[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 61 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19033-19034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7566]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. Korea FTA-103-026]


Effect of Adding References to HS 6104.32 To Correct the U.S.-
Korea FTA Product-Specific Rules of Origin

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and notice of opportunity to 
provide written comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on March 22, 2012, from the 
U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) under authority delegated by the 
President and pursuant to section 104 of the United States-Korea Free 
Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3805 note), the 
Commission instituted investigation No. Korea FTA-103-026, Effect of 
Adding References to HS 6104.32 To Correct the U.S.-Korea FTA Product-
Specific Rules of Origin.

DATES: April 18, 2012: Deadline for filing written submissions. On or 
before May 22, 2012: Transmittal of report to USTR.

ADDRESSES: All Commission offices, including the Commission's hearing 
rooms, are located in the United States International Trade Commission 
Building, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC. All written submissions 
should be addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade 
Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436. The public record 
for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic 
docket (EDIS) at http://www.usitc.gov/secretary/edis.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Co-project Leaders Heidi Colby-Oizumi 
(202-205-3391 or [email protected]) or Kimberlie Freund (202-708-
5402 or [email protected]) for information specific to this 
investigation. For information on the legal aspects of this 
investigation, contact William Gearhart of the Commission's Office of 
the General Counsel (202-205-3091 or [email protected]). The 
media should contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations 
(202-205-1819 or [email protected]). Hearing-impaired 
individuals may obtain information on this matter by contacting the 
Commission's TDD terminal at 202-205-1810. General information 
concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its 
Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). Persons with mobility 
impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the 
Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000.
    Background: In his request letter (dated March 22, 2012), the USTR 
asked that the Commission provide advice on the probable effect on U.S. 
trade under the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and 
total U.S. trade of adding references to HS 6104.32 to correct the 
relevant product-specific rules of origin. He stated that the United 
States and Korea have confirmed that a reference to HS 6104.32 was 
inadvertently omitted through a clerical error from the relevant 
product-specific rules of origin in Annex 4-A (specific rules of origin 
for textile or apparel goods) of both the English and Korean language 
versions of the final text of the FTA. He said that HS 6104.32 was the 
subject of negotiations and is included in the corresponding product-
specific rules of origin in other U.S. FTAs. He further stated that, in 
order to correct this clerical error, on March 5, 2012, the United 
States and Korea amended the relevant product-specific rules of origin 
in Annex 4-A to include references to HS 6104.32 and that this 
amendment will go into effect after the United States and Korea 
exchange written notification that they have completed their respective 
applicable legal requirements and procedures. The USTR also noted that, 
pursuant to section 202 (o)(2)(B)(ii) of the United-States-Korea Free 
Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Implementation Act), before the 1-
year period beginning on the date on which the FTA enters into force, 
the President is authorized, subject to the consultation and layover 
provisions of the Implementation Act, to proclaim modifications to the 
HTS to correct any typographical, clerical, or non-substantive 
technical error regarding the provisions of chapters 50-63 (as included 
in Annex 4-A of the FTA).
    Written Submissions: No public hearing is planned. However, 
interested parties are invited to file written submissions and other 
information concerning the matters to be addressed in this 
investigation. All written submissions should be addressed to the 
Secretary. To be assured of consideration by the Commission, written 
submissions relating to the Commission's advice should be submitted at 
the earliest possible date, and should be received not later than 5:15 
p.m., April 18, 2012. All written

[[Page 19034]]

submissions must conform to the provisions of section 201.8 of the 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 201.8). Section 
201.8 and the Commission's Handbook on Filing Procedures require that 
interested parties file documents electronically on or before the 
filing deadline and submit eight (8) true paper copies by 12 noon 
eastern time on the next business day. In the event that confidential 
treatment of a document is requested, interested parties must file, at 
the same time as the eight paper copies, at least four (4) additional 
true paper copies in which the confidential information must be deleted 
(see the following paragraph for further information regarding 
confidential business information). Persons with questions regarding 
electronic filing should contact the Secretary (202-205-2000).
    Any submissions that contain confidential business information must 
also conform to the requirements of section 201.6 of the Commission's 
Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 201.6). Section 201.6 of the 
rules requires that the cover of the document and the individual pages 
be clearly marked as to whether they are the ``confidential'' or ``non-
confidential'' version, and that the confidential business information 
is clearly identified by means of brackets. All written submissions, 
except for confidential business information, will be made available 
for inspection by interested parties.
    The Commission may include some or all of the confidential business 
information submitted in the course of this investigation in the report 
it sends to the USTR and the President.

     Issued: March 26, 2012.

    By order of the Commission.

James R. Holbein,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2012-7566 Filed 3-28-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P