[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 60 (Friday, March 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17637-17638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06831]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Request for Comments on an Environmental Goods Agreement

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Request for comments and notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: On March 21, 2014, the United States Trade Representative 
notified Congress of the Administration's intention to enter into 
negotiations for a World Trade Organization Environmental Goods 
Agreement. A copy of the notification is available at www.ustr.gov/sites/default/files/03212014-Letter-to-Congress.pdf. The Office of the 
U.S. Trade Representative, on behalf of the Trade Policy Staff 
Committee (TPSC), is seeking public comments regarding U.S. interests 
and priorities with respect to this initiative. Comments may be 
provided in writing and orally at a public hearing.

DATES: Written comments are due by midnight, May 5, 2014. Persons 
wishing to testify orally at the hearing must provide written 
notification of their intention, as well as a summary of their 
testimony, by midnight, May 5, 2014. The hearing will be held in 
Washington, DC, on June 5, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Comments from the public should be submitted electronically 
at www.regulations.gov. If you are unable to provide submissions at 
www.regulations.gov, please contact Yvonne Jamison, Trade Policy Staff 
Committee (TPSC), at (202) 395-3475, to arrange for an alternative 
method of transmission.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For procedural questions concerning 
written comments, please contact Yvonne Jamison, Trade Policy 
Coordination Assistant, at the above number. All other questions 
regarding this notice should be directed to Bill McElnea, Director for 
Environment and Natural Resources, at (202) 395-7320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On January 24, a group of 14 WTO Members (Australia, Canada, China, 
Costa Rica, the European Union, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, 
Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, and the United States) 
accounting for 86 percent of global trade in environmental goods 
announced in a joint statement their interest in negotiating an 
agreement to eliminate tariffs on environmental goods that are needed 
to protect the environment and address climate change. Examples of such 
environmental goods include solar panels, wind turbines, and catalytic 
converters, among others. The joint statement is available at: http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2014/January/USTR-Froman-remarks-on-new-talks-towards-increased-trade-environmental-goods.
    The negotiations for an environmental goods agreement (EGA) will be 
open to all WTO Members that are prepared to eliminate tariffs on a set 
of environmental goods, building on the list of 54 environmental goods 
endorsed by APEC Leaders in 2012. The list of 54 environmental goods 
endorsed by Asia-Pacific Leaders is available at http://www.apec.org/Meeting-Papers/Leaders-Declarations/2012/2012_aelm/2012_aelm_annexC.aspx. Some WTO Members charge tariffs as high as 35 percent on 
some of these products. This list of products is the starting point for 
establishing the scope of the proposed agreement and we seek comments 
on additional products that could be included in the negotiations.
    USTR is observing the relevant procedures of the Bipartisan Trade 
Promotion Authority Act of 2002 (19 U.S.C. 3804) with respect to 
notifying and consulting with Congress regarding such negotiations. The 
TPSC intends to hold a public hearing on specific issues pertaining to 
negotiations on an agreement to eliminate tariffs on environmental 
goods on June 5, 2014.

Comments From the Public and Hearing

    The Chair of the TPSC invites interested persons to provide written 
comments and/or oral testimony at a public hearing that will assist 
USTR in assessing the proposed agreement. The TPSC Chair invites 
comments on all relevant matters, and, in particular, on the following: 
(1) Products that the United States should seek to include under the 
EGA, including a detailed description of the specific product, and as 
appropriate, the 6-digit (or 8-digit or 10-digit, where applicable) 
Harmonized System tariff classification number; (2) environmental uses 
and benefits of the products being proposed for inclusion; (3) U.S. 
trading partners that are significant producers or consumers of 
environmental goods; and (4) how best to ensure that such an agreement 
remains relevant into the future.
    A hearing will be held on June 5, 2014, in Rooms 1 and 2, at 1724 F 
Street NW., Washington, DC. Persons wishing to testify at the hearing 
must provide written notification of their intention by May 5, 2014. 
The notification should include: (1) The name, address, and

[[Page 17638]]

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, 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.

Requirements for Submissions

    Persons submitting comments must do so in English and must identify 
(on the first page of the submission) ``Environmental Goods 
Agreement''. In order to be assured of consideration, comments should 
be submitted by 11:59 p.m., May 5, 2014. In order to ensure the timely 
receipt and consideration of comments, USTR strongly encourages 
commenters to make on-line submissions using the www.regulations.gov 
Web site. To submit comments via www.regulations.gov, enter docket 
number USTR-2014-0004 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 This Site'' on the left side 
of the home page).
    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, it is sufficient to 
type ``See attached'' in the ``Type Comment'' field. USTR 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 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 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.
    As noted, USTR strongly urges submitters to file comments through 
www.regulations.gov, if at all possible. Any alternative arrangements 
must be made with Ms. Jamison in advance of transmitting a comment. Ms. 
Jamison should be contacted at (202) 395-3475. General information 
concerning USTR is available at www.ustr.gov. Comments will be placed 
in the docket and open to public inspection, except business 
confidential information. Comments may be viewed on the 
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. 2014-06831 Filed 3-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F4-P