[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 226 (Friday, November 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70092-70093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27984]



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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket No. USTR-2013-0038]


2013 Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review of El Salvador: 
Identification of Countries Under Section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974: 
Request for Public Comment

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Request for written submissions from the public.

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SUMMARY: Section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974 (Trade Act) (19 U.S.C. 
2242) requires the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to 
identify countries that deny adequate and effective protection of 
intellectual property rights (IPR) or deny fair and equitable market 
access to U.S. persons who rely on intellectual property protection. 
(The provisions of Section 182 are commonly referred to as the 
``Special 301'' provisions of the Trade Act.) The USTR is required to 
determine which, if any, of these countries should be identified as 
Priority Foreign Countries. In addition, USTR has created a ``Priority 
Watch List'' and ``Watch List'' under Special 301 provisions. Placement 
of a trading partner on the Priority Watch List or Watch List indicates 
that particular problems exist in that country with respect to IPR 
protection, enforcement, or market access for persons relying on 
intellectual property. Countries placed on the Priority Watch List are 
the focus of increased bilateral attention concerning the problem 
areas.
    In the 2013 Special 301 Report (www.ustr.gov), USTR announced that, 
in order to monitor progress on specific IPR issues, Out-of-Cycle 
Reviews would be conducted for El Salvador and Spain. At this time, 
USTR requests written submissions from the public concerning any act, 
policy, or practice that is relevant to the decision regarding whether 
El Salvador should be identified under Section 182 of the Trade Act. 
Requests for written submissions relating to the review of Spain will 
be made in a separate notice at a later date.

DATES: Submissions from the general public must be received on or 
before 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 13, 2013. Foreign governments who 
choose to make written submissions may do so on or before 10:00 a.m. on 
Friday, December 20, 2013.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be sent electronically to http://www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2013-0038. Submissions should 
contain the term ``2013 Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review of El 
Salvador'' in the ``Type Comment'' field on http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Diehl, Director for 
Intellectual Property and Innovation, Office of the United States Trade 
Representative, at (202) 395-6126.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Section 182 of the Trade Act, 
USTR must identify those countries that deny adequate and effective 
protection for intellectual property rights or deny fair and equitable 
market access to U.S. persons who rely on intellectual property 
protection. Those countries that have the most onerous or egregious 
acts, policies, or practices and whose acts, policies, or practices 
have the greatest adverse impact (actual or potential) on relevant U.S. 
products are to be identified as Priority Foreign Countries. Acts, 
policies, or practices that are the basis of a country's designation as 
a Priority Foreign Country are normally the subject of an investigation 
under the Section 301 provisions of the Trade Act. USTR may not 
identify a country as a Priority Foreign Country if that country is 
entering into good faith negotiations or making significant progress in 
bilateral or multilateral negotiations to provide adequate and 
effective protection of intellectual property rights. In addition, USTR 
has created a ``Priority Watch List'' and a ``Watch List'' under 
Special 301 provisions. Placement of a trading partner on the Priority 
Watch List or Watch List indicates that particular problems exist in 
that country with respect to IPR protection, enforcement, or market 
access for persons relying on intellectual property. Countries placed 
on the Priority Watch List are the focus of increased bilateral 
attention concerning the problem areas.
    USTR requests that, where relevant, submissions mention particular 
regions, provinces, states, or other subdivisions of a country in which 
an act, policy, or practice deserve special attention. Submissions may 
report positive or negative developments with respect to these 
entities.
    Requirements for Comments: Comments should include a description of 
the problems experienced by the submitter and the effect of the acts, 
policies, and practices on U.S. industry. Comments should be as 
detailed as possible and should provide all necessary information for 
assessing the effect of the acts, policies, and practices. Any comments 
that include quantitative loss claims should be accompanied by the 
methodology used in calculating such estimated losses. Comments must be 
in English.
    To ensure the timely receipt and consideration of comments, USTR 
strongly encourages interested persons to make on-line submissions, 
using the www.regulations.gov Web site. To submit comments via 
www.regulations.gov, enter docket number USTR-2013-0038 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 and click on the link entitled ``Comment Now!'' (For 
further information on using the www.regulations.gov Web site, please 
consult the resources provided on the Web site by clicking on ``How to 
use Regulations.gov'' on the bottom of the home page under ``Help''.)
    The www.regulations.gov Web site allows users to provide comments 
by filling in a ``Type Comment'' field, or by attaching a document 
using an ``Upload File'' field. USTR prefers that comments be provided 
in an attached document. If a document is attached, please type ``2013 
Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review of El Salvador'' in the ``Type 
Comment'' field. USTR prefers submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or 
Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. If the submission is in another format, 
please indicate the name of the software application in the ``Type 
Comment'' 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. 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.

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    As noted, USTR strongly urges submitters to file comments through 
www.regulations.gov, if at all possible. Any alternative arrangements 
must be made with Anita Kyler in advance of transmitting a comment. Ms. 
Kyler should be contacted at (202) 395-9665.
    Public Inspection of Comments: Submissions will be placed in the 
docket and open to public inspection pursuant to 15 CFR 2006.13, except 
business confidential information exempt from public inspection in 
accordance with 15 CFR 2006.15. Submissions may be viewed on the 
www.regulations.gov Web site by entering docket number USTR-2013-0038 
in the search field on the home page.

Stanford K. McCoy,
Assistant USTR for Intellectual Property and Innovation.
[FR Doc. 2013-27984 Filed 11-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F4-P