[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 141 (Monday, July 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43133-43135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17933]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Request for Comments on Negotiating Objectives With Respect to
Mexico's Participation in the Proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade
Agreement
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Request for comments on negotiating objectives with respect to
Mexico's participation in the ongoing negotiations of a Trans-Pacific
Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, and notice of public hearing.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The United States intends to commence negotiations with Mexico
as part of the ongoing negotiations of a TPP trade agreement. Including
Mexico in the TPP negotiations furthers the objective of achieving a
high-standard, broad-based Asia-Pacific regional agreement. The Office
of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is seeking public
comments on all elements related to Mexico's participation in the TPP
negotiations in order to develop U.S. negotiating positions.
DATES: Persons wishing to testify orally at the hearing must provide
written notification of their intention, as well as their testimony, by
September 4, 2012. The hearing will be held in Washington, DC, on
September 21, 2012. Written comments are due by noon, September 4,
2012.
ADDRESSES: Submissions via on-line: www.regulations.gov. For
alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact Donald W. Eiss at
(202) 395-3475.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions concerning requirements
for written comments, please contact Donald W. Eiss at (202) 395-3475.
All other questions regarding this notice should be directed to Kent
Shigetomi, Director for Mexico and NAFTA, at (202) 395-3412.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background
On November 13, 2011, Mexican Economy Secretary Bruno Ferrari
stated Mexico's intention to begin consultations with the current TPP
participating countries regarding Mexico's participation in the TPP
negotiations. On December 7, 2011, USTR published notices in the
Federal Register (76 FR 76479), seeking public comments on Mexico's
possible participation in the TPP negotiations.
On July 9, 2012, following consultations with relevant
Congressional committees and after having reached consensus on Mexico's
participation with the other TPP negotiating partners (Australia,
Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and
Vietnam), the U.S. Trade Representative informed Congress that the
President intends to commence negotiations with Mexico in the context
of the ongoing negotiations of the TPP. The objective of this
negotiation is to achieve a high-standard, 21st century agreement with
a membership and coverage that provides economically significant market
access opportunities for America's workers, manufacturers, service
suppliers, farmers, ranchers, and small businesses. The addition of
Mexico to the group of TPP negotiating partners will contribute
meaningfully to the achievement of these goals.
In addition, under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C.
2151, 2153), in the case of an agreement such as the proposed TPP trade
agreement, the President must (i) afford interested
[[Page 43134]]
persons an opportunity to present their views regarding any matter
relevant to the proposed agreement, (ii) designate an agency or inter-
agency committee to hold a public hearing regarding the proposed
agreement, and (iii) seek the advice of the U.S. International Trade
Commission (ITC) regarding the probable economic effects on U.S.
industries and consumers of the removal of tariffs and non-tariff
barriers on imports pursuant to the proposed agreement.
USTR intends to hold a public hearing on matters related to
Mexico's participation in the TPP negotiations on September 21, 2012.
In addition, USTR has requested the ITC to provide advice to USTR on
the probable economic effects of including Mexico in a TPP agreement.
2. Public Comments
To assist USTR as it develops its negotiating objectives for the
agreement, the Trade Policy Subcommittee Chair invites interested
persons to submit written comments and/or oral testimony at a public
hearing on matters relevant to Mexico's participation in the TPP
negotiations. Members of the public who submitted comments in response
to the earlier request (76 FR 76479) need not make an additional
submission unless the comments are different.
Comments and testimony may address the reduction or elimination of
tariffs or non-tariff barriers on any articles provided for in the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) that are
products of Mexico, any concession that should be sought by the United
States, or any other matter relevant to the inclusion of Mexico in the
proposed TPP agreement. The TPSC Chair invites comments on all of these
matters and, in particular, seeks comments addressed to:
(a) General and product-specific negotiating objectives for Mexico
in the context of this proposed regional agreement.
(b) Economic costs and benefits to U.S. producers and consumers of
removal of tariffs and removal or reduction in non-tariff barriers on
articles traded with Mexico.
(c) Treatment of specific goods (described by HTSUS numbers) under
the proposed regional agreement, including comments on--
(1) Product-specific import or export interests or barriers,
(2) experience with particular measures that should be addressed in
the negotiations, and
(3) approach to tariff negotiations, including ways to address
export priorities and import sensitivities related to Mexico in the
context of this regional agreement.
(d) Adequacy of existing customs measures to ensure that qualifying
imported goods from TPP countries, including Mexico, receive
preferential treatment, and appropriate rules of origin for goods
entering the United States under the proposed regional agreement.
(e) Existing sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical
barriers to trade imposed by Mexico that should be addressed in the
negotiations.
(f) Existing barriers to trade in services between the United
States and Mexico that should be addressed in the negotiations.
(g) Relevant electronic commerce issues that should be addressed in
the negotiations.
(h) Relevant trade-related intellectual property rights issues that
should be addressed in the negotiations.
(i) Relevant investment issues that should be addressed in the
negotiations.
(j) Relevant competition-related matters that should be addressed
in the negotiations.
(k) Relevant government procurement issues that should be addressed
in the negotiations.
(l) Relevant environmental issues that should be addressed in the
negotiations.
(m) Relevant labor issues that should be addressed in the
negotiations.
In addition to the matters described above, USTR is addressing new
and emerging issues in this proposed regional agreement. Specifically,
USTR is considering new approaches designed to promote innovation and
competitiveness, encourage new technologies and emerging economic
sectors, increase the participation of small- and medium-sized
businesses in trade, and support the development of efficient
production and supply chains that include U.S. firms in order to
encourage firms to invest and produce in the United States. The Chair
of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TSPC) invites comments regarding
how Mexico's participation in the negotiations might affect these new
approaches. The TPSC Chair also invites comments on the impact of
Mexico's participation in the negotiations on other trade-related
priorities in this regional agreement, including environmental
protection and conservation, transparency, workers rights and
protections, development, and other issues.
USTR has already provided notice and requested comments on the
scope for an environmental review of the proposed TPP trade agreement
(see 75 FR 14470, March 25, 2010). As described above, the present
notice invites comments on, among other topics, environmental issues to
be addressed in the TPP negotiations to take into account Mexico's
participation in the negotiation. Further comments are also invited on
the environmental review, including possible changes in the scope or
other issues that should be addressed in the review. At a later date,
USTR, through the TPSC, will publish notice of reviews regarding the
impact of the proposed agreement on U.S. employment and labor markets.
These reviews will take into account Mexico's participation in the
negotiations.
A hearing will be held on September 21, 2012, in Rooms 1, and 2,
1724 F Street NW., Washington, DC. Persons wishing to testify at the
hearing must provide written notification of their intention by
September 4, 2012. The notification should include: (1) The name,
address, and telephone number of the person presenting the testimony;
and (2) a short (one or two paragraph) summary of the presentation,
including the subject matter and, as applicable, the products(s) (with
HTSUS numbers), service sector(s), or other subjects (such as
investment, intellectual property and/or government procurement) to be
discussed. A copy of the testimony must accompany the notification.
Remarks at the hearing should be limited to no more than five minutes
to allow for possible questions from the TPSC. Persons with mobility
impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the
hearing should contact the TPSC Executive Secretary.
Interested persons, including persons who participate in the
hearing, may submit written comments by no later than noon, September
4, 2012.
Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions
Persons submitting written comments must do so in English and must
identify (on the first page of the submission) ``Participation of
Mexico in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Negotiations.'' Persons
may submit public comments electronically to www.regulations.gov docket
number USTR-2012-0014. In order to be assured of consideration,
comments should be submitted by noon, September 4, 2012.
In order to ensure the timely receipt and consideration of
comments, USTR strongly encourages commenters to make on-line
submissions, using the http://www.regulations.gov Web site. Comments
should be submitted under the following docket: USTR-2012-0014. To find
the docket, enter the docket number in the ``Enter Keyword or ID''
window at the http://
[[Page 43135]]
www.regulations.gov 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 www.regulations.gov Web site, please consult the resources provided
on the web site by clicking on the ``Help'' tab.)
The http://www.regulations.gov Web site provides the option of
providing comments using the ``Type Comments'' field, or by attaching a
document using the ``Upload File(s)'' field. USTR prefers submissions
to be provided in an attached document. If a document is attached, it
is sufficient to type ``See attached'' in the ``Type Comments'' field.
USTR also prefers submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat
(.pdf). If the submission is in an application other than those two,
please indicate the name of the application in the ``Type Comments''
field.
For any comments submitted electronically containing business
confidential information, 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. Filers of submissions
containing business confidential information must also submit a public
version of their 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 or reply
comments. Filers submitting comments containing no business
confidential information should name their file using the character
``P,'' followed by the name of the person or entity submitting the
comments.
Please do not attach separate cover letters to electronic
submissions; rather, include any information that might appear in a
cover letter in the comments themselves. Similarly, to the extent
possible, please include any exhibits, annexes, or other attachments in
the same file as the submission itself, not as separate files.
USTR strongly urges submitters to file comments through
www.regulations.gov, if at all possible. Any alternative arrangements
must be made with Donald W. Eiss in advance of transmitting a comment.
Mr. Eiss should be contacted at (202) 395-3475. General information
concerning USTR is available at http://www.ustr.gov.
Douglas Bell,
Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 2012-17933 Filed 7-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F2-P