[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40332-40333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14355]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Request for Comments: Trade Strategy to Combat Forced Labor

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is 
coordinating with all relevant United States federal agencies to 
develop a focused trade strategy to combat forced labor. The strategy 
will identify priorities and establish an action plan for utilizing 
existing and potential new trade tools to combat forced labor in traded 
goods and services. USTR invites public comments to inform the 
development of the strategy.

DATES: The deadline for the submission of written comments is August 5, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov 
(Regulations.gov), using Docket Number USTR-2022-0006. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments in `Requirements for Submissions' 
below. For alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact Jennifer 
Oetken, Director for Labor Affairs, in advance of the deadline at 
[email protected] or (202) 395-2870.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Oetken, Director for Labor 
Affairs, at [email protected] or (202) 395-2870.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 40333]]

I. Background

    On January 25, 2022, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai 
announced that USTR would develop the first-ever trade strategy to 
combat forced labor. In developing the strategy, USTR is conducting an 
interagency review across the U.S. Government through the Trade Policy 
Staff Committee's (TPSC) Subcommittee on Trade, Forced Labor, and Child 
Labor of existing trade policies and tools used to combat forced labor, 
including forced child labor, to determine areas that may need 
strengthening and gaps that may need to be filled. USTR will use this 
analysis to establish objectives, priorities, new tools, and key action 
items to advance development of the strategy. The process is inclusive 
to maximize input from stakeholders, including labor organizations, 
civil society, survivors, and the private sector.

II. Public Comment

    USTR invites interested parties to submit comments to assist in the 
development of the forced labor trade strategy. In submitting comments, 
parties are invited to consider the following questions.
     What actions could the U.S. Government pursue with like-
minded trade partners and allies to combat forced labor as an unfair 
trade practice?
     How can the U.S. Government bolster the forced labor 
components of trade agreements and trade preference programs to have 
greater effect?
     What new and innovative trade tools can the U.S. 
Government develop and utilize to advance efforts to combat forced 
labor in traded goods and services?
     How can the U.S. Government make the development of trade 
policy on forced labor a more inclusive process?
     Do you have additional recommendations for monitoring, 
tracing, or eliminating forced labor in traded goods and services in 
supply chains?
    USTR must receive written comments no later than August 5, 2022. 
USTR requests that small businesses (generally defined by the Small 
Business Administration as firms with fewer than 500 employees), or 
organizations representing small business members, self-identify in 
their comment, so USTR will be aware of issues of particular interest 
to small businesses.

III. Requirements for Submissions

    You must submit comments by the August 5, 2022 deadline. You must 
make all submissions in English via Regulations.gov, using Docket 
Number USTR-2022-0006. 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. USTR will not accept hand-delivered 
submissions.
    To make a submission using Regulations.gov, enter Docket Number 
USTR-2022-0006 in the `search for' field 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' in the `refine documents 
results' section on the left side of the screen and click on the link 
entitled `comment.' The Regulations.gov website offers the option of 
providing comments by filling in a `comment' field or by attaching a 
document using the `attach files' field. USTR prefers that you provide 
submissions in an attached document and note `see attached' in the 
`comment' field on the online submission form. At the beginning of the 
submission, or on the first page (if an attachment) include the 
following: `Trade Strategy to Combat Forced Labor.' Include any cover 
letters, exhibits, annexes, or other attachments to the submission in 
the same file as the submission itself, and not as separate files.
    For any comments submitted electronically that contain business 
confidential information (BCI), the file name of the business 
confidential version should begin with the characters `BCI.' Clearly 
mark any page containing BCI `BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL' on the top of that 
page. Filers of submissions containing BCI also must submit a public 
version of their comments. 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. Filers submitting 
comments containing no BCI should name their file using the name of the 
person or entity submitting the comments.
    You will receive a tracking number upon completion of the 
submission procedure at Regulations.gov. The tracking number is 
confirmation that Regulations.gov received the submission. Keep the 
confirmation for your records. USTR is not able to provide technical 
assistance for Regulations.gov. USTR may not consider documents that 
you do not submit in accordance with these instructions.
    If you are unable to provide submissions as requested, Jennifer 
Oetken, Director for Labor Affairs, in advance of the deadline at 
[email protected] or (202) 395-2870. to arrange for an 
alternative method of transmission.
    USTR will place comments in the docket for public inspection, 
except BCI. General information concerning USTR is available at 
www.ustr.gov.

Joshua Kagan,
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Labor Affairs, Office of the 
United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2022-14355 Filed 7-5-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F2-P