[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 23 (Friday, February 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6065-6066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2196]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Notice of List of Products Subject to Possible Withdrawal of 
Concessions in Response to European Union (EU) Changes to Its Rice 
Import Regime

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In response to the European Union's changes to its rice import 
regime, the United States has notified the World Trade Organization of 
its intent to withdraw concessions by March 1, 2005, with respect to 
the goods in the attached list.
    Background: In Federal Register notices 04-20543, dated September 
10, 2004, 04-21762 and dated September 28, 2004, the Office of the U.S. 
Trade Representative sought comments concerning a list of goods for 
which tariff concessions may be withdrawn and duties may be increased 
in the

[[Page 6066]]

event the United States cannot reach agreement with the European Union 
(EU) for adequate compensation owed under World Trade Organization 
(WTO) rules as a result of EU changes to its rice import regime.
    While the United States Government has actively sought a negotiated 
resolution of this issue, which would have alleviated the need to 
withdraw concessions, an agreement has not been reached. Therefore, in 
accordance with WTO rules, the United States has notified the WTO that 
it will withdraw substantially equivalent tariff concessions if an 
agreement is not reached before March 1.
    This notice provides the list of goods notified to the WTO on 
Friday, January 28, 2005.
    Whenever a foreign country withdraws, suspends, or modifies the 
application of trade agreement obligations of benefit to the United 
States without granting adequate compensation, the President is 
authorized under section 125(c) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 
2135) to proclaim such increased duties or other import restrictions as 
are appropriate to effect adequate compensation. In the event that the 
United States withdraws substantially equivalent tariff concessions on 
March 1, increases in the duties applied to the goods included in the 
list notified to the WTO would be effected pursuant to this authority.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Sydow, Director for 
Agricultural Trade Policy, Office of the United States Trade 
Representative, 600 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508; telephone 
(202) 395-6127.

Carmen Suro-Bredie,
Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.

Attachment: List of Products Subject to Possible Withdrawal of 
Concessions in Response to European Union (EU) Changes to Its Rice 
Import Regime

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             HS code                              Product
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04031090........................  Yogurt, not in dry form, whether or
                                   not flavored or containing add fruit
                                   or cocoa.
04063085........................  Processed cheese (incl. mixtures),
                                   nesoi, n/o 0.5% by wt. butterfat, not
                                   grated or powdered, subject to Ch4
                                   U.S. note 23, not GN15.
07052100........................  Witloof chicory, fresh or chilled.
07108065........................  Brussels sprouts, uncooked or cooked
                                   by steaming or boiling in water,
                                   frozen, not reduced in size.
08052000........................  Mandarins (including tangerines and
                                   satsumas); clementines, wilkings and
                                   similar citrus hybrids, fresh or
                                   dried.
09042020........................  Paprika, dried or crushed or ground.
09102000........................  Saffron.
20019025........................  Artichokes, prepared or preserved by
                                   vinegar or acetic acid.
20032000........................  Truffles, prepared or preserved
                                   otherwise than by vinegar or acetic
                                   acid.
20049010........................  Antipasto, prepared or preserved
                                   otherwise than by vinegar or acetic
                                   acid, frozen.
20057050........................  Olives (not green) in a saline
                                   solution, canned, not pitted.
20057070........................  Olives (not green), in a saline
                                   solution, in airtight containers of
                                   glass or metal but not canned.
20057075........................  Olives (not green) in a saline
                                   solution, not canned, nesoi.
20059030........................  Sauerkraut, prepared or preserved
                                   otherwise than by vinegar or acetic
                                   acid, not frozen.
20087020........................  Peaches (excluding nectarines),
                                   otherwise prepared or preserved, not
                                   elsewhere specified or Included.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note: The product descriptions supplied above for the items of 
the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (``HTS'') are 
for the convenience of the reader and are not intended to delimit in 
any way the scope of the products that would be subject to increased 
duties.

[FR Doc. 05-2196 Filed 2-3-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W5-P