[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 11, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26204-26205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10685]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Petition under Section 302 on Workers' Rights in China; Decision 
Not to Initiate Investigation

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Decision not to initiate investigation.

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SUMMARY: The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has determined 
not to initiate an investigation under section 302 of the Trade Act of 
1974 with respect to a petition filed on March 16, 2004 addressed to 
workers' rights in China because initiation of an investigation would 
not be effective in addressing the issues raised in the petition.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 28, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terrence McCartin, Director of 
Monitoring and Enforcement for China, (202) 395-3900; William 
Clatanoff, Assistant USTR for Labor, (202) 395-6120; or William Busis, 
Associate General Counsel, (202) 395-3150.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 16, 2004, the American Federation 
of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations filed a petition 
pursuant to section 302(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the 
Trade Act), alleging that certain acts, policies and practices of the 
Government of China with respect to Chinese manufacturing workers are 
unreasonable, as defined in

[[Page 26205]]

section 301(d)(3)(B)(iii) of the Trade Act, and burden or restrict U.S. 
commerce. In particular, the petition alleges that acts, policies and 
practices of the Government of China constitute a persistent pattern of 
conduct that: (i) Denies to manufacturing workers the right of 
association, and the right to organize and bargain collectively; (ii) 
permits any form of forced or compulsory labor; and (iii) fails to 
provide standards for minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational 
safety and health. The petition claims that these acts, policies and 
practices of the Government of China burden U.S. commerce by depressing 
the wages of Chinese manufacturing workers, resulting in a cost 
advantage for goods manufactured in China and a loss of U.S. 
manufacturing jobs.
    The USTR has determined not to initiate an investigation under 
section 302 of the Trade Act with respect to the petition because 
initiation of an investigation would not be effective in addressing the 
acts, policies, and practices raised in the petition. The 
Administration is currently involved in efforts to address with the 
Government of China many of the labor issues raised in the petition. 
The USTR believes that initiation of an investigation under section 302 
would not further Administration efforts to improve workers' rights in 
China and, to the contrary, that initiation would instead hamper those 
efforts.

William Busis,
Chairman, Section 301 Committee.
[FR Doc. 04-10685 Filed 5-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W4-P