[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 152 (Monday, August 9, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47878-47879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19554]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA); Notice Regarding the 2010 
Annual Review

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice and request for petitions.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the 2010 Annual Review of the Andean 
Trade Preference Act (ATPA). Under this process, petitions may be filed 
calling for the limitation, withdrawal or suspension of ATPA or ATPDEA 
benefits by presenting evidence that the eligibility criteria of the 
program are not being met. USTR will publish a list of petitions filed 
in response to this announcement in the Federal Register.

DATES: The deadline for the submission of petitions for the 2010 Annual 
ATPA Review is September 15, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Petitions should be submitted electronically via the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2010-0018. 
For alternatives to on-line submissions please contact Gloria Blue, 
Executive Secretary, Trade Policy Staff Committee, at (202) 395-3475.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bennett M. Harman, Deputy Assistant 
U.S. Trade Representative for Latin America, Office of the Americas, 
Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th St., NW., 
Washington, DC 20508. The telephone number is (202) 395-9446 and the 
facsimile number is (202) 395-9675.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ATPA (19 U.S.C. 3201-06), as renewed and 
amended by the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) 
in the Trade Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-210) and extended by the Andean 
Trade Preference Act (Pub. L. 110-436), provides for trade benefits for 
eligible Andean countries. The current beneficiaries of the ATPA are 
Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Consistent with Section 3103(d) of the 
ATPDEA, USTR promulgated regulations (15 CFR part 2016) (68 FR 43922) 
regarding the review of eligibility of articles and countries for the 
benefits of the ATPA, as amended. The 2010 Annual ATPA Review is the 
seventh such review to be conducted pursuant to the ATPA review 
regulations. To qualify for the benefits of the ATPA and ATPDEA, each 
country must meet several eligibility criteria, as set forth in 
sections 203(c) and (d), and section 204(b)(6)(B) of the ATPA, as 
amended (19 U.S.C. 3202(c), (d); 19 U.S.C. 3203(b)(6)(B)), and as 
outlined in

[[Page 47879]]

the Federal Register notice USTR published to request public comments 
regarding the designation of eligible countries as ATPDEA beneficiary 
countries (67 FR 53379). Under section 203(e) of the ATPA, as amended 
(19 U.S.C. 3202(e)), the President may withdraw or suspend the 
designation of any country as an ATPA or ATPDEA beneficiary country, 
and may also withdraw, suspend, or limit preferential treatment for any 
product of any such beneficiary country, if the President determines 
that, as a result of changed circumstances, the country is not meeting 
the eligibility criteria.
    The ATPA regulations provide the schedule of dates for conducting 
an annual review, unless otherwise specified by Federal Register 
notice. Notice is hereby given that, in order to be considered in the 
2010 Annual ATPA Review, all petitions to withdraw or suspend the 
designation of a country as an ATPA or ATPDEA beneficiary country, or 
to withdraw, suspend, or limit application of preferential treatment to 
any article of any ATPA beneficiary country under the ATPA, or to any 
article of any ATPDEA beneficiary country under section 204(b)(1), (3), 
or (4) (19 U.S.C. 3202(b)(1), (3), (4)) of the ATPA, must be received 
by the Andean Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee no later 
than 5 p.m. EDT on September 15, 2010. Petitioners should consult 15 
CFR 2016.0 regarding the content of such petitions.
    Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions: To ensure the most 
timely and expeditious receipt and consideration of comments, USTR has 
arranged to accept on-line submissions via http://www.regulations.gov. 
To submit comments via http://www.regulations.gov, enter docket number 
USTR-2010-0018 on the home page and click ``search''. The site will 
provide a search-results page listing all documents associated with 
this docket. Find a reference to this notice by selecting ``Notices'' 
under ``Document Type'' on the search-results page, and click on the 
link entitled ``Submit a Comment.'' (For further information on using 
the http://www.regulations.gov Web site, please consult the resources 
provided on the Web site by clicking on ``How to Use This Site'' on the 
left side of the home page.)
    The http://www.regulations.gov Web site provides the option of 
making submissions by filling in a ``Type Comment & Upload File'' 
field, or by attaching a document. We expect that most submissions will 
be provided in an attached document. If a document is attached, it is 
sufficient to type ``See attached'' in the ``Type Comment & Upload 
File'' field.
    Submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) are 
preferred. If you use an application other than those two, please 
identify the application in your submission.
    Persons wishing to file comments containing business confidential 
information must submit a business confidential version and a public 
version. The file name of the business confidential version should 
begin with the characters ``BC''. Any page containing business 
confidential information must be clearly marked ``BUSINESS 
CONFIDENTIAL'' on the top of that page. Persons wishing to file 
comments containing business confidential information must also 
provide, in a separate submission, a public version of the comments. 
The file name of the public version should begin with the character 
``P''. The ``BC'' and ``P'' should be followed by the name of the 
person or entity submitting the comments. If you submit comments that 
contain no business confidential information, the file name should 
begin with the character ``P'', followed by the name of the person or 
entity submitting the comments. Electronic submissions should not 
attach separate cover letters; rather, information that might appear in 
a cover letter should be included in the comments you submit. 
Similarly, to the extent possible, please include any exhibits, 
annexes, or other attachments to a submission in the same file as the 
submission itself and not as separate files.
    We strongly urge submitters to use electronic filing. If an on-line 
submission is impossible, alternative arrangements must be made with 
Ms. Blue prior to delivery for the receipt of such submissions. Ms. 
Blue may be contacted at (202) 395-3475. General information concerning 
the Office of the United States Trade Representative may be obtained by 
accessing its Internet Web site (http://www.ustr.gov).

Carmen Suro-Bredie,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 2010-19554 Filed 8-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W0-P