[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 4, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 68905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22026]


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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 North Macedonia

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to authority delegated by the President, the U.S. 
Trade Representative had determined to waive U.S. discriminatory 
procurement laws with respect to goods and services of North Macedonia 
to implement U.S. obligations under the Agreement on Government 
Procurement (GPA).

DATES: Applicable as of October 30, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Psillos, Deputy Assistant U.S. 
Trade Representative for WTO and Multilateral Affairs, 
[email protected], 202-395-9581; or Edward Marcus, 
Assistant General Counsel, [email protected], 202-395-0448.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    On June 7, 2023, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on 
Government Procurement approved the accession of North Macedonia to the 
GPA. North Macedonia submitted its instrument of accession to the 
Director-General of the WTO on September 29, 2023. The GPA will enter 
into force for North Macedonia on October 30, 2023. The United States, 
which also is a party to the GPA, has agreed to waive discriminatory 
purchasing requirements for eligible products and suppliers of North 
Macedonia beginning on October 30, 2023.
    In Executive Order 12260 of December 31, 1980, the President 
delegated authority to waive discriminatory purchasing requirements 
under sections 301 and 302 of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (Act) 
(19 U.S.C. 2511 and 2512) to the U.S. Trade Representative. Pursuant to 
this delegated authority, the U.S. Trade Representative has made the 
following determination in conformity with sections 301 and 302, and in 
order to carry out U.S. obligations under the GPA:
    1. North Macedonia has become 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, North 
Macedonia is so designated for purposes of section 301(a) of the Act.
    2. Accordingly, beginning on October 30, 2023, with respect to 
eligible products (namely, those goods and services covered under the 
GPA for procurement by the United States) of North Macedonia and 
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 will be applied by all entities listed 
in United States Annexes 1 and 3 of GPA Appendix 1.
    3. The U.S. Trade Representative may modify or withdraw the 
designation in paragraph 2.

Greta Peisch,
General Counsel, Office of the United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2023-22026 Filed 10-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F3-P