[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 51 (Thursday, March 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13667-13668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3784]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding Regarding Sunset Reviews of 
Anti-Dumping Measures on Oil Country Tubular Goods From Argentina

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative 
(``USTR'') is providing notice that Argentina has requested the 
establishment of a dispute settlement panel under the Marrakesh 
Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO 
Agreement''). That request may be found at http://www.wto.org contained 
in a document designated as WT/DS268/16. USTR invites written comments 
from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.

DATES: Although USTR will accept any comments received during the 
course of the dispute, comments should be submitted on or before May 
19, 2006, to be assured of timely consideration by USTR.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted (i) electronically, to 
[email protected], Attn: ``Argentina OCTG'' in the subject line, or 
(ii) by fax, to Sandy McKinzy at 202-395-3640, with a confirmation copy 
sent electronically to the e-mail address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth V. Baltzan, Associate 
General Counsel, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 
17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508, (202) 395-3582.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: If a dispute settlement panel is 
established, such panel, which would hold its meetings in Geneva, 
Switzerland, would be expected to issue a report on its findings and 
recommendations within 90 days after referral of the matter to it.

Major Issues Raised by Argentina

    In its panel request, Argentina alleges that the United States had 
not fully complied with the recommendations and rulings of the Dispute 
Settlement Body from the original dispute. Those recommendations and 
rulings stem from the panel and Appellate Body reports which may be 
found at http://www.wto.org designated as WT/DS268/R and WT/DS268/AB/R, 
respectively.
    In particular, Argentina contends that the U.S. Department of 
Commerce erred by developing new factual information and that the 
reasoning in the redetermination made pursuant to section 129 of the 
Uruguay Round Agreements Act is not consistent with Articles 11.1, 
11.3, and 11.4 of the Antidumping Agreement. Argentina also considers 
that the redetermination was inconsistent with a number of procedural 
obligations in the Antidumping Agreement, including Articles 6.1, 6.2, 
6.4, 6.5.1, 6.6, 6.8, 6.9, 12.2, and Annex II. Argentina also alleges 
that USTR was required to direct Commerce to implement the 
redetermination in order to avoid a breach of Article 13 of the 
Antidumping Agreement. Argentina further contends that Commerce was 
required to amend or repeal the statute and that the amended regulation 
is inconsistent with the obligation to arrive at a reasoned conclusion 
on the basis of positive evidence, as well as Articles 6.1, 6.2, 6.6, 
11.1, and 11.3 of the Antidumping Agreement.

Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions

    Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning the issues raised in this dispute. Persons submitting 
comments may either send one copy by fax to Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395-
3640, or transmit a copy electronically to [email protected], with 
``Argentina OCTG'' in the subject line. For documents sent by fax, USTR 
requests that the submitter provide a confirmation copy to the 
electronic mail address listed above.
    USTR encourages the submission of documents in Adobe PDF format, as 
attachments to an electronic mail. Interested persons who make 
submissions by electronic mail should not provide separate cover 
letters; information that might appear in a cover letter should be 
included in the submission itself. Similarly, to the extent possible, 
any attachments to the submission should be included in the same file 
as the submission itself, and not as separate files.
    A person requesting that information contained in a comment 
submitted by that person be treated as confidential business 
information must certify that such information is business confidential 
and would not customarily be released to the public by the submitter. 
Confidential business information must be clearly designated as such 
and the submission must be marked ``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL'' at the top 
and bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page of the 
submission.
    Information or advice contained in a comment submitted, other than 
business confidential information, may be determined by USTR to be 
confidential in accordance with section 135(g)(2) of the Trade Act of 
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2155(g)(2)). If the submitting person believes that 
information or advice may qualify as such, the submitting person--
    (1) Must clearly so designate the information or advice;
    (2) Must clearly mark the material as ``SUBMITTED IN CONFIDENCE'' 
at the top and bottom of each page of the cover page and each 
succeeding page; and
    (3) Is encouraged to provide a non-confidential summary of the 
information or advice.
    Pursuant to section 127(e) of the URAA (19 U.S.C. 3537(e)), USTR 
will maintain a file on this dispute settlement proceeding, accessible 
to the public, in the USTR Reading Room, which is located at 1724 F 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508. The public file will include non-
confidential comments received by USTR from the public with respect to 
the dispute; if a dispute settlement panel is convened or in the event 
of an appeal from such a panel, the U.S. submissions, the submissions, 
or non-confidential summaries of submissions, received from other 
participants in the dispute; the report of the panel and; if 
applicable, the report of the Appellate Body. An appointment to review 
the public file (Docket No. WT/DS-268, Sunset Reviews of Anti-dumping 
Measures on Oil Country Tubular Goods from Argentina) may be made by 
calling the USTR Reading Room at (202) 395-6186. The USTR Reading Room 
is open to the public

[[Page 13668]]

from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Daniel E. Brinza,
Assistant United States Trade Representative for Monitoring and 
Enforcement.
[FR Doc. E6-3784 Filed 3-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W6-P