[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 16 (Thursday, January 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5238-5239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01497]


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 TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Request for Comments on an International Services Agreement

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Request for comments and notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: On January 15, 2013, the United States Trade Representative 
notified Congress of the Administration's intention to enter into 
negotiations for an International Services Agreement (ISA) with an 
initial group of 20 trading partners. The Office of the United States 
Trade Representative (USTR) is seeking public comments regarding U.S. 
interests and priorities with regard to this initiative. Comments may 
be provided in writing and orally at a public hearing.

DATES: Persons wishing to testify orally at the hearing must provide 
written notification of their intention, as well as their testimony, by 
February 26, 2013. The hearing will be held in Washington, DC, on March 
12, 2013. Written comments are due by noon, February 26, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Submissions via on-line: http://www.regulations.gov. For 
alternatives to on-line submissions please contact Yvonne Jamison at 
(202) 395-3475.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions concerning requirements 
for written comments, please contact Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395-3475. 
All other questions regarding this notice should be directed to Amanda 
Horan at (202) 395-4510.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following twenty trading partners have 
expressed their intention to participate in negotiations with the 
United States to establish an ISA: Australia, Canada, Chile, Chinese 
Taipei, Colombia, Costa Rica, European Union on behalf of its member 
states, Hong Kong China, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New 
Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Switzerland, and Turkey. This 
group, which may expand as the negotiations proceed, includes a range 
of developed and developing economies, representing nearly two-thirds 
of global trade in services.
    The agreement envisioned will place a high priority on enabling 
U.S. service suppliers to compete on the basis of quality and 
competence rather than nationality. The scope would be comprehensive, 
permitting the coverage of all services. To remain relevant into the 
future, the agreement would be flexible enough to address new issues 
arising in the global marketplace and changes in the way services are 
traded.
    The Chair of the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) 
invites interested persons to provide written comments and/or oral 
testimony at a public hearing that will assist USTR in assessing U.S. 
objectives for the proposed agreement. The TPSC Chair invites comments 
on all relevant matters, and, in particular, on the following:
    (a) Economic costs and benefits to U.S. service suppliers and 
consumers of eliminating barriers to services traded either on a cross-
border basis or through a foreign commercial presence; (b) existing 
barriers to trade in services that should be addressed; (c) areas where 
existing international rules governing services trade, such as those 
found in the General Agreement on Trade in Services and U.S. free trade 
agreements, could be strengthened or enhanced; (d) relevant issues 
related to the supply of services through various modes of supply and 
technologies.

[[Page 5239]]

Public Comment

Requirements for Submissions

    A hearing will be held on March 12, 2013, 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 February 26, 
2013. 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 service sector(s) or subjects 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 Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395-3475.
    Persons submitting written comments must do so in English and must 
identify (on the first page of the submission) ``International Services 
Agreement.'' In order to be assured of consideration, comments should 
be submitted by noon, February 26, 2013. 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-2013-0001. To find the docket, enter the docket 
number in the ``Enter Keyword or ID'' window at the http://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 ``Comment Now!'' (For further information on using the 
http://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 
making submissions by filling in a ``Type Comment'' field, or by 
attaching a document using the ``Upload File'' 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 
Comment'' 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 
``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 http://www.regulations.gov, if at all possible. Any alternative arrangements 
must be made with Yvonne Jamison in advance of transmitting a comment. 
Ms. Jamison should be contacted at (202) 395-3475. General information 
concerning USTR is available at http://www.ustr.gov.

Public Inspection of Submissions

    Comments will be placed in the docket and open to public 
inspection, except business confidential information. Comments may be 
viewed on the http:www.regulations.gov Web site by entering the 
relevant docket number in the search field on the home page.

Douglas Bell,
Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 2013-01497 Filed 1-23-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F3-P