[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 174 (Monday, September 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55135-55136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21836]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Request for Comments on Additional Participants in Trade in 
Services Agreement

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: On January 15, 2013, the United States Trade Representative 
notified Congress of the Administration's intention to enter into 
negotiations for a Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) with an initial 
group of 20 trading partners. The January 15 notification states that 
the group negotiating TISA ``will expand as negotiations progress to 
include others who share our ambitious goals. This expansion will help 
further U.S. objectives for this agreement rather than change them.'' 
The TISA negotiating countries agree that two additional trading 
partners, Paraguay and Liechtenstein, are willing and able to meet the 
high standards envisioned for the agreement. The negotiating countries 
have formed a consensus to allow these new participants to join the 
negotiations. The Office of the United States Trade Representative 
(USTR) is seeking public comments regarding particular priorities with 
respect to the participation of these two countries in the 
negotiations.

DATES: Written comments are due by October 4, 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 Thomas 
Fine at (202) 395-6875.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 15, 2013, Ambassador Kirk 
notified Congress of the Administration's intention to enter into the 
TISA negotiations. The TISA negotiations will be compatible with and 
will build upon the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services, because 
TISA partners are aiming for a high-standard agreement, which, at some 
point in the future, may be brought under the auspices of the WTO 
Agreement.
    The following 20 trading partners constituted the initial group of 
TISA participants: 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. USTR solicited public 
comments on the agreement through a notification published in the 
Federal Register on January 24, 2013 (Document number: 2013-01497). 
Comments received through that process may be reviewed at http://www.regulations.gov under docket number USTR-2013-0001.
    With the addition of Paraguay and Liechtenstein to the negotiating 
group, the Chair of the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) 
now invites interested persons to provide written comments that will 
assist USTR in assessing U.S. objectives with regard to their 
participation. The TPSC Chair invites comments on all relevant matters, 
and, in particular, with regard to the nature of any existing barriers 
to trade in services with these markets or issues affecting the supply 
of services to these markets through various modes of supply and 
technologies.

Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions

    Persons submitting written comments must do so in English and must 
identify (on the first page of the submission) ``Trade in Services 
Agreement: New Participants--Paraguay and Liechtenstein.'' In order to 
be assured of consideration, comments should be submitted by October 4, 
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-2013-0029. To find 
the docket, enter the docket number in the ``Enter Keyword or ID'' 
window at the http://www.regulations.gov home page and

[[Page 55136]]

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 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. 2013-21836 Filed 9-6-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F3-P