[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 221 (Friday, November 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54321-54322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24605]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Notice of Meeting: Summit on Trade-Related Standards Issues

ACTION: Request for public comments and notice of opportunity to apply 
to participate in an internal International Trade Administration summit 
on trade-related standards issues.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce International Trade Administration 
(ITA) is seeking input from U.S. stakeholders (companies, private 
sector organizations and trade associations active in trade-related 
standards work) on standards, conformity assessment and regulatory 
trends and challenges in foreign markets and the assistance they 
require from ITA to effectively address standards-related trade 
barriers and trends to take advantage of export opportunities. ITA will 
use this input in reviewing how to improve services and programs to 
best meet the needs of U.S. stakeholders in the standards area. In 
addition, ITA will convene an internal summit on how to improve such 
services and programs on March 6-7, 2018 in Washington, DC, and is 
soliciting private sector requests for limited opportunities to 
participate in portions of the summit.

DATES: Although input is always welcome, for consideration as part of 
the immediate review, submit comments by December 18, 2017. Requests to 
participate in the March 6-7, 2018 ITA internal summit also must be 
received by COB on December 18, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Comments can be submitted online or in writing. Written 
submissions should be directed to Renee Hancher, Office of Standards 
and Investment Policy, Industry and Analysis, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Room 28019, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20230. Online submissions should be submitted using http://www.regulations.gov. To ensure the timely receipt and consideration of 
comments, ITA strongly encourages commenters to make online submissions 
using http://www.regulations.gov. Comments should be submitted under 
docket ITA-2017-0007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Renee Hancher in the Office of 
Standards and Investment Policy, Industry and Analysis, International 
Trade Administration, by telephone at (202) 482-3493 (this is not a 
toll-free number) or email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: The International Trade Administration (ITA) is the 
premier resource for American companies competing in the global 
marketplace. ITA has more than 2,200 employees assisting U.S. exporters 
in more than 100 U.S. cities and 75 markets worldwide. For more 
information on ITA visit www.trade.gov. Additional information about 
ITA's standards activities is available at http://www.trade.gov/td/standards/index.html.
    Request for Input: ITA is currently reviewing its trade-related 
standards services and programs in support of U.S. stakeholders to 
ensure that the services and assistance provided best meet the needs of 
U.S. stakeholders and support the expansion of the U.S. economy and 
creation of U.S. jobs. Trade-related standards work includes work 
related to the adoption and recognition of standards; standards 
dialogues and other bilateral and regional engagements with trading 
partners; preparation of standards information in ITA publications such 
as Top Market reports and Country Commercial Guides; and work to 
address adoption, implementation, and enforcement of technical 
regulations and conformity assessment procedures inconsistent with 
World Trade Organization and free trade agreement obligations. ITA is 
specifically seeking information on trade-related standards trends in 
foreign markets, the challenges U.S. exporters are encountering in 
those markets, and the assistance needed from the U.S. Government, and 
specifically ITA, to address those challenges and take advantage of 
export opportunities. ITA will use this input in reviewing how to 
improve ITA standards-related services and programs to best meet the 
needs of U.S. stakeholders, including during an internal summit of ITA 
staff working on trade-related standards issues on March 6-7, 2018 in 
Washington, DC.
    Comments submitted may include information about key standards 
trends affecting the global competitiveness of U.S. industry; 
stakeholder experiences, if any, with ITA services that aid 
stakeholders in understanding and acting on standards-related trade and 
regulatory issues; and suggestions for improving ITA services in the 
standards area. Respondents do not need to have detailed knowledge of 
or experience with ITA standards-related services, but those that do 
may note this in their submissions.
    Submitting Comments Using http://www.regulations.gov: To find the 
correct docket, enter ITA-2017-0007 in the ``Enter Keyword or ID'' 
window at the http://www.regulations.gov home page and click 
``Search.'' The site will provide a search-results page listing all 
documents associated with the docket number. Find a reference to this 
notice by selecting ``Notice'' under ``Document Type'' on the search-
results page, and click on the link entitled ``Comment now!'' The 
http://www.regulations.gov Web site provides the option of making 
submissions by filling in a comment field, or by attaching a document. 
ITA prefers submissions to be provided in an attached document. (For 
further information on using http://www.regulations.gov, please consult 
the resources provided on the Web site by clicking on the ``Help'' 
tab.)
    Do not include any privileged or confidential business information 
in comments submitted. The file name should begin with the character 
``P''

[[Page 54322]]

(signifying that the comments contain no privileged or confidential 
business information and can be posted publicly), followed by the name 
of the person or entity submitting the comments. Written submissions 
should include an original and five (5) copies.
    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.
    Opportunity to present during the ITA Internal Summit: The Summit 
will convene ITA staff from headquarters and the domestic and foreign 
fields to develop recommendations for improving standards-related 
services and programs for ITA stakeholders. It will include ``open 
sessions'' with private sector stakeholders where they may share their 
priorities and recommendations for ITA's work on trade-related 
standards issues. To accommodate as many stakeholders as possible, the 
time per stakeholder will be limited. Stakeholders interested in 
presenting during a summit open session must apply by December 18, 
2017, identifying the name and address of the proposed speaker and 
including a brief description of the stakeholder interest and intended 
remarks. Stakeholders are limited to one presenter per company or 
organization.
    In seeking private sector presenters, ITA will consider factors 
such as: (1) Frequency and type of standards-related trade barriers 
experienced with the goal of selecting presenters with significant 
experience working to overcome standards-related barriers in foreign 
markets, and whose experience represents the spectrum of such barriers 
experienced by U.S. exporters (e.g., challenges with standards 
development, testing and conformity assessment, and meeting standards-
related regulatory requirements in foreign markets); and (2) balance of 
industries and roles with the goal of selecting presenters that 
represent a mix of industries affected by standards-related trade 
barriers, and who are conversant on issues affecting U.S. stakeholders/
exporters (standards development, conformity assessment, and technical 
regulations).

Chris Rosettie,
Director, Office of Standards and Investment Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017-24605 Filed 11-16-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P