Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 208 / Tuesday, October 28, 1997 / Notices 55843

of Training, Certification and

Watchkeeping (STCW), including

consideration of training requirements

for maritime pilots;

3. Maritime safety training for

personnel on Mobile Offshore Units

(MOU/MODUs);

4. Bulk carrier safety;

5. Training record books; and

6. Guidance associated with the

International Convention on Standards

of Training, Certification and

Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel

Personnel (STCW–F Convention, as

adopted by the 1995 conference; not yet

ratified or in force).

Members of the public may attend the

meeting up to the seating capacity of the

room. Interested persons may seek

information by writing: Mr. Christopher

Young, U.S. Coast Guard (G–MOS–1),

Room 1210, 2100 Second Street SW.,

Washington, DC 20593–0001 or by

calling: (202) 267–0229.

Dated: October 16, 1997.

Stephen M. Miller,

Executive Secretary, Shipping Coordinating

Committee.

[FR Doc. 97–28511 Filed 10–27–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–07–M

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES

TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket No. 301–115]

Initiation of Section 302 Investigation

and Request for Public Comment:

Korean Barriers to Auto Imports

AGENCY: Office of the United States

Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of initiation of

investigation; request for written

comments.

SUMMARY: The United States Trade

Representative (USTR) has initiated an

investigation under section 302(b)(1)(A)

of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended

(the Trade Act), with respect to certain

acts, policies and practices of the

Government of the Republic of Korea

that pose barriers to imports of U.S.

autos into the Korean market. USTR

invites written comments on the matters

being investigated.

DATES: This investigation was initiated

on October 20, 1997. Written comments

from interested persons are due on or

before noon on Tuesday, December 2,

1997.

ADDRESSES: Office of the United States

Trade Representative, 600 17th Street,

NW, Washington, DC 20508.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sean Murphy, Office of Asia and the

Pacific, (202) 395–6813, or Geralyn

Ritter, Office of the General Counsel,

(202) 395–6800.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive

Order No. 12901 of March 3, 1994, as

extended by Executive Order No. 12973

of September 27, 1995, regarding the

‘‘Super 301’’ annual review, provides

for the USTR to identify priority foreign

country practices, the elimination of

which is likely to have the most

significant potential to increase United

States exports, either directly or through

the establishment of a beneficial

precedent. Accordingly, on October 1,

1997, the USTR identified as a ‘‘priority

foreign country practice’’ the

Government of the Republic of Korea’s

barriers to auto imports. (See 62 FR

52604 of October 8, 1997). Specific

Korean practices of concern include an

array of cumulative tariff and tax

disincentives that disproportionately

affect imports, onerous and costly auto

standards and certification procedures,

auto financing restrictions, and a

climate of bias against imported

vehicles that Korean officials have not

effectively addressed. While some of

these barriers were addressed in a 1995

bilateral agreement between the United

States and Korea, implementation of

that agreement has been disappointing,

especially as new practices have been

introduced that undermine the 1995

agreement. Furthermore, imported

passenger vehicles continue to represent

less than one percent of the Korean

market. Although some progress was

made during recent bilateral

negotiations to improve market access

in Korea for foreign automobiles, Korea

was not prepared to undertake the

reforms which are necessary for real

opening of its autos market.

Investigation and Consultations

Executive Order No. 12901 requires

the USTR to initiate an investigation,

pursuant to section 302(b)(1)(A) of the

Trade Act, of any ‘‘priority foreign

country practices.’’ On October 20,

1997, the USTR initiated an

investigation with respect to certain

acts, policies and practices of the

Government of the Republic of Korea

that pose barriers to imports of U.S.

autos into the Korean market. Pursuant

to section 303(a) of the Trade Act, the

USTR will seek consultations with the

Government of Korea concerning the

issues under investigation. USTR will

seek information and advice from the

appropriate representatives provided for

under section 135 of the Trade Act in

preparing the U.S. presentations for

such consultations.

Public Comment: Requirements for

Submissions

Interested persons are invited to

submit written comments on the acts,

policies and practices of the

Government of Korea that are the

subject of this investigation, including

the amount of burden or restriction on

U.S. commerce caused by these acts,

policies and practices, and the

determinations required under section

304 of the Trade Act regarding whether

they are actionable under section 301

and, if affirmative, the appropriate

action to take in response.

Comments must be filed in

accordance with the requirements set

forth in 15 CFR § 2006.8(b) and are due

no later than noon on Tuesday,

December 2, 1997. Comments must be

in English and provided in twenty

copies to: Office of the General Counsel,

Attn: Korea Auto Investigation, Room

223, USTR, 600 17th Street, NW,

Washington, DC 20508.

Comments will be placed in a file

(Docket 301–115) open to public

inspection pursuant to 15 CFR 2006.13,

except confidential business

information exempt from public

inspection in accordance with 15 CFR

2006.15. Confidential business

information submitted in accordance

with 15 CFR 1006.15 must be clearly

marked ‘‘BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL’’

in a contrasting color ink at the top of

each page on each of 20 copies, and

must be a accompanied by a

nonconfidential summary of the

confidential information. The

Nonconfidential summary shall be

placed in the file that is open to public

inspection. An appointment to review

the docket (Docket No. 301–115) may be

made by calling Brenda Webb (202)

395–6186. The USTR Reading Room is

open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 12

noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, and is located

in Room 101.

Irving A. Williamson,

Chairman, Section 301 Committee.

[FR Doc. 97–28434 Filed 10–27–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3190–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Submission for OMB Review;

Comment Request

September 21, 1997.

The Department of Treasury has

submitted the following public

information collection requirement(s) to

OMB for review and clearance under the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub.

L. 104–13. Copies of the submission(s)