[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 112 (Monday, June 11, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27069-27070]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12447]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket Number USTR-2018-0014; Dispute Number WT/DS546]


WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding Regarding United States--
Safeguard Measure on Imports of Large Residential Washers

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice with request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is 
providing notice that on May 14, 2018, the Republic of Korea requested 
consultations with the United States under the Marrakesh Agreement 
Establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO Agreement) concerning 
the safeguard measure in effect on imports of large residential 
washers. That request is available at www.wto.org in a document 
designated as WT/DS546/1. USTR invites written comments from the public 
concerning the issues raised in this dispute.

DATES: Although USTR will accept any comments received during the 
course of the dispute settlement proceedings, you should submit your 
comment on or before Friday, June 22, 2018, to be assured of timely 
consideration by USTR.

ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://

[[Page 27070]]

www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments in 
section III below. The docket number is USTR-2018-0014. For 
alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact Sandy McKinzy at 
(202) 395-9483.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Assistant General Counsel Juli 
Schwartz at (202) 395-3150.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    USTR is providing notice that Korea has requested consultations 
pursuant to the WTO Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the 
Settlement of Disputes (DSU), the General Agreement on Tariffs and 
Trade 1994, and the Agreement on Safeguards (SGA). If these 
consultations do not resolve the matter, Korea could request that the 
WTO establish a dispute settlement panel pursuant to the DSU, which 
would hold its meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, and issue a report on 
its findings.

II. Major Issues Raised by Korea

    On May 14, 2018, Korea requested consultations concerning the 
safeguard measure in effect pursuant to Proclamation 9594 of January 
23, 2018--To Facilitate a Positive Adjustment to Competition from 
Imports of Large Residential Washers, 83 FR 3553 (Jan. 25, 2018). Korea 
alleges that the United States' safeguard action is inconsistent with 
Articles I:1, II, X:3, and XIX:1 of the GATT 1994 and Articles 2.1, 
2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 7.1, 7.4, 8.1, 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3 of 
the SGA.

III. Public Comments: Requirements for Submissions

    USTR invites written comments concerning the issues raised in this 
dispute. All submissions must be in English and sent electronically via 
www.regulations.gov. To submit comments via www.regulations.gov, enter 
docket number USTR-2018-0014 on the home page and click ``search.'' The 
site will provide a search-results page listing all documents 
associated with this docket. Find a reference to this notice by 
selecting ``notice'' under ``document type'' on the left side of the 
search-results page, and click on the link entitled ``comment now!'' 
For further information on using the www.regulations.gov website, 
please consult the resources provided on the website by clicking on 
``How to Use Regulations.gov'' on the bottom of the home page.
    The www.regulations.gov website allows users to provide comments by 
filling in a ``type comment'' field, or by attaching a document using 
an ``upload file'' field. USTR prefers that comments be provided in an 
attached document. If a document is attached, it is sufficient to type 
``see attached'' in the ``type comment'' field. USTR prefers 
submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If the 
submission is in an application other than those two, please indicate 
the name of the application in the ``type comment'' field.
    For any comments submitted electronically containing business 
confidential information, the file name of the business confidential 
version should begin with the characters ``BC''. Any page containing 
business confidential information must be clearly marked ``BUSINESS 
CONFIDENTIAL'' on the top of that page and the submission should 
clearly indicate, via brackets, highlighting, or other means, the 
specific information that is business confidential. If you request 
business confidential treatment, you must certify in writing that 
disclosure of the information would endanger trade secrets or 
profitability, and that the information would not customarily be 
released to the public. Filers of submissions containing business 
confidential information also must submit a public version of their 
comments. The file name of the public version should begin with the 
character ``P''. The ``BC'' and ``P'' should be followed by the name of 
the person or entity submitting the comments or rebuttal comments. If 
these procedures are not sufficient to protect business confidential 
information or otherwise protect business interests, please contact 
Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395-9483 to discuss whether alternative 
arrangements are possible.
    USTR may determine that information or advice contained in a 
comment, other than business confidential information, is confidential 
in accordance with section 135(g)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 
U.S.C. 2155(g)(2)). If a submitter believes that information or advice 
is confidential, s/he must clearly designate the information or advice 
as confidential and mark it as ``SUBMITTED IN CONFIDENCE'' at the top 
and bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page, and provide a 
non-confidential summary of the information or advice.
    Pursuant to section 127(e) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 
U.S.C. 3537(e)), USTR will maintain a docket on this dispute settlement 
proceeding, docket number USTR-2018-0014, accessible to the public at 
www.regulations.gov. The public file will include non-confidential 
public comments USTR receives regarding the dispute. If a dispute 
settlement panel is convened, or in the event of an appeal of a panel 
report, USTR will make the following documents publicly available at 
www.ustr.gov: The U.S. submissions and any non-confidential summaries 
of submissions received from other participants in the dispute. If a 
dispute settlement panel is convened, the report of the panel, and, in 
the event of an appeal of a panel report, the report of the Appellate 
Body, will also be available on the website of the World Trade 
Organization, at www.wto.org.

Juan Millan,
Assistant United States Trade Representative for Monitoring and 
Enforcement Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2018-12447 Filed 6-8-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3290-F8-P