[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 195 (Wednesday, October 10, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 57607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4999]



[[Page 57607]]

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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket No. WTO/DS368]


WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding Regarding U.S. Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Measures on Coated Free Sheet Paper From China

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 September 14, 2007, the People's Republic of 
China (``China'') requested consultations with the United States under 
the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization 
(``WTO Agreement'') concerning certain U.S. preliminary antidumping and 
countervailing duty determinations involving coated free sheet paper 
imported from China (Department of Commerce Case Nos. A-570-906 and A-
570-907). That request may be found at http://www.wto.org contained in 
a document designated as WT/SD368/1. 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 
October 31, 2007 to be assured of timely consideration by USTR.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted (i) electronically, to 
[email protected], with ``China Coated Paper (DS368)'' 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: James P. Kelleher, Associate General 
Counsel, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th 
Street, NW., Washington, DC, (202) 395-3150.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 127(b) of the Uruguay Round 
Agreements Act (URAA) (19 U.S.C. 3537(b)(1)) requires that notice and 
opportunity for comment be provided after the United States submits or 
receives a request for the establishment of a WTO dispute settlement 
panel. In an effort to provide additional opportunity for comment, USTR 
is providing notice that consultations have been requested pursuant to 
the WTO Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement 
of Disputes (``DSU''). If such consultations should fail to resolve the 
matter and a dispute settlement panel is established pursuant to the 
DSU, such panel, which would hold its meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, 
would be expected to issue a report on its findings and recommendations 
within approximately nine months after it is established.

Major Issues Raised by China

    China's consultations request concerns the Department of Commerce's 
preliminary antidumping and countervailing duty determinations 
regarding coated free sheet paper imported from China:

     ``Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair 
Value and Postponement of Final Determination: Coated Free Sheet 
Paper from the People's Republic of China,'' (72 Federal Register 
(``FR'') 30758 of 4 June 2007); and
     ``Coated Free Sheet Paper from China: Amended 
Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination,'' (72 FR 
17484 of 9 April 2007).

    With respect to these preliminary determinations, China's request 
raises issues regarding (1) the determinations that the countervailed 
subsidies were ``specific'' or limited to certain industries or 
companies, (2) the benefit calculation for a government loan program, 
(3) the calculation of the amount of subsidy, and (4) the calculation 
of the amount of dumping.

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 ``China 
Coated Paper (DS368)'' 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 commenter. 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.
    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. 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 WTO/DS-368 China Coated Paper) 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. 07-4999 Filed 10-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W8-P