[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 118 (Monday, June 19, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38022-38023]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-15410]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Generalized System of Preferences (GSP); Worker Rights; Deadline 
for Submitting Public Comment on Limitations on Duty-Free Treatment of 
Certain Bangladeshi Products

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

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: This notice informs the public that because Bangladesh has not 
taken sufficient steps to provide internationally recognized worker 
rights, the U.S. government is preparing to withdraw, in whole or in 
part, duty-free treatment accorded to imports from Bangladesh under the 
U.S. Generalized System of Preferences and sets forth the deadline for 
submitting public comments. All GSP eligible products imported from 
Bangladesh could be affected.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United 
States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW, Room 518, Washington, 
DC 20508 (Tel. 202/395-6971). Public versions of all documents relating 
to this review may be seen by appointment in the USTR public Reading 
Room between 9:30-12 a.m. and 1-4p.m. (Tel. 202/395-6186).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The GSP program is authorized pursuant to 
Title V of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (``the Trade Act'') (19 
U.S.C. 2461 et seq.) The GSP program grants duty-free treatment to 
designated eligible articles that are imported from designated 
beneficiary developing countries. Once grated, GSP benefits may be 
withdrawn, suspended or limited by the President with respect to any 
article or with respect to any country. In making this determination, 
the President must consider several factors, one of which is whether or 
not such country has taken or is taking steps to afford to workers in 
that country (including any designated zone in that country) 
internationally recognized worker rights (19 U.S.C. 2462(c)(7)). 
Bangladesh is a beneficiary of the GSP program. In 1999, almost $30 
million of Bangladeshi imports benefitted from GSP.
    In 1991 Bangladesh committed to restore freedom of association to 
the nation's export processing zone (EPZ) by 1997, and a GSP worker 
rights review was terminated. However, the national labor law still has 
not been extended to export processing zones (there now are more than 
one).
    The AFL filed a petition in June 1999 calling for the revocation of 
GSP benefits. The U.S. Government has held several discussions with 
Bangladeshi authorities in an effort to successfully resolve this 
issue. However, freedom of association for workers in the EPZs remains 
elusive.
    As a result, the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is seeking 
public comment on the impact of suspending duty-free treatment for 
articles imported from Bangladesh. After receiving public comments, a 
decision will be made on the articles that will lose GSP benefits. 
Complete suspension from GSP will be considered.

Opportunities for Public Comment and Inspection Of Comments

    The GSP Subcommittee on the TPSC invites comments in support of, or 
in opposition to, limitations of duty-free treatment on imports from 
Bangladesh under the GSP program. The deadline for submissions is 5 PM 
on Tuesday, August 15, 2000.
    Comments must be submitted in 15 copies, in English, to the 
Chairman of the GSP Subcommittee, Trade Policy Staff Committee, 600 
17th Street, N.W., Room 513, Washington, D.C. 20508. Information and 
comments will be subject to public inspection by appointment with the 
staff of the USTR

[[Page 38023]]

Public Reading Room, except for information granted ``business 
confidential'' status pursuant to 15 CFR 2003.6 and 2007.7. If the 
document contains business confidential information, 15 copies of a 
nonconfidential version of the submission along with 15 copies of the 
confidential version must be submitted. The business confidential 
version of the submission should be clearly marked ``Submitted in 
Confidence'' at the top and bottom of each and every page of the 
document. A nonconfidential summary of the business confidential 
information must be included with the business confidential submission, 
along with a written explanation of why the business confidential 
material should be protected. The version which does not contain 
business confidential information (the public version) should also be 
clearly marked at the top and bottom of each and every page (either 
``public version'' of ``non-confidential''). Submissions should comply 
with 15 CFR Part 2007, including sections 2007.0, and 2007.1.

Jon Rosenbaum,
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Trade and Development.
[FR Doc. 00-15410 Filed 6-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M