[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 24, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 20389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-7809]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Notice of Cancellation of Public Hearing on Potential Withdrawal 
of Tariff Concessions and Increase in Applied Duties in Response to 
European Union (EU) Enlargement

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of cancellation of April 24, 2007 public hearing 
concerning a list of goods for which tariff concessions may be 
withdrawn and duties may be increased in the event the United States 
cannot reach agreement with the European Communities (EC) for adequate 
compensation owed under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules as a 
result of EU enlargement.

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SUMMARY: On March 22, 2007, USTR published FR Doc E7-5268 (Vol. 72, No. 
55) announcing that the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) was seeking 
public comment on a list of goods for which U.S. tariff concessions may 
be withdrawn and applied duties may be raised and announcing that the 
TPSC will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 24, 2007, on the 
list. All respondents to this notice have chosen to submit their 
comments in writing only and there were no requests to testify. 
Therefore, the April 24 public hearing will be cancelled.
    The United States is continuing to negotiate with the EU regarding 
the EU's provision of adequate and permanent compensation to the United 
States for an event that increased duties on U.S. imports to EU markets 
above WTO bound rates of duty. On January 1, 2007, as part of its 
enlargement process, the EU raised tariffs above bound rates on some 
imports into the countries of Romania and Bulgaria. If this issue is 
not resolved, the United States may seek to exercise its rights under 
Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 
(``GATT 1994'') to withdraw substantially equivalent concessions and 
raise tariffs on select goods primarily supplied by the EU.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions should be directed to: 
Laurie Molnar, Director for European Trade Issues, (202) 395-3320; 
Office of the United States Trade Representative.

Carmen Suro-Bredie,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
 [FR Doc. E7-7809 Filed 4-23-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W7-P