[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 47 (Thursday, March 10, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13789-13790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05044]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket Number USTR-2022-0002]


Request for Comments on the Proposed Fair and Resilient Trade 
Pillar of an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On October 27, 2021, President Biden announced that the United 
States would explore the development of an Indo-Pacific Economic 
Framework (IPEF) to deepen economic relations in the Indo-Pacific 
region and coordinate approaches to addressing global economic 
challenges. The Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative 
will co-chair the U.S. team leading the IPEF negotiations. The Office 
of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will lead the IPEF's 
pillar on Fair and Resilient Trade, and the Department of Commerce will 
lead the IPEF's pillars on: (1) Supply Chain Resiliency; (2) Clean 
Energy, Decarbonization, and Infrastructure; and (3) Taxation and Anti-
Corruption. Accordingly, USTR is seeking public comments on matters 
relevant to the Fair and Resilient Trade pillar, including U.S. 
interests and priorities, in order to develop U.S. negotiating 
objectives and positions and identify potential partners.

DATES: The deadline for the submission of written comments is April 11, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: You should submit written comment through the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov (Regulations.gov). 
Follow the instructions for submissions in parts II and III below. For 
procedural questions concerning written comments, please contact 
Spencer Smith at [email protected] or (202) 395-2974 in 
advance of the deadline and before transmitting a comment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct all other questions to Colette 
Morgan, Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, at 
[email protected] or (202) 395-9535.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On October 27, 2021, President Biden announced that the United 
States would explore the development of an IPEF that will contain 
multiple pillars covering key areas of interest, including fair and 
resilient trade. Negotiating an agreement under the Fair and Resilient 
Trade pillar is an important step towards strengthening U.S. economic 
engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and promoting durable, broad-
based economic growth. Under the Fair and Resilient Trade pillar, the 
Administration aims to develop high-standard, worker-centered 
commitments in the following areas:

 Labor
 Environment and climate
 Digital economy
 Agriculture
 Transparency and good regulatory practices
 Competition policy
 Trade facilitation

    The United States will build upon high-standard trade commitments 
and develop new approaches in trade policy to advance a broad set of 
worker-centered priorities, and promote durable, broad-based economic 
growth. At this time, the Administration is not seeking to address 
tariff barriers.

II. Public Comment

    The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) invites interested parties 
to submit comments to assist USTR as it develops negotiating objectives 
and positions for the IPEF trade pillar. In particular, the TPSC 
invites interested parties to comment on issues that USTR should 
address in the negotiations, including the following:
    1. General negotiating objectives for the proposed agreement.
    2. Labor-related matters.
    3. Environment and climate-related matters.
    4. Digital economy-related matters.
    5. Agriculture-related matters.
    6. Transparency and good regulatory practice issues.
    7. Competition-related matters.
    8. Customs and trade facilitation issues.
    9. Issues of particular relevance to small and medium-sized 
businesses that should be addressed in the negotiations.
    10. Other measures or practices, including those of third-country 
entities, which undermine fair market opportunities for U.S. workers, 
farmers, ranchers, and businesses.
    USTR requests small businesses (generally defined by the Small 
Business Administration as firms with fewer than 500 employees) or 
organizations representing small business members that submit comments 
to self-identify as such, so that USTR is aware of issues of particular 
interest to small businesses.

III. Requirements for Submissions

    Persons submitting written comments must do so in English and must 
identify on the first page of the submission `Comments Regarding Fair 
and Resilient Trade Pillar'. The submission deadline is April 11, 2022.
    USTR strongly encourages commenters to make online submissions, 
using Regulations.gov. To submit comments via Regulations.gov, enter 
docket number USTR-2022-0002 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 and click 
on the link entitled `Comment Now.' For further information on using 
Regulations.gov, please consult the resources provided on the website 
by clicking on `How to Use This Site' on the left side of the home 
page.
    Regulations.gov allows users to submit comments by filling in a 
`type comment' field, or by attaching a document using an `upload file' 
field. USTR prefers that you provide comments in an attached document. 
If you attach a document, please identify the name of the country to 
which the submission pertains in the `type comment' field, e.g., see 
attached comments with respect to (name of country). USTR prefers 
submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If you 
use an application other than those two, please indicate the name of 
the application in the `type comment' field.
    Filers submitting comments containing no business confidential 
information (BCI) should name their file using the name of the person 
or entity submitting the comments. For any comments submitted 
electronically containing BCI, the file name of the business 
confidential version should begin with the characters `BCI.' Clearly 
mark any page containing BCI with `BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL' on the top of 
that page. Filers of submissions containing BCI also must submit a 
public version of their comments that USTR will place in the docket for 
public inspection. The file name of the public version should begin 
with the character `P.' Follow the `BCI' and `P' with the name of the 
person or entity submitting the comments.
    Please do not attach separate cover letters to electronic 
submissions; rather, include any information that might

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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.
    As noted, USTR strongly urges that you file comments through 
Regulations.gov. You must make any alternative arrangements with 
Spencer Smith at [email protected] or (202) 395-2974 before 
transmitting a comment and in advance of the deadline.
    USTR will post comments in the docket for public inspection, except 
properly designated BCI. You can view comments on the Regulations.gov 
by entering docket number USTR-2022-0002 in the search field on the 
home page. General information concerning USTR is available at https://www.ustr.gov.

William Shpiece,
Chair of the Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the United States 
Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2022-05044 Filed 3-9-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F2-P