[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 11 (Thursday, January 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2316-2317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-198]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Trade Policy Staff Committee: Seeking Comments From the Public on 
the 2005 WTO Ministerial Decision on Duty-Free Quota-Free Market Access 
for the Least Developed Countries

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is requesting the 
public to submit written comments on considerations relating to the 
Decision that Members adopted at the Sixth Ministerial Conference of 
the World Trade Organization (WTO) in December 2005 on duty-free, 
quota-free (DFQF) market access for the least-developed countries 
(LDCs). The TPSC is seeking comments from the public on to the full 
range of issues that may affect implementation of this Decision.

DATES: Comments are due by March 15, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Submissions by electronic mail: [email protected]. 
Submissions by facsimile: Gloria Blue, Executive Secretary, Trade 
Policy Staff Committee, at (202) 395-6143. The public is strongly 
encouraged to submit documents electronically rather than by facsimile. 
(See requirements for submissions below.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General inquiries should be made to 
the USTR Office of WTO and Multilateral Affairs at (202) 395-6843; 
calls on individual subjects will be transferred as appropriate. 
Procedural inquiries concerning the public comment process should be 
directed to Gloria Blue, Executive Secretary, Trade Policy Staff 
Committee, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), (202) 395-
3475. Further information on the WTO, including the declarations, 
decisions referred to in this notice, can be obtained via the Internet 
at the WTO Web site, http://www.wto.org, and/or the USTR Web site, 
http://www.ustr.gov. The 2005 President's Annual Report on the Trade 
Agreements Program, which is available on the USTR Web site, contains 
extensive information on the WTO, the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference 
in Hong Kong, China, and the status of work in the WTO.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Duty-Free Quota-Free Market Access: The TPSC calls attention to the 
decision adopted at the Sixth Ministerial Conference of the WTO in 
December 2005 on duty-free, quota-free (DFQF) market access for LDCs. 
The DFQF decision is contained in Annex F of the Ministerial 
Declaration, which can be found at http://www.wto.org with the document 
symbol ``WT/MIN(05)/DEC''. Ministers agreed that WTO Members would 
implement the DFQF initiative coincident with the implementation of the 
results of the negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). On 
a voluntary basis, WTO Members may also implement sooner.
    Implementation of the DFQF by relevant WTO Members is subject to 
review by Members through the WTO Committee on Trade and Development 
(CTD). On May 15, 2006, the United States submitted a paper to the CTD, 
``Duty-Free, Quota-Free Market Access for the Least-Developed 
Countries: Communication from the United States''. This paper can be 
found at http://www.wto.org with the document symbol ``WT/COMTD/W/
149''. The paper summarizes the U.S. legal and consultative process for 
implementing the DFQF decision, and outlines certain factors and 
related obligations affecting implementation. The TPSC recognizes

[[Page 2317]]

that some factors related to implementation of DFQF can only be 
determined once certain results are obtained in the overall DDA 
negotiations. At this time, however, as part of consultative process, 
the TPSC is seeking comments from the public addressing the range of 
issues that may affect implementation in order to inform the planning 
process. The TPSC may seek further public comments on specific issues 
related to implementation of DFQF at a later time.
    The U.S. International Trade Commission has provided to the TPSC 
the comments received from the public on agricultural and non-
agricultural products as part of its investigation No. 332-440, 
Probable Economic Effects on Reduction or Elimination of U.S. Tariffs, 
August 9, 2002 (Confidential Report). Hence, these comments need not be 
resubmitted.
    Written Submissions: Comments should state clearly the issue 
identified and should contain detailed information explaining why it is 
an issue and, to the extent possible, the means to address the issue. 
The provision of supplemental technical information is optional. This 
information should be provided in an attachment containing a 
spreadsheet or table in Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, Excel, Quatro Pro 
or MS Access.
    Persons submitting comments may either send one copy by fax to 
Gloria Blue, Executive Secretary, Trade Policy Staff Committee, at 
(202) 395-6143 or transmit a copy electronically to 
[email protected], with ``Duty-Free, Quota-Free'' in the subject 
line. For documents sent by fax, USTR requests that the submitter 
provide a confirmation copy electronically. The public is strongly 
encouraged to submit documents electronically rather than by facsimile. 
USTR encourages the use of Adobe PDF format to submit 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.
    Comments should be submitted electronically no later than March 15, 
2007.
    Business confidential information will be subject to the 
requirements of 15 CFR 2003.6. Any business confidential material must 
be clearly marked as such and must be accompanied by a non-confidential 
summary thereof. A justification as to why the information contained in 
the submission should be treated confidentially should also be 
contained in the submission. In addition, any submissions containing 
business confidential information must clearly be marked ``Business 
Confidential'' at the top and bottom of the cover page (or letter) and 
each succeeding page of the submission. The version that does not 
contain business confidential information should also be clearly marked 
at the top and bottom of each page, ``Public Version'' or ``Non-
Confidential.''
    Written comments submitted in connection with this request, except 
for information granted ``business confidential'' status pursuant to 15 
CFR 2003.6 will be available for public inspection in the USTR Reading 
Room, Office of the United States Trade Representative. An appointment 
to review the file can be made by calling (202) 395-6186. The Reading 
Room is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 
p.m. Monday through Friday.

    Dated: January 10, 2007.
Susan C. Schwab,
United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 07-198 Filed 1-12-07; 4:38 pm]
BILLING CODE 3190-W7-P