[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4332-4333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01373]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Request for Comments on Iceland's Participation in the 
Environmental Goods Agreement Negotiations

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: On March 21, 2014, the United States Trade Representative 
notified Congress of the Administration's intention to enter into 
negotiations for a World Trade Organization (WTO) Environmental Goods 
Agreement (EGA) with an initial group of 13 trading partners. The 
United States Trade Representative has since notified Congress of the 
Administration's intent to join a consensus among EGA participants to 
invite the Government of Iceland to join the EGA negotiations. The 
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, on behalf of the Trade Policy 
Staff Committee (TPSC), is seeking public comment regarding U.S. 
interests and priorities with respect to this initiative to invite 
Iceland to join the EGA negotiations.

DATES: Written comments are due by midnight, March 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Comments from the public should be submitted electronically 
at www.regulations.gov. If you are unable to provide submissions at 
www.regulations.gov, please contact Yvonne Jamison, Trade Policy 
Coordination Assistant, at (202) 395-3475, to arrange for an 
alternative method of transmission.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For procedural questions concerning 
written comments, please contact Yvonne Jamison, Trade Policy 
Coordination Assistant, at the above number. All other questions 
regarding this notice should be directed to Bill McElnea, Director for 
Environment and Natural Resources, at (202) 395-7320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On March 21, 2014, the United States Trade Representative notified 
Congress of the Administration's intention to enter into the EGA 
negotiations. This notification states that the EGA negotiations ``are 
open to all WTO Members that are prepared to eliminate tariffs on a set 
of environmental goods, building on the list of 54 goods endorsed by 
APEC Leaders as the starting point.'' A copy of the notification is 
available at www.ustr.gov/sites/default/files/03212014-Letter-to-Congress.pdf. USTR solicited public comments on this initiative through 
a notification published in the Federal Register on March 28, 2014 
(Document number: 2014-06831). Comments received through that process 
may be reviewed at http://www.regulations.gov under docket number USTR-
2014-0004.
    On July 8, 2014, the United States and 13 other WTO members, 
accounting for 86 percent of global trade in environmental goods, 
launched the EGA negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland. In addition to 
the United States, Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, the European 
Union, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, 
Switzerland and Chinese Taipei are participating in the negotiations. 
The EGA aims to eliminate tariffs on a set of environmental 
technologies such as wind turbines, water treatment filters, and solar 
water heaters. WTO members apply tariffs as high as 35 percent on 
environmental goods.
    The Government of Iceland notified EGA participants of their 
interest in joining these negotiations on November 12, 2014. Following 
this notification of interest, EGA participants agreed to begin any 
relevant domestic procedures so as to allow Iceland to join the EGA 
negotiations. On December 12, 2014, the United States Trade 
Representative notified Congress of the Administration's intent to join 
a consensus among EGA participants to invite the Government of Iceland 
to join the EGA negotiations.
    The Chair of the TPSC invites interested persons to provide written 
comments that will assist USTR in assessing Iceland's potential 
participation in the EGA negotiations. The TPSC Chair invites comments 
on all relevant matters, and, in particular, with regard to those 
environmental goods of which Iceland is a significant producer and 
consumer, as well as current market conditions for environmental 
technologies in Iceland.
    USTR is observing the relevant procedures of the Bipartisan Trade 
Promotion Authority Act of 2002 (19 U.S.C. 3804) with respect to 
notifying and consulting with Congress on the invitation of new members 
to these negotiations.

Requirements for Submissions

    Persons submitting comments must do so in English and must identify 
(on the first page of the submission) ``Environmental Goods Agreement--
New Participant: Iceland''. In order to be assured of consideration, 
comments should be submitted by 11:59 p.m., March 6, 2015. In order to 
ensure the timely receipt and consideration of comments, USTR strongly 
encourages commenters to make on-line submissions using the 
www.regulations.gov Web site. To submit comments via 
www.regulations.gov, enter docket number USTR-2015-0002 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 and click on the link entitled ``Comment Now!'' (For 
further information on using the www.regulations.gov Web site, please 
consult the resources provided on the Web site by clicking on ``How to 
Use This Site'' on the left side of the home page).
    The www.regulations.gov Web site 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. Filers of submissions 
containing business confidential information must also 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

[[Page 4333]]

followed by the name of the person or entity submitting the comments or 
reply comments. Filers submitting comments containing no business 
confidential information should name their file using the name of the 
person or entity submitting the comments. Please do not attach separate 
cover letters to electronic submissions; rather, include any 
information that might appear in a cover letter in the comments 
themselves. Similarly, to the extent possible, please include any 
exhibits, annexes, or other attachments in the same file as the 
submission itself, not as separate files.
    As noted, USTR strongly urges submitters to file comments through 
www.regulations.gov, if at all possible. Any alternative arrangements 
must be made with Ms. Jamison in advance of transmitting a comment. Ms. 
Jamison should be contacted at (202) 395-3475. General information 
concerning USTR is available at www.ustr.gov. Comments will be placed 
in the docket and open to public inspection, except business 
confidential information. Comments may be viewed on the 
www.regulations.gov Web site by entering the relevant docket number in 
the search field on the home page.

Douglas Bell,
Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 2015-01373 Filed 1-26-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F5-P