[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 171 (Thursday, September 4, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46792-46793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23493]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Generalized System of Preferences (GSP); Schedule of Hearings and 
Deadlines for Submitting Comments on Petitions for the GSP 1997 Product 
Review and Country Practices Review

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to set forth the timetable for 
hearings, and for providing public comments on petitions requesting: 
(1) Changes in the eligibility for duty-free treatment under the GSP 
program of products accepted for the 1997 Product Review; and (2) 
modifications in the status of GSP beneficiary countries in regard to 
their

[[Page 46793]]

practices, as specified in 15 CFR 2007.0 (a) and (b).

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 1-4 p.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. In a Federal Register notice dated 
August 13, 1997 (62 FR 43408), USTR announced the acceptance of product 
petitions for review. In addition, USTR has received a number of 
petitions requesting that certain practices in certain beneficiary 
developing countries be reviewed to determine whether such countries 
are in compliance with the eligibility criteria set forth in sections 
502(b) and 502(c) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2462(b) and 2462(c)).

I. Subject of Reviews

A. Petitions Requesting Modifications of Product Eligibility

    As described in a Federal Register notice dated August 13, 1997 (62 
FR 43408), USTR accepted petitions from interested parties and foreign 
governments to: (1) Designate articles as eligible for the GSP; (2) 
withdraw, suspend or limit GSP duty-free treatment accorded either to 
eligible articles under the GSP or to individual beneficiary developing 
countries with respect to specific GSP eligible articles; and (3) waive 
competitive need limits.
    USTR has requested the advice of the U.S. International Trade 
Commission (USITC) on the probable economic effects of granting the 
requested GSP changes on U.S. industries producing like or directly 
competitive articles and on consumers. A nonconfidential version of the 
USITC analysis will be made available to the public as of approximately 
December 30, 1997.
    Any modifications to the list of articles eligible for duty-free 
treatment under the GSP program resulting from the GSP 1997 Product 
Review will be announced on or about May 1, 1998, and will take effect 
July 1, 1998.

B. Petitions Accepted for Review Regarding Country Practices

    Pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.0(b), the Trade Policy Staff Committee has 
accepted petitions to review the GSP status of (1) Belarus and 
Swaziland based on the alleged failure of each to provide adequate and 
effective protection for internationally recognized worker rights, and 
(2) the Philippines based on its alleged failure to provide equitable 
and reasonable access to its markets. (The decision on the Philippines 
intellectual property rights case has been deferred.)
    Any modifications to the list of beneficiary developing countries 
for purposes of the GSP program resulting from the Country Practices 
Review will take effect on such date as will be notified in a future 
Federal Register notice.

II. Opportunities for Public Comment and Inspection of Comments

    The GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC invites comments in support of, or 
in opposition to, any petition which is the subject of this notice. 
Submissions should comply with 15 CFR Part 2007, including sections 
2007.0, and 2007.1. All submissions should identify the subject 
article(s) in terms of the current Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 
United States (``HTS'') nomenclature.
    Comments should be submitted in fourteen (14) copies, in English, 
to the Chairman of the GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff 
Committee, 600 17th Street, NW., Room 518, Washington, DC 20508. 
Information submitted will be subject to public inspection by 
appointment with the staff of the USTR public reading room, except for 
information granted ``business confidential'' status pursuant to 15 CFR 
2003.6 and other qualifying information submitted in confidence 
pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.7. If the document contains business 
confidential information, an original and fourteen (14) copies of a 
nonconfidential version of the submission along with an original and 
fourteen (14) copies of the confidential version must be submitted. In 
addition, any document containing confidential information should be 
clearly marked ``confidential'' at the top and bottom of each page of 
the document. The version that does not contain confidential 
information (the public version) should also be clearly marked at the 
top and bottom of every page (either ``public version'' or 
``nonconfidential''). Comments should be submitted no later than 5:00 
p.m. on September 30, 1997.

III. Notice of Public Hearings

    Hearings will be held on October 22, 23, (and October 24, 1997, if 
needed) beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the U.S. International Trade 
Commission Building, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20436. The 
hearings will be open to the public and a transcript of the hearings 
will be made available for public inspection or can be purchased from 
the reporting company. No electronic media coverage will be allowed.
    All interested parties wishing to present oral testimony at the 
hearings must submit the name, address, and telephone number of the 
witness(es) representing their organization to the Chairman of the GSP 
Subcommittee. Such requests to present oral testimony at the public 
hearings should be accompanied by fourteen (14) copies, in English, of 
a written brief or statement, and should be received by 5 p.m. on 
September 30, 1997. Oral testimony before the GSP Subcommittee will be 
limited to five minute presentations that summarize or supplement 
information contained in the briefs or statements submitted for the 
record. Post-hearing and rebuttal briefs or statements should conform 
to the regulations cited above and be submitted in fourteen (14) 
copies, in English, no later than 5 p.m. November 19, 1997.
    Interested persons not wishing to appear at the public hearings may 
also submit pre-hearing written briefs or statements by 5:00 p.m. on 
September 30, 1997, and post-hearing and rebuttal written briefs or 
statements by November 19, 1997. Comments by interested persons on the 
USITC Report should be submitted in fourteen (14) copies, in English, 
by 5 p.m. January 15, 1998.
Frederick L. Montgomery,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 97-23493 Filed 9-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M