[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 112 (Monday, June 11, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27068-27069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12446]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket Number USTR-2018-0013]


Dispute Number WT/DS545; WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding: 
United States--Safeguard Measure on Imports of Crystalline Silicon 
Photovoltaic Products

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice with request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is 
providing notice that on May 14, 2018, the Government of the Republic 
of Korea requested consultations with the United States under the 
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization 
concerning a safeguard measure the United States implemented on imports 
of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not partially or 
fully assembled into other products (solar products). That request is 
available at www.wto.org in a document designated as WT/DS545/1. USTR 
invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised 
in this dispute.

DATES: Although USTR will accept any comments during the course of the 
dispute settlement proceedings, you should submit your comment on or 
before July 11, 2018, to be assured of timely consideration by USTR.

ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://

[[Page 27069]]

www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments in 
section III below. The docket number is USTR-2018-0013. For 
alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact Sandy McKinzy at 
(202) 395-9483.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Assistant General Counsel Dax Terrill 
at (202) 395-4739.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    USTR is providing notice that consultations have been requested 
pursuant to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Understanding on Rules 
and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU). If these 
consultations do not resolve the matter, Korea could request that the 
WTO establish a dispute settlement panel pursuant to the DSU, which 
would hold its meetings in Geneva Switzerland, and issue a report on 
its findings.

II. Major Issues Raised by Korea

    On May 14, 2018, Korea requested consultations concerning a 
safeguard measure the United States implemented on solar products under 
section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2251 et seq.) following 
a determination of the U.S. International Trade Commission that solar 
products are being imported into the United States in such increased 
quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury to the 
domestic industry producing an article like or directly competitive 
with the imported article.
    Korea alleges that United States has implemented a safeguard 
measure that does not comply with Articles 1, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 
5.1, 5.2, 7.1, 7.4, 8.1, 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3 of the Agreement on 
Safeguards and Articles X, XIII, and XIX of the General Agreement on 
Tariffs and Trade 1994.

III. Public Comments: Requirements for Submissions

    USTR invites written comments concerning the issues raised in this 
dispute. All submissions must be in English and sent electronically via 
www.regulations.gov. To submit comments via www.regulations.gov, enter 
docket number USTR-2018-0013 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 by 
selecting ``notice'' under ``document type'' on the left side of the 
search-results page, and click on the link entitled ``comment now!'' 
For further information on using the www.regulations.gov website, 
please consult the resources provided on the website by clicking on 
``How to Use Regulations.gov'' on the bottom of the home page.
    The www.regulations.gov website 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 and the submission should 
clearly indicate, via brackets, highlighting, or other means, the 
specific information that is business confidential. If you request 
business confidential treatment, you must certify in writing that 
disclosure of the information would endanger trade secrets or 
profitability, and that the information would not customarily be 
released to the public. Filers of submissions containing business 
confidential information also must 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. If these procedures are 
not sufficient to protect business confidential information or 
otherwise protect business interests, please contact Sandy McKinzy at 
(202) 395-9483 to discuss whether alternative arrangements are 
possible.
    USTR may determine that information or advice contained in a 
comment, other than business confidential information, is confidential 
in accordance with section 135(g)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 
U.S.C. 2155(g)(2)). If a submitter believes that information or advice 
is confidential, s/he must clearly designate the information or advice 
as confidential and mark it as ``SUBMITTED IN CONFIDENCE'' at the top 
and bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page, and provide a 
non-confidential summary of the information or advice.
    Pursuant to section 127(e) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 
U.S.C. 3537(e)), USTR will maintain a docket on this dispute settlement 
proceeding, docket number USTR-2018-0013, accessible to the public at 
www.regulations.gov. The public file will include non-confidential 
public comments USTR receives regarding the dispute. If a dispute 
settlement panel is convened, or in the event of an appeal from a 
panel, USTR will make the following documents publicly available at 
www.ustr.gov: The U.S. submissions and any non-confidential summaries 
of submissions received from other participants in the dispute. If a 
dispute settlement panel is convened, or in the event of an appeal from 
a panel, the report of the panel, and, if applicable, the report of the 
Appellate Body, will also be available on the website of the World 
Trade Organization, at www.wto.org.

Juan Millan,
Assistant United States Trade Representative for Monitoring and 
Enforcement, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2018-12446 Filed 6-8-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3290-F8-P