[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 57 (Monday, March 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15544-15545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5885]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket No. WTO/DS373]


WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding Regarding China--Measures 
Affecting Financial Information Services and Foreign Financial 
Information Suppliers

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 3, 2008, in accordance with the 
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO 
Agreement), the United States requested consultations with China 
regarding restrictions and requirements China imposes on financial 
information services and service suppliers. That request may be found 
at http://www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/DS373/1. 
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 dispute, comments should be submitted on or before April 
18, 2008 to be assured of timely consideration by USTR.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted (i) electronically, to 
[email protected], with ``China Financial Information Services 
(DS373)'' 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: USTR is providing notice that the United 
States has requested consultations with China 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 nine months after it is established.

Major Issues Raised by the United States

    On March 3, 2008, the United States requested consultations with 
China regarding restrictions and requirements that China imposes on 
financial information services and service suppliers. China requires 
foreign financial information suppliers to supply their services 
through an entity designated by Xinhua News Agency (``Xinhua''). Xinhua 
has designated one of its commercial enterprises as the only available 
agent. Xinhua, through its organizational structure, including related 
entities and affiliates, appears to be not only the regulator but also 
a competitor of foreign financial information suppliers. For example, 
Xinhua has launched ``Xinhua 08'', a financial information supplier 
that supplies services on a commercial basis and in competition with 
foreign service suppliers. China also appears to prevent foreign 
financial information service suppliers from establishing any 
commercial operations in China other than limited representative 
offices. China's measures include the following, as well as any 
amendments and related or implementing measures:
     Notice Authorizing Xinhua News Agency To Implement 
Centralized Administration Over the Release of Economic Information in 
the People's Republic of China by Foreign News Agencies and Their 
Subsidiary Information Institutions (December 31, 1995);
     Decision on Establishing Administrative Permission for the

[[Page 15545]]

Administrative Examination and Approval of Items That Must Be Retained 
(June 29, 2004);
     Measures for Administering the Release of News and 
Information in China by Foreign News Agencies (September 10, 2006);
     Notices on the Annual Inspection of Foreign News 
Dissemination Entities;
     Catalogue of Industries for Guiding Foreign Investment 
(October 31, 2007);
     Decisions of the State Council Regarding Entrance of Non-
Public Capital Into Cultural Industries (April 13, 2005);
     Several Opinions on Introducing Foreign Investment Into 
the Cultural Sector (July 6, 2005);
     Opinion on Foreign Investment in Cultural Industries 
(August 5, 2005);
     Detailed Rules on the Approval and Control of Resident 
Representative Offices of Foreign Enterprises (February 13, 1995);
     Procedures of the State Administration for Industry and 
Commerce for the Registration and Administration of Resident 
Representative Offices of Foreign Enterprises (March 5, 1983);
     Rules for Internet Information Services (September 2000); 
and
     Administrative Rules for Internet News Information 
Services (September 25, 2005);
    These and other requirements and restrictions appear to accord less 
favorable treatment to foreign financial information services and 
service suppliers than that accorded Chinese financial information 
services and service suppliers which are not affected by these 
requirements and restrictions. China's measures also appear to impose 
requirements on foreign financial information suppliers that are more 
restrictive than those imposed on them at the time of China's accession 
to the WTO.
    USTR believes these measures are inconsistent with China's 
obligations under Articles XVI, XVII, and XVIII of the General 
Agreement on Trade in Services and Part I.1.2 of the Protocol on the 
Accession of the People's Republic of China, including paragraph 309 of 
the Working Party Report.

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 
Financial Information Services (DS373)'' 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-373, China Financial Information Services 
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. E8-5885 Filed 3-21-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W8-P