[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 31 (Friday, February 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 7082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3759]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Request for Public Comments on U.S. Positions in Negotiations on 
the People's Republic of China's Accession to the World Trade 
Organization

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is requesting 
additional written comments from the public with respect to issues 
arising in the context of negotiations on the terms and conditions of 
the People's Republic of China's (China) accession to the World Trade 
Organization (WTO). In particular, the TPSC is seeking information on 
market access issues, including tariffs, non-tariff measures, services, 
access for agricultural products, subsidies and investment policies, 
and protection of intellectual property rights. The Executive Branch 
will consider the written comments received in developing and refining 
U.S. positions and objectives in China's accession negotiations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Written comments must be received no later than noon, 
March 14, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Martha Cheng, Director for China, 202-395-5050, or Catherine Field, 
Senior Counsel for Multilateral Affairs, 202-395-3432, Office of the 
United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW., Washington, 
DC 20508.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Chairman of the TPSC invites written 
comments from the public on issues to be addressed in the context of 
negotiations on China's accession to the WTO. Although the TPSC 
requested and received comments from the public in July 1994 and August 
1988 on China's accession to GATT 1947, the need to obtain more current 
views and advice on a broad range of issues prompted this request. 
Specifically, the TPSC is seeking written comments on the full range of 
issues in China's accession process including: (1) Market access issues 
related to industrial goods, agriculture, and services (including 
financial and telecommunications services), such as tariff rates, 
trading rights, standards, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, import 
licensing, customs valuation, state trading and trade-related 
investment measures; (2) non-tariff measures affecting U.S. imports 
such as licenses, quotas, registration requirements or other measures; 
(3) China's application of WTO ``rules'' and disciples, such as 
transparency, judicial review, uniform application of its trade rules, 
compliance with subsidies and antidumping rules, (4) safeguards and (5) 
protection of intellectual property rights.
    All comments will be considered in developing the U.S. position and 
objectives. Information on products or practices subject to these 
negotiations should include, whenever appropriate, the import or export 
tariff classification number used by China for the product concerned.

Written Comments From the Public: Requirements for Submission

    Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning the issues identified in this notice. Comments must be filed 
in accordance with the requirements set forth in 15 CFR 2006.8(b) (55 
FR 20593) and must be filed on or before noon on Friday, March 14, 
1997. Comments must be in English and provided in twenty copies to: 
Gloria Blue, Room 501, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, 600 
17th Street NW., Washington DC 20508. If the comments contains business 
confidential information and a party is requesting an exemption from 
disclosure, each page containing such information should be clearly 
marked ``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL,'' in a contrasting color ink at the top 
of each page, and 20 copies of a non-confidential summary of the 
confidential information and a cover letter requesting and justifying 
such treatment submitted. The version that does not contain business 
confidential information (the public version) should be clearly marked 
at the top and bottom of each page (public version or nonconfidential). 
This version and the nonconfidential summary shall be available for 
public inspection by appointment, in the USTR Reading Room, 600 17th 
Street, NW., Room 101, Washington, DC, Monday through Friday, 10:00 
a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Frederick L. Montgomery,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 97-3759 Filed 2-13-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M