[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 13 (Friday, January 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5521-5523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1645]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Generalized System of Preferences (GSP); Deadline for Submitting 
Public Comments on Modification of Duty-Free Treatment for Certain 
Products Imported From India.

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment

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

SUMMARY: This notice informs the public that the U.S. Government is 
considering whether to modify duty-free treatment accorded to certain 
imports from India under the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences 
(GSP). The review is being undertaken to determine whether India offers 
``equitable and reasonable market access for U.S. goods and services.'' 
If the conclusion is negative, the U.S. government is prepared to take 
steps that would lead to withdrawal of existing benefits on some 
products imported from India. Some or all of the products listed in the 
Annex may be affected. This notice sets forth the deadline for 
submitting public comments. A decision on this matter is expected on or 
about April 1, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United 
States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW., Room 518, 
Washington, DC 20508 (Tel. 202/395-6971). Public versions of all 
documents relating to this review are available for public inspection 
by appointment in the USTR public reading room between 9:30-12 a.m. and 
1-4 p.m. (Tel. 202/395-6186).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The GSP program is authorized pursuant to 
Title V of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (``the Trade Act'') (19 
U.S.C. 2461 et seq.). The GSP program grants duty-free treatment to 
designated eligible articles that are imported from designated 
beneficiary developing countries. Once granted, GSP benefits may be 
withdrawn, suspended or limited by the President with respect to any 
article or with respect to any country. In determining whether to 
withdraw, suspend, or limit GSP benefits, the President must consider 
several factors, one of which is whether the country offers equitable 
and reasonable market access for U.S. goods and services (19 U.S.C. 
2462(c)(4)). India is a beneficiary of the GSP program. In 1999, more 
than $1 billion in imports from India were granted duty-free treatment 
under the GSP program; through October 2000, more than $966 million in 
imports from India received duty-free treatment under GSP, an increase 
of over 13% over 1999.
    On June 12, 1998, the American National Soda Ash Corporation 
(ANSAC) filed a petition in the 1998 GSP country review contending that 
the Government of India has failed to provide the United States 
equitable and reasonable access to India's soda ash market. ANSAC 
requested that India's benefits under the GSP program be withdrawn, 
suspended or limited. This petition was accepted for review and was the 
subject of public comment and hearings. The United States also raised 
these concerns with the Government of India over the course of two 
years without resolution. Accordingly, absent a substantial improvement 
in equitable and reasonable market access for U.S. goods and services 
in India, the TPSC may recommend that the President withdraw GSP 
benefits for India on some or all of the products identified in the 
Annex to this notice.

Opportunities for Public Comment and Inspection of Comments

    The GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC invites comments in support of, or 
in opposition to, the withdrawal, suspension or limitation of duty-free 
treatment under the GSP program for certain products imported from 
India. The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. on Friday, February 16, 
2001.
    Parties submitting comments must submit an original and 14 copies, 
in English, to the Chairman of the GSP Subcommittee, Trade Policy Staff 
Committee, 600 17th Street, NW., Room 518, Washington, DC 20508. 
Information and comments will be available for public inspection by 
appointment with the staff of the USTR public reading room, except for 
information submitted in confidence pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.7. If the 
document contains business confidential information, an original and 14 
copies of a public version of the submission along with 15 copies of 
the confidential version must be also submitted. The business 
confidential version of the submission should be clearly marked 
``business confidential'' at the top and bottom of each page of the 
document. A nonconfidential summary of the business confidential 
information must be included with the business confidential submission, 
along with a written explanation of why the business confidential 
material should be protected. The public version should also be clearly 
marked at the top and bottom of each and every page (either ``public 
version'' or ``nonconfidential''). Submissions should comply with 15

[[Page 5522]]

CFR part 2007, including sections 2007.0, and 2007.1.

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

Annex

    The products under consideration in this Annex encompass all 
articles that are classified under the specified numerical 
subheadings in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
listed below.

2008.19.15
2008.19.25
2008.19.90
2008.30.37
2008.30.48
2008.30.60
2008.30.95
2008.91.00
2008.99.15
2008.99.20
2008.99.28
2008.99.35
2008.99.40
2008.99.45
2008.99.50
2008.99.61
2008.99.63
2008.99.65
2008.99.80
2008.99.90
2511.10.50
3907.10.00
3907.20.00
3907.40.00
3907.50.00
3907.91.40
3907.91.50
3917.10.10
3917.10.90
3917.21.00
3917.22.00
3917.23.00
3917.29.00
3917.31.00
3917.32.60
3917.33.00
3917.39.00
3917.40.00
3926.10.00
3926.20.90
3926.30.10
3926.40.00
3926.90.10
3926.90.15
3926.90.20
3926.90.25
3926.90.30
3926.90.33
3926.90.35
3926.90.40
3926.90.45
3926.90.50
3926.90.56
3926.90.57
3926.90.60
3926.90.70
3926.90.75
3926.90.83
3926.90.87
3926.90.98
4104.31.20
4203.10.20
4203.30.00
4203.40.30
5903.10.10
5903.10.20
5903.20.20
5903.90.10
5903.90.20
6307.90.60
6307.90.85
6307.90.99
7113.11.10
7113.11.20
7113.19.10
7113.19.30
7113.20.10
7113.20.30
7113.20.50
7202.11.10
7202.19.10
7202.19.50
7202.41.00
7202.49.50
7202.80.00
7202.99.10
7307.11.00
7307.19.30
7307.21.10
7307.22.10
7307.22.50
7307.23.00
7307.29.00
7307.91.10
7307.92.30
7307.92.90
7307.93.60
7307.93.90
7307.99.10
7307.99.30
7307.99.50
7308.10.00
7308.20.00
7308.30.10
7308.30.50
7308.40.00
7318.12.00
7318.13.00
7318.15.60
7318.15.80
7318.19.00
7318.21.00
7318.24.00
7318.29.00
7320.10.30
7320.10.90
7320.20.10
7320.20.50
7320.90.50
7323.91.50
7323.93.00
7323.94.00
7323.99.30
7323.99.70
7323.99.90
7325.91.00
7325.99.50
7326.19.00
7326.20.00
7326.90.60
7326.90.85
7606.11.30
7606.11.60
7606.12.30
7606.12.60
7606.91.30
7606.91.60
7606.92.30
7606.92.60
7609.00.00
7615.11.00
7615.19.10
7615.19.30
7615.19.50
7615.19.70
7615.19.90
7615.20.00
7616.10.10
7616.10.30
7616.10.50
7616.10.70
7616.10.90
7616.91.00
7616.99.50
8203.20.20
8203.20.60
8203.20.80
8203.40.30
8203.40.60
8204.11.00
8204.12.00
8204.20.00
8205.10.00
8205.20.30
8205.30.30
8205.30.60
8205.40.00
8205.51.30
8205.51.60
8205.51.75
8205.59.10
8205.59.45
8205.59.55
8205.59.70
8205.59.80
8205.60.00
8205.70.00
8207.13.00
8207.19.30
8207.19.60
8207.30.30
8207.30.60
8207.40.30
8207.40.60
8207.50.20
8207.50.40
8207.50.60
8207.50.80
8207.60.00
8207.70.30
8207.70.60
8207.80.30
8207.80.60
8207.90.15
8207.90.30
8207.90.45
8207.90.60
8207.90.75
8413.30.90
8413.91.10
8466.10.80
8466.20.10
8466.20.80
8466.30.10
8466.30.60
8466.30.80
8466.92.50
8466.93.30
8466.93.53
8466.93.75
8466.93.95
8466.94.65
8466.94.85
8483.10.10
8483.10.30

[[Page 5523]]

8483.20.40
8483.30.40
8483.40.50
8483.40.70
8483.40.80
8483.40.90
8483.50.40
8483.50.60
8483.50.90
8483.60.40
8483.90.10
8483.90.20
8483.90.50
8501.10.20
8501.10.40
8501.10.60
8501.20.20
8501.20.40
8501.20.50
8501.20.60
8501.31.20
8501.31.40
8501.31.50
8501.31.60
8501.31.80
8501.32.20
8501.32.60
8501.33.30
8501.33.40
8501.33.60
8501.34.30
8501.34.60
8501.40.20
8501.40.40
8501.40.50
8501.40.60
8501.51.20
8501.51.40
8501.51.50
8501.51.60
8501.52.40
8501.53.60
8501.53.80
8501.61.00
8501.62.00
8501.63.00
8501.64.00
8543.19.00
8543.20.00
8543.30.00
8543.40.00
8543.89.40
8543.89.60
8543.89.70
8543.89.80
8543.89.96
8543.90.15
8543.90.35
8543.90.68
8543.90.88
8544.11.00
8544.19.00
8544.20.00
8544.41.80
8544.49.80
8544.51.90
8544.59.20
8544.59.40
8544.60.20
8544.60.40
8544.60.60
8708.10.30
8708.10.60
8708.21.00
8708.29.10
8708.29.15
8708.29.20
8708.29.50
8708.31.50
8708.39.50
8708.40.10
8708.40.20
8708.50.50
8708.50.80
8708.60.50
8708.70.45
8708.80.30
8708.80.45

[FR Doc. 01-1645 Filed 1-16-01; 2:41 pm]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-U