[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 132 (Friday, July 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 39829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16955]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Determination Regarding Waiver of Discriminatory Purchasing 
Requirements With Respect to Goods and Services of Montenegro

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Determination Regarding Waiver of Discriminatory Purchasing 
Requirements under the Trade Agreements Act of 1979.

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DATES: Effective Date: July 15, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Pietan, Director of 
International Procurement Policy, Office of the United States Trade 
Representative, (202) 395-9646.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 29, 2014, the WTO Committee on 
Government Procurement approved the accession of Montenegro to the 
World Trade Organization (``WTO'') Agreement on Government Procurement 
(``GPA''). Montenegro submitted its instrument of accession to the 
Secretary-General of the WTO on June 15, 2015. The GPA will enter into 
force for Montenegro on July 15, 2015. The United States, which is also 
a party to the GPA, has agreed to waive discriminatory purchasing 
requirements for eligible products and suppliers of Montenegro 
beginning on July 15, 2015.
    Section 1-201 of Executive Order 12260 of December 31, 1980 
delegated the functions of the President under sections 301 and 302 of 
the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (``the Trade Agreements Act'') (19 
U.S.C. 2511, 2512) to the United States Trade Representative.
    Determination: In conformity with sections 301 and 302 of the Trade 
Agreements Act, and in order to carry out U.S. obligations under the 
GPA, I hereby determine that:
    1. Montenegro has become a party to the GPA and will provide 
appropriate reciprocal competitive government procurement opportunities 
to United States products and services and suppliers of such products 
and services. In accordance with section 301(b)(1) of the Trade 
Agreements Act, Montenegro is so designated for purposes of section 
301(a) of the Trade Agreements Act.
    2. Accordingly, beginning on July 15, 2015, with respect to 
eligible products (namely, those goods and services covered under the 
GPA for procurement by the United States) of Montenegro and suppliers 
of such products, the application of any law, regulation, procedure, or 
practice regarding government procurement that would, if applied to 
such products and suppliers, result in treatment less favorable than 
that accorded--
    (A) To United States products and suppliers of such products, or
    (B) To eligible products of another foreign country or 
instrumentality which is a party to the GPA and suppliers of such 
products, shall be waived. This waiver shall be applied by all entities 
listed in United States Annexes 1 and 3 of GPA Appendix 1.
    3. The Trade Representative may modify or withdraw the designation 
in paragraph 1 and the waiver in paragraph 2.

Michael B.G. Froman,
United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2015-16955 Filed 7-9-15; 8:45 am]
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