[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65370-65372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28050]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Generalized System of Preferences (GSP); Notice Regarding 
Possible Changes to Product Eligibility for India

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a process for considering changes to the 
product eligibility list for India under the Generalized System of 
Preferences (GSP) program; lists the schedule for the public hearing 
that is part of this process, for requesting participation in the 
hearing and for submitting pre-hearing and post-hearing briefs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United 
States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW, Room 518, Washington, 
DC 20508. The telephone number is (202) 395-6971.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The GSP program grants duty-free treatment 
to designated eligible articles that are imported from designated 
beneficiary developing countries. The GSP program is authorized by 
Title V the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (``Trade Act'') (19 U.S.C. 
2461 et seq.), and administered in accordance with GSP regulations (15 
CFR part 2007) which provide for a review of product eligibility. This 
notice requests public comment on possible changes in the GSP product 
eligibility list for India through the redesignation and waiver of 
``competitive need limitations'' (CNLs) for the articles included in 
the annex to this notice. Authorization for granting CNL waivers is set 
forth in section 503(d) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2464(d)). GSP 
benefits also may be abridged. In making such a determination the 
President may consider several factors, one of which is whether the 
country offers reasonable and equitable market access for U.S. goods 
and services (19 U.S.C. 2462(c)(4)). Since the process for curtailing 
benefits does not involve advice from the United States International 
Trade Commission (USITC) and is therefore shorter, the public is 
advised that, under the current market conditions, comment on will be 
sought early next year on whether to restrict certain GSP benefits now 
enjoyed by India. The specific tariff headings to be considered will be 
circulated early next year.
    It is expected that decisions on both issues will be made on or 
about April 1, 2001. Each process will be conducted to meet that 
timetable.

Opportunities for Public Comment and Inspection of Comments

    The GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC invites comments in support of, or 
in opposition to, the redesignations and CNL waivers which are the 
subject of this notice. Submissions should comply with 15 CFR part 
2007, including Secs. 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 confidential 
information, an original and fourteen (14) copies of a nonconfidential 
version of the submission along with an original

[[Page 65371]]

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 
to and bottom of every page (either ``public version'' or 
``nonconfidential''). Comments should be submitted no later than 5 p.m. 
on December 6, 2000.

Notice of Public Hearings

    Hearings will be held on January 5, 2001 beginning at 10:00 a.m. at 
the Office of the United States Trade Representative, White House 
Conference Center, Truman Room, 726 Jackson Place, NW., Washington, DC 
20508. 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 
witnesses 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 
December 6, 2000. 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. February 2, 2001. Interested 
persons not wishing to appear at the public hearings may also submit 
pre-hearing written briefs or statements by 5 p.m. on December 6, 2000, 
and post-hearing and rebuttal written briefs or statements by February 
2, 2001. Comments by interested persons on the USITC Report prepared as 
part of the product review should be submitted in fourteen (14) copies, 
in English, by 5 p.m. on February 28, 2001.

Jon Rosenbaum,
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Trade and Development.

                                                      Annex
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        HTS subheading                                               Article
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[The bracketed language in this Annex has been included only to clarify the scope of the numbered subheadings
 which are being considered, and such language is not itself intended to describe articles which are under
 consideration.]
 Waiver of the competitive need limits for India for certain products on the list of eligible products for the
 Generalized System of Preferences.
                                Articles of jewelry and parts thereof, of precious metal or of metal clad with
                                 precious metal;
                                   Of precious metal whether or not plated or clad with precious metal:
                                    [Of silver, whether or not plated or clad with other precious metal]
                                    Of other precious metal, whether or not plated or clad with precious metal:
                                     [Rope, curb, cable, chain and similar articles produced in continuous
                                     lengths, all the foregoing, whether or not cut to specific lengths and
                                     whether or not set with imitation pearls or imitation gemstones, suitable
                                     for use in the manufacture of articles provided for in this heading]
                                     Other:
                                      Necklaces and neck chains, of gold:
                                       [Rope]
 7113.19.25                            Mixed link.
 7113.19.29                            Other.
                                      [Clasps and parts thereof]
7113.19.50                            Other.
                                Table, kitchen or other household articles and parts thereof, of copper; pot
                                 scourers and scouring or polishing pads, gloves and the like, of copper;
                                 sanitary ware and parts thereof, of copper:
                                   Table, kitchen or other household articles and parts thereof, pot scourers
                                   and scouring or polishing pads, gloves and the like:
                                    [Pot scourers and scouring or polishing pads, gloves and the like]
                                    Other:
7418.19.10                           Coated or plated with precious metals:
                                Lamps and lighting fittings including searchlights and spotlights and parts
                                 thereof, not elsewhere specified or included; illuminated signs, illuminated
                                 nameplates and the like, having a permanently fixed light source, and parts
                                 thereof not elsewhere specified or included:
                                   Non-electrical lamps and lighting fittings.
                                    [Incandescent lamps designed to be operated by propane or other gas, or by
                                    compressed air and kerosene or gasoline]
                                    Other:
9405.50.30                           Of brass
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[[Page 65372]]

[FR Doc. 00-28050 Filed 10-31-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3901-01-M