[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 7, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10264-10265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4020]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Determination Regarding Waiver of Discriminatory Purchasing 
Requirements With Respect to Goods and Services Covered by Chapter 9 of 
the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade 
Agreement for the Dominican Republic

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Determination Regarding Waiver of Discriminatory Purchasing 
Requirements under the Trade Agreements Act of 1979.

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DATES: Effective Date: March 1, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Heilman Grier, Senior Procurement 
Negotiator, Office of the United States Trade Representative, (202) 
395-9476.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 5, 2004, the United States and the 
Dominican Republic entered into the Dominican Republic-Central America-
United States Free Trade Agreement (``the CAFTA-DR''). Chapter 9 of the 
CAFTA-DR sets forth certain obligations with respect to government 
procurement of goods and services, as specified in Annex 9.1.2(b)(i) of 
the CAFTA-DR. On August 2, 2005, the President signed into law the 
Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement 
Implementation Act (``the Act'') (Pub. L. No. 109-53, 119 Stat. 462). 
In section 101(a) of the Act, the Congress approved the CAFTA-DR. The 
CAFTA-DR will enter into force on March 1, 2007, for the Dominican 
Republic.
    Section 1-201 of Executive Order 12260 of December 31, 1980 
delegated the functions of the President under Sections 301 and 302 of 
the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (``the Trade Agreements Act'') (19 
U.S.C. 2511, 2512) to the United States Trade Representative.

[[Page 10265]]

    Determination: In conformity with sections 301 and 302 of the Trade 
Agreements Act, and in order to carry out U.S. obligations under the 
CAFTA-DR, I hereby determine that:
    1. The Dominican Republic is a country, other than a major 
industrialized country, which, pursuant to the CAFTA-DR, will provide 
appropriate reciprocal competitive government procurement opportunities 
to United States products and services and suppliers of such products 
and services. In accordance with Section 301(b)(3) of the Trade 
Agreements Act, the Dominican Republic is so designated for purposes of 
Section 301(a) of the Trade Agreements Act.
    2. Accordingly, beginning on March 1, 2007, with respect to 
eligible products (namely, those goods and services covered under the 
CAFTA-DR for procurement by the United States) of the Dominican 
Republic and suppliers of such products, the application of any law, 
regulation, procedure, or practice regarding government procurement 
that would, if applied to such products and suppliers, result in 
treatment less favorable than that accorded--

    (A) To United States products and suppliers of such products; or
    (B) To eligible products of another foreign country or 
instrumentality which is a party to the Agreement on Government 
Procurement referred to in section 101(d)(17) of the Uruguay Round 
Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d)(17)) and suppliers of such 
products, shall be waived. This waiver shall be applied by all 
entities listed in the Schedule of the United States to Section A of 
Annex 9.1.2(b)(i) and in List A of Section C of Annex 9.1.2(b)(i) of 
the CAFTA-DR.
    3. The Trade Representative may modify or withdraw the designation 
in paragraph 1 and the waiver in paragraph 2.

    Dated: February 28, 2007.
Susan C. Schwab,
United States Trade Representative.
 [FR Doc. E7-4020 Filed 3-6-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W7-P