[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 82 (Monday, April 29, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 18110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08543]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Determination Regarding Waiver of Discriminatory Purchasing 
Requirements With Respects to Goods and Services of Australia

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States has agreed to waive discriminatory 
purchasing requirements for eligible products and suppliers of 
Australia beginning on May 5, 2019.

DATES: This notice is applicable on May 5, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Shigetomi, Office of WTO and 
Multilateral Affairs, at [email protected] or 202-395-9581.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On October 17, 2018, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee 
on Government Procurement approved the accession of Australia to the 
WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). Australia submitted its 
instrument of accession to the Secretary General of the WTO on April 5, 
2019. The GPA will enter into force for Australia on May 5, 2019. The 
United States, which also is a party to the GPA, has agreed to waive 
discriminatory purchasing requirements for eligible products and 
suppliers of Australia beginning on May 5, 2019.

II. Determination

    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 (Act) (19 U.S.C. 2511 and 2512) to the 
United States Trade Representative (Trade Representative).
    In conformity with the Act and to carry out U.S. obligations under 
the GPA, the Trade Representative has determined that Australia is 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 Act, the Trade Representative has so 
designated Australia for purposes of section 301(a) of the Act.
    Accordingly, beginning on May 5, 2019, with respect to eligible 
products of Australia, i.e., those goods and services covered under the 
GPA for procurement by the United States, and the 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 to United States products and suppliers of such products, 
or to eligible products of another foreign country or instrumentality 
that is a party to the GPA and suppliers of such products, is waived. 
This waiver shall be applied by all entities listed in United States 
Annexes 1 and 3 of GPA Appendix 1.
    The Trade Representative may modify or withdraw this designation 
and the waiver.

Jamieson Greer,
Chief of Staff, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2019-08543 Filed 4-26-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F9-P