[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 28 (Friday, February 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 7319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2723]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Notice of Entry Into Force of Trade Agreement With the Lao 
People's Democratic Republic and the Grant of Normal Trade Relations 
Treatment to Products of Laos

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of entry into force of trade agreement.

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SUMMARY: On September 18, 2003, the United States and the Lao People's 
Democratic Republic (Laos) signed a trade agreement obligating 
reciprocal most-favored-nation treatment between Laos and the United 
States. The trade agreement entered into force as of February 4, 2005, 
the effective date of this notice, after which time all products of 
Laos entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, shall be 
granted most-favored-nation treatment by the United States.

DATES: The effective date of this notice is February 4, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elena Bryan, Deputy Assistant U.S. 
Trade Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific (202) 395-6813 
or Catherine Field, Chief Counsel for Legal Affairs (202) 395-3432.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 3, 2004, President Bush signed 
into law H.R. (Pub. L. No. 108-429), which makes products of Laos 
eligible for normal trade relations (NTR) treatment by the United 
States as of the effective date of a notice published in the Federal 
Register by the USRT that a trade agreement between the United States 
and Laos containing reciprocal MFN obligations has entered into force. 
On September 18, 2003, the United States and Laos signed a bilateral 
trade agreement containing reciprocal NTR obligations. Through an 
exchange of written notes of acceptance of the terms of the agreement 
by the two parties on February 4, 2005, the parties brought the 
agreement into force. Therefore, pursuant to the terms of Public Law 
No. 108-429, products of Laos entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for 
consumption, on or after February 4, 2005, are granted NTR treatment by 
the United States. Pursuant to the terms of the trade agreement, 
products of the United States will receive reciprocal NTR treatment by 
Laos as of the effective date of this notice.

John Veroneau,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 05-2723 Filed 2-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W5-M