[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 144 (Friday, July 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48944-48945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-16027]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket Number USTR-2023-0003]


Submission of Post-Hearing Comments: Annual Review of Country 
Eligibility for Benefits Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act 
for Calendar Year 2024

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice and request for post-hearing comments.

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SUMMARY: On July 24, 2023, the Office of the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) held a virtual public hearing to receive oral 
testimony related to the annual review of the eligibility of sub-
Saharan African countries to receive the benefits of the African Growth 
and Opportunity Act (AGOA). USTR is accepting post-hearing comments 
until August 8, 2023.

DATES: August 8, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. EDT: Deadline for the submission of 
post hearing submissions, briefs, supplementary materials, and 
statements related to the virtual public hearing.

ADDRESSES: The AGOA Subcommittee strongly prefers electronic 
submissions made through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov (Regulations.gov). Follow the instructions for 
submitting written comments sections II and III below, using Docket 
Number USTR-2023-0003. For alternatives to on-line submissions, please 
contact Jeremy Streatfeild, Director of African Affairs, Office of 
African Affairs, in advance of the deadline at 
[email protected] or (202) 395-8642.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeremy Streatfeild, Director of 
African Affairs, Office of African Affairs, at 
[email protected] or (202) 395-8642.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    In a notice published on May 23, 2023 (88 FR 31579) (May 23 
notice), USTR requested public comments for the annual review of the 
eligibility of sub-Saharan African countries to receive the benefits of 
the AGOA, and announced a virtual public hearing which was held on July 
24, 2023. The May 23 notice included the hearing date, as well as 
deadlines for requests to testify and the submissions of written 
comments. An announcement regarding post-hearing submissions was made 
during the July 24 virtual hearing, and the transcript of the hearing 
will be available on the USTR website.
    This notice announces that interested parties may submit post-
hearing briefs, supplementary materials, and statements by 5:00 p.m. 
EDT on August 8, 2023.

II. Procedures for Written Submissions

    To be assured of consideration, submit your post-hearing briefs, 
supplementary materials, and statements by the August 8, 2023, 5:00 
p.m. EDT deadline. All submission must be in English. The AGOA 
Subcommittee strongly encourages submissions via Regulations.gov, using 
Docket Number USTR-2023-0003.
    To make a submission via Regulations.gov, enter Docket Number USTR-
2023-0003 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.' Regulations.gov allows users to make submissions by 
filling in a `type comment' field or by attaching a document using the 
`upload file' field. The AGOA Subcommittee prefers that you provide 
submissions in an attached document and note `see attached' in the 
`comment' field on the online submission form. The AGOA Subcommittee 
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.
    At the beginning of your submission or on the first page (if an 
attachment), include the following text: (1) 2024 AGOA Eligibility 
Review; and (2) the relevant country or countries. Submissions should 
not exceed 30 single-spaced, standard letter-size pages in 12-point 
type, including attachments. Please do not attach separate cover 
letters to electronic submissions; rather, include any information that 
might appear in a cover letter in the submission itself. 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. You will receive a tracking number upon completion of the 
submission procedure at Regulations.gov. The tracking number is 
confirmation that Regulations.gov received your submission. Keep the 
confirmation for your records. USTR is not able to provide technical 
assistance for Regulations.gov.
    For further information on using Regulations.gov, please consult 
the resources provided on the website by clicking on `How to Use 
Regulations.gov' on the bottom of the home page. The AGOA Subcommittee 
may not consider submissions that you do not make in accordance with 
these instructions.
    If you are unable to provide submissions as requested, please 
contact Jeremy Streatfeild, Director of African Affairs, Office of 
African Affairs, in advance of the deadline at 
[email protected] or (202) 395-8642, to arrange for an 
alternative method of transmission. USTR will not accept hand-delivered 
submissions. General information concerning USTR is available at 
www.ustr.gov.

III. Business Confidential Information (BCI) Submissions

    If you ask the AGOA Subcommittee to treat information you submit as 
BCI, you must certify that the information is business confidential and 
you would not customarily release it to the public. For any comments 
submitted electronically containing BCI, the file name of the business 
confidential version should begin with the characters `BCI.' You must 
clearly mark any page containing BCI with `BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL' at 
the top of that page. Filers of submissions containing BCI also must 
submit a public version of their submission that will be placed in the 
docket for public inspection. The file name of the public version 
should begin with the character `P.'

IV. Public Viewing of Review Submissions

    USTR will post written submissions in the docket for public 
inspection, except properly designated BCI. You can view submissions at 
Regulations.gov by entering Docket

[[Page 48945]]

Number USTR-2023-0003 in the search field on the home page.

William Shpiece,
Chair of the Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the United States 
Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2023-16027 Filed 7-27-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3390-F3-P