[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 146 (Friday, July 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 50045]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17973]


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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 the Republic of 
Moldova

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On September 21, 2015, the WTO Committee on Government 
Procurement approved the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the 
World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement 
(GPA). The United States, which also is a party to the GPA, has agreed 
to waive discriminatory purchasing requirements for eligible products 
and suppliers of the Republic of Moldova beginning on July 14, 2016

DATES: Effective July 14, 2016.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 21, 2015, the WTO Committee on 
Government Procurement approved the accession of the Republic of 
Moldova to the GPA. The Republic of Moldova submitted its instrument of 
accession to the Secretary-General of the WTO on June 14, 2016. The GPA 
will enter into force for the Republic of Moldova on July 14, 2016. The 
United States, which also is a party to the GPA, has agreed to waive 
discriminatory purchasing requirements for eligible products and 
suppliers of the Republic of Moldova beginning on July 14, 2016.
    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. The Republic of Moldova 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, the Republic of Moldova is so designated for 
purposes of section 301(a) of the Trade Agreements Act.
    2. Accordingly, beginning on July 14, 2016, with respect to 
eligible products of the Republic of Moldova, namely, those goods and 
services covered under the GPA for procurement by the United States, 
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 United States 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. 2016-17973 Filed 7-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3290-F6-P