limitation of GSP 
Benefits with Respect to Bangladesh

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

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: As part of an ongoing country practice review, the GSP 
Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is considering 
whether to recommend that duty-free treatment accorded to imports from 
Bangladesh under the U.S. GSP program be withdrawn, suspended, or 
limited on the grounds that Bangladesh has not implemented long-
standing commitments to the United States to allow its national labor 
law to be applied in its Export Processing Zones (EPZs). The GSP 
Subcommittee is seeking public comments on which products of Bangladesh 
should no longer be eligible for GSP duty-free treatment if the 
Subcommittee decides to recommend limiting Bangladesh's GSP benefits. 
All Public comments must be received by May 12, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United 
States Trade Representative, USTR Annex, 1724 F Street, NW., Room F220, 
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 (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. Once granted, GSP benefits may be 
withdrawn, suspended, or limited by the President with respect to any 
country. (19 U.S.C. 2462(d)(1)). Bangladesh is a designated beneficiary

[[Page 19259]]

developing country under the GSP program. The Annex to this Notice 
lists currently GSP-eligible tariff items from the U.S. Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule (HTS) in which there were imports under GSP from 
Bangladesh during 2003.

I. Possible Withdrawal, Suspension, or Limitation of GSP Benefits for 
Bangladesh

    The Government of Bangladesh does not provide freedom of 
association or the right to collective bargaining to workers in its 
EPZs. Among other commitments, Bangladesh had published a notice on 
January 1, 2001, stating that it would extend these rights to EPZs as 
of January 1, 2004. However, Bangladesh has failed to do so. In 1999, 
the AFL-CIO filed a petition seeking withdrawal or suspension of GSP 
benefits for Bangladesh. The TPSC accepted the petition for review, 
sought public comment on the petition, including whether withdrawal or 
suspension of benefits is warranted, and conducted a public hearing. 
The review of the petition was continued until this year; and, as a 
result, the GSP Subcommittee is considering recommending to the TPSC 
that duty-free treatment under GSP be withdrawn, suspended, or limited 
for Bangladesh, pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 2462(d)(1).

II. Opportunity for Public Comment

    The GSP Subcommittee has already received comments on whether to 
withdraw or suspend GSP benefits for Bangladesh. If the Subcommittee 
recommends to the TPSC that the President limit GSP benefits for 
Bangladesh products, rather than withdraw or suspend duty-free 
treatment entirely, the Subcommittee will recommend a list of products 
for which duty-free treatment under the GSP program should be 
withdrawn. This notice solicits comments on which products to include 
on that list. All Public comments must be received by May 12, 2004.

Requirements for Submissions

    All submissions must conform to the GSP regulations set forth at 15 
CFR Part 2007, except as modified below. In order to facilitate prompt 
processing of submissions to this notice, USTR strongly urges and 
prefers electronic e-mail submissions in response to this notice. Hand 
delivered submissions will not be accepted. These submissions should be 
single copy transmissions in English with the total submission not to 
exceed 50 single-spaced standard letter-size pages. E-mail submissions 
should use the following subject line: ``Bangladesh GSP Product 
Review.'' Documents, in English, must be submitted in either of the 
following formats: WordPerfect (``.WPD''), MSWord (``.DOC''), or text 
(``.TXT'') files. Documents may not be submitted as electronic image or 
graphic files or contain imbedded images (for example, ``.JPG'', 
``.PDF'', ``.BMP'', or ``.GIF'') as these graphic files are generally 
excessively large and inhibit distribution to the GSP Subcommittee. E-
mail submissions containing such files may not be accepted. Supporting 
documentation submitted as spreadsheets are acceptable as Quattro Pro 
or Excel files, formatted for printing only on 8\1/2\ x 11 inch paper. 
To the extent possible, any data attachments to the submission should 
be included in the same file as the submission itself, and not as 
separate files.
    If the submission contains business confidential information, a 
non-confidential version of the submission must also be submitted that 
indicates where confidential information was redacted by inserting 
asterisks where material was deleted. In addition, the confidential 
submission must be clearly marked ``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL'' at the top 
and bottom of each and every page of the document. The public version, 
which does not contain business confidential information, must also be 
clearly marked at the top and bottom of each and every page (either 
``PUBLIC VERSION'' or ``NON-CONFIDENTIAL''). Documents that are 
submitted without any marking might not be accepted or will be 
considered public documents.
    For any document containing business confidential information 
submitted as an electronic attached file to an e-mail 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 party (government, company, union, 
association, etc.) which is making the submission.
    E-mail submissions should not include separate cover letters or 
messages in the message area of the e-mail; information that might 
appear in any cover letter should be included directly in the attached 
file containing the submission itself, including identifying 
information on the sender, including sender's e-mail address. The e-
mail address for these submissions is [email protected]. Documents not 
submitted in accordance with these instructions might not be considered 
in this review. If unable to provide submissions by e-mail, please 
contact the GSP Subcommittee to arrange for an alternative method of 
transmission.
    Information submitted will be subject to public inspection shortly 
after the relevant due dates by appointment with the staff of the USTR 
public reading room, except for information submitted and properly 
marked that is granted ``business confidential'' status pursuant to 15 
CFR 2003.6 and other qualifying information submitted in confidence 
pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.7. Public versions of all documents relating to 
this review will be available for review after the relevant 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.

Steven Falken,
Executive Director for GSP, Chairman, GSP Subcommittee of the Trade 
Policy Staff Committee.

       Annex I: U.S. Imports of GSP-Eligible Items From Bangladesh
  [The tariff nomenclature in the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS)
for the subheadings listed below is definitive; the product descriptions
           in this list are for informational purposes only.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            2003 dollar
   HTS subheading             Article description              value
------------------------------------------------------------------------
95063900............  Golf equipment (o/than golf              6,202,138
                       footwear) nesoi and parts &
                       accessories thereof.
39239000............  Articles nesoi, for the conveyance       2,694,197
                       or packing of goods, of plastics.
69111037............  Porcelain or china (o/than bone          1,186,144
                       china) household tabl. &
                       kitch.ware in sets in which
                       aggregate val. of arts./US note
                       6(b) o/$56 n/o $200.
69111010............  Porcelain or china hotel,                  755,777
                       restaurant & nonhousehold table
                       and kitchenware.

[[Page 19260]]

 
41044150............  Crust full grain unsplit/grain             479,703
                       split bovine (except buffalo)
                       nesoi and equine hides and skins,
                       nesoi, w/o hair, tanned not
                       further prepared.
63079098............  National flags and other made-up           449,253
                       articles of textile materials,
                       nesoi.
57029920............  Carpets & other textile floor              354,411
                       coverings, not of pile
                       construction, woven, made up, of
                       other textile materials nesoi.
24012085............  Tobacco, partly or wholly stemmed/         353,724
                       stripped, threshed or similarly
                       processed, not from cigar leaf,
                       described in addl. U.S. note 5 to
                       chap 24.
94043080............  Sleeping bags, not containing 20%          349,637
                       or more by weight of feathers and/
                       or down.
42010060............  Saddlery and harnesses for animals         234,170
                       nesi, (incl. traces, leads, knee
                       pads, muzzles, saddle cloths and
                       bags and the like), of any
                       material.
96020010............  Unhardened gelatin, worked and             220,421
                       articles thereof.
69111052............  Porcelain or china (o/than bone            205,202
                       china) hsehld tabl/kit.ware n/in
                       specif.sets, cups o/$8 but n/o
                       $29/dz, saucers o/$5.25 but n/o
                       $18.75/dz, etc.
24012083............  Tobacco, partly or wholly stemmed/         155,877
                       stripped, threshed or similarly
                       processed, not from cigar leaf,
                       not oriental or turkish, not for
                       cigarett.
39269098............  Other articles of plastic, nesoi..         122,967
39249055............  Household articles and toilet              118,667
                       articles, nesoi, of plastics.
65069900............  Headgear (other than safety                113,367
                       headgear), nesoi, of materials
                       other than rubber, plastics, or
                       furskins, whether or not lined or
                       trimmed.
69111080............  Porcelain or china (o/than bone            106,552
                       china) household tableware &
                       kitchenware, not in specified
                       sets, nesoi.
46021018............  Baskets and bags of vegetable               89,116
                       material, neosi.
94060080............  Prefabricated buildings, not of             60,515
                       wood.
46021080............  Basketwork and other articles,              59,749
                       neosi, of vegetables materials,
                       nesoi.
46021009............  Baskets and bags of bamboo other            49,595
                       than wickerwork.
69111025............  Bone china household table &                48,704
                       kitchenware valued o/$31.50/doz.
                       pcs.
73269085............  Iron or steel, articles, nesoi....          45,255
03049090............  Frozen fish meat (excluding                 42,842
                       fillets), other than in bulk or
                       in immediate containers weighing
                       with their contents over 6.8 kg
                       each.
19059090............  Bakers' wares communion wafers,             42,006
                       empty capsules suitable for
                       pharmaceutical use, sealing
                       wafers, rice paper and similar
                       products, nesi.
35030055............  Gelatin sheets and derivatives,             42,000
                       nesoi; isinglass; other glues of
                       animal origin, nesoi.
94043040............  Sleeping bags, containing 20% or            41,705
                       more by weight of feathers and/or
                       down.
69111045............  Porcelain or china (o/than bone             37,392
                       china) household mugs and steins
                       w/o attached pewter lids.
19041000............  Prepared foods obtained by the              32,836
                       swelling or roasting of cereals
                       or cereal products.
68029300............  Monumental or building stone &              29,121
                       arts. thereof, of granite,
                       further worked than simply cut/
                       sawn, nesoi.
90141090............  Direction finding compasses, other          28,812
                       than optical instruments,
                       gyroscopic compasses or
                       electrical.
69111035............  Porcelain or china (o/than bone             27,276
                       china) househld tabl. &
                       kitch.ware in sets in which
                       aggregate val. of arts./US note
                       6(b) n/o $56.
61178085............  Headbands, ponytail holders &               25,924
                       similar articles, of textile
                       materials other than containing
                       70% or more by weight of silk,
                       knitted/crocheted.
39261000............  Office or school supplies, of               25,016
                       plastics.
39232100............  Sacks and bags (including cones)            24,893
                       for the conveyance or packing of
                       goods, of polymers of ethylene.
44189045............  Builders' joinery and carpentry of          24,749
                       wood, including cellular wood
                       panels, nesoi.
69149080............  Ceramic (o/than porcelain or                23,288
                       china) arts. (o/than tableware/
                       kitchenware/household & ornament.
                       arts), nesoi.
19049001............  Cereals, other than corn, in grain          21,795
                       form or form flakes or other
                       worked grain (not flour, groat &
                       meal), pre-cooked or otherwise
                       prepared, nesoi.
10063090............  Rice semi-milled or wholly milled,          21,416
                       whether or not polished or
                       glazed, other than parboiled.
69111015............  Bone china household table &                19,635
                       kitchenware valued n/o $31.50/
                       doz. pcs.
74181950............  Copper (o/than brass), table                17,588
                       kitchen or other household
                       articles and parts thereof, not
                       coated or plated w/precious
                       metals.
07108070............  Vegetables nesi, uncooked or                17,108
                       cooked by steaming or boiling in
                       water, frozen, not reduced in
                       size.
33074100............  Agarbatti and other odoriferous             16,249
                       preparations which operate by
                       burning, to perfume or deodorize
                       rooms or used during religious
                       rites.
39262090............  Articles of apparel & clothing              14,575
                       accessories, of plastic, nesoi.
69111058............  Porcelain or china (o/than bone             12,983
                       china) hsehld tabl/kit ware n/in
                       specif. sets, cups o/$29/dz,
                       saucers o/$18.75/dz, bowls o/$33/
                       dz, etc.
94055040............  Non-electrical lamps and lighting           11,528
                       fixtures nesoi, not of brass.
20089990............  Fruit nesi, and other edible parts          11,013
                       of plants nesi, other than pulp
                       and excluding mixtures, otherwise
                       prepared or preserved, nesi.
20019045............  Mangoes, prepared or preserved by            9,432
                       vinegar or acetic acid.
74181920............  Copper-zinc alloy (brass), table,            9,138
                       kitchen or other household
                       articles and parts thereof, not
                       coated or plated w/precious
                       metals.
70199050............  Glass fibers (including glass                8,458
                       wool), nesoi, and articles
                       thereof, nesoi.
92059040............  Wind musical instruments, o/than w/          8,168
                       elect. sound or ampl., woodwind
                       instruments (o/than bagpipes).
09109960............  Spices, nesi......................           7,911
56089023............  Hammocks, of cotton...............           7,845
64059020............  Disposable footwear, nesoi,                  7,700
                       designed for one-time use.
07102940............  Leguminous vegetables nesi,                  7,173
                       uncooked or cooked by steaming or
                       boiling in water, frozen.
20019038............  Vegetables (including olives)                6,660
                       nesoi, prepared or preserved by
                       vinegar or acetic acid.

[[Page 19261]]

 
19019090............  Flour-, meal-, starch-, malt                 6,615
                       extract-or dairy-based food preps
                       not containing cocoa and not
                       containing specific amounts of
                       dairy, nesoi.
10063010............  Rice semi-milled or wholly milled,           6,565
                       whether or not polished or
                       glazed, parboiled.
46021016............  Baskets and bags of rattan or palm           6,520
                       leaf other than wickerwork.
10062040............  Husked (brown) rice, other than              6,434
                       Basmati.
07133920............  Dried beans nesi, shelled, if                5,663
                       entered for consumption from May
                       1 through August 31, inclusive,
                       in any year.
62171085............  Headbands, ponytail holders and              5,432
                       similar articles, of textile
                       materials containing < 70% by
                       weight of silk, not knit/crochet.
41079180............  Full grain unsplit bovine (not               5,245
                       buffalo) & equine leather, not
                       whole, w/o hair on, nesoi, fancy,
                       prepared after tanning or
                       crusting, not 4114.
17049035............  Sugar confections or sweetmeats              4,723
                       ready for consumption, not
                       containing cocoa, other than
                       candied nuts or cough drops.
07112038............  Olives, n/pitted, nesoi...........           4,419
63049925............  Wall hangings of jute, excluding             3,997
                       those of heading 9404.
40159000............  Articles of apparel and clothing             3,411
                       accessories, excluding gloves, of
                       vulcanized rubber other than hard
                       rubber.
17039030............  Molasses, other than cane,                   3,340
                       imported for (a) the commercial
                       extraction of sugar or (b) human
                       consumption.
04069025............  Gjetost cheese, made from goats'             3,084
                       milk, whey or whey obtained from
                       a mixture of goats' & n/o 20%
                       cows milk, not grated, powdered
                       or processed.
56089030............  Knotted netting of twine, cordage            2,985
                       or rope or other made-up nets
                       (not fish netting and nets) of
                       textile materials (not cotton/
                       manmade mat.).
17023040............  Glucose and glucose syrup, not               2,808
                       containing fructose or in the dry
                       state less than 20 percent by
                       weight of fructose, nesi.
07132020............  Dried chickpeas (garbanzos),                 2,795
                       shelled.
69139050............  Ceramic (o/than porcelain, china             2,770
                       or eartherware) ornamental
                       articles, nesoi.
46021045............  Basketwork and other articles,               2,762
                       neosi, of one or more of bamboo,
                       rattan, willow or wood.
41044120............  Crust whole bovine hide and skin             2,600
                       leather (not upper or lining), w/
                       o hair on, surface n/o 2.6 sq m,
                       tanned but not further prepared.
10064000............  Broken rice.......................           2,424
03037500............  Dogfish and other sharks, frozen,            2,396
                       excluding fillets, livers, roes
                       and fish meat of 0304.
20019060............  Fruits, nuts, and other edible               2,198
                       parts of plants, nesi, prepared
                       or preserved by vinegar or acetic
                       acid.
19023000............  Pasta nesi........................           2,100
50079030............  Woven silk fabrics, containing 85            1,732
                       percent or more by weight of silk
                       or silk waste, nesoi.
39241020............  Plates, cups, saucers, soup bowls,           1,501
                       cereal bowls, sugar bowls,
                       creamers, gravy boats, serving
                       dishes and platters, of plastics.
39241040............  Tableware and kitchenware                    1,070
                       articles, nesoi, of plastics.
67010030............  Articles of feathers or down                   784
                       (other than articles & apparel
                       filled or stuffed with feathers/
                       down and worked quills & scapes).
62141010............  Shawls, scarves, mufflers,                     660
                       mantillas, veils and the like,
                       not knitted or crocheted,
                       containing 70% or more silk or
                       silk waste.
39264000............  Statuettes and other ornamental                389
                       articles, of plastics.
62160046............  Gloves, mittens & mitts, for                  315
                       sports use, incl. ski &
                       snowmobile, of man-made fibers,
                       not impregnated/coated with
                       plastics or rubber.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Compiled from data provided by the U.S. International Trade
  Commission, Department of Commerce, and Department of Homeland
  Security.

[FR Doc. 04-8203 Filed 4-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W3-P