[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 98 (Tuesday, May 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 28729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-2554]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket No. NAFTA/DS-USA-Mex-2007-2008-01]


NAFTA Dispute Settlement Proceeding by Mexico Regarding U.S. 
Measures Affecting Sweetener Trade With Mexico and Related NAFTA 
Dispute Settlement

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 on March 15, 2007, Mexico requested 
consultations, under Article 2006 of the North American Free Trade 
Agreement (``NAFTA''), regarding certain U.S. measures, proposed 
measures, and actions alleged to be affecting the markets for sugar, 
syrup goods and high fructose corn syrup or alleged to be inconsistent 
with NAFTA dispute settlement obligations. 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 consultations, comments should be submitted on or before 
June 4, 2007 to be assured of timely consideration by USTR.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted (i) electronically, to 
[email protected], with ``U.S. Sugar Measures (USA-Mex-2007-2008-
01)'' in the subject line, or (ii) by fax, to Sandy McKinzy at (202) 
395-3640, with a confirmation copy sent electronically to the 
electronic mail address above, in accordance with the requirements for 
submission set out below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy A. Karpel, Assistant General 
Counsel, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th 
Street, NW., Washington, DC (202) 395-3150.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USTR is providing notice that Mexico has 
requested consultations pursuant to Chapter Twenty of the NAFTA 
``Institutional Arrangements and Dispute Settlement Procedures'' 
(Chapter Twenty).

Major Issues Raised by Mexico

    On March 15, 2007, Mexico requested consultations with the United 
States regarding certain U.S. measures, proposed measures, and actions 
alleged to be affecting the markets for sugar, syrup goods and high 
fructose corn syrup or alleged to be inconsistent with NAFTA dispute 
settlement obligations. The measures at issue include, but are not 
limited to: (i) The alleged refusal of the United States to grant 
Mexican origin sugar access to the U.S. market in accordance with the 
provisions of Annex 703.2 and (ii) the alleged U.S. declining to 
appoint panelists and otherwise refusing to cooperate in the 
establishment of a panel and the operation of the dispute settlement 
mechanism of Chapter Twenty.
    Mexico cites to the provisions of Chapters Three, Seven and Twenty 
of the NAFTA relating to trade in sugar, syrup goods and high fructose 
corn syrup.

Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions

    Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning the issues raised in the dispute. Comments should be 
submitted (i) electronically, to [email protected], with ``U.S. Sugar 
Measures (USA-Mex-2007-2008-01)'' in the subject line, or (ii) by fax, 
to Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395-3640, with a confirmation copy sent 
electronically to the electronic mail address 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.
    Comments must be in English. 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 ``Business Confidential'' must be marked 
at the top and bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page. 
Persons who submit confidential business information are encouraged 
also to provide a non-confidential summary of the information.
    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 submitter believes that information 
or advice may qualify as such, the submitter--
    (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 the cover page and each succeeding page; and
    (3) Is encouraged to provide a non-confidential summary of the 
information or advice.
    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 an arbitral panel is convened, the U.S. submissions, 
the submissions or non-confidential summaries of submissions received 
from other participants in the dispute; and the report of the panel. 
The USTR Reading Room is open to the public, by appointment only, from 
10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. An 
appointment to review the public file (Docket NAFTA/DS-USA-Mex-2007-
2008-01 U.S. Sugar Measures Dispute) may be made by calling the USTR 
Reading Room at (202) 395-6186.

Daniel Brinza,
Assistant United States Trade Representative for Monitoring and 
Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 07-2554 Filed 5-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W7-P