[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 7, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12582-12583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-5664]



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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket No. 301-92]


Termination of Section 301 Investigation and Action Regarding the 
People's Republic of China's Protection of Intellectual Property and 
Provision and Market Access to Persons Who Rely on Intellectual 
Property Protection

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Termination of investigation of certain acts, policies and 
practices of the Peoples' Republic of China (China) initiated under 
section 302 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (Trade Act); 
termination of action pursuant to section 301 of the Trade Act; 
monitoring of trade agreement under section 306 of the Trade Act; 
revocation of priority foreign country identification under section 
182(c)(1)(B) of the Trade Act; and requests for public comment.

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SUMMARY: On February 4, 1995, the United States Trade Representative 
(USTR) determined pursuant to section 304(a)(1)(A) of the Trade Act 
that certain acts, policies and practices of China with respect to the 
enforcement of intellectual property rights and the provision of market 
access to persons who rely on intellectual property protection are 
unreasonable and constitute a burden or restriction on U.S. commerce. 
The USTR also determined pursuant to section 304(a)(1)(B) and 301(b) 
that action in the form of increasing duties on certain products of 
China to 100 percent ad valorem was appropriate. 60 FR 7230 (February 
7, 1995). Having reached a satisfactory resolution of the issues under 
investigation, the USTR has determined to: (1) Terminate this section 
301 investigation; (2) monitor implementation of the agreement under 
section 306 of the Trade Act; (3) terminate the action ordered pursuant 
to section 301 with respect to raising tariffs on certain products 
originating in China; and (4) revoke China's identification as a 
priority foreign country under section 182 of the Trade Act. Public 
comments will be accepted on the decision to terminate the action 
ordered pursuant to section 301.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The modification of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of 
the United States (HTS) described below is effective with respect to 
imports entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or 
after February 26, 1995. The determinations to terminate the action 
taken under section 301 and revoke China's status as a priority foreign 
country were made by the USTR on February 26, 1995. Written comments 
from interested persons are due by noon on Friday, March 10, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Section 301 Committee, Office of the United States Trade 
Representative, Room 223, 600 17th Street, NW., Washington, D.C. 20506.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Deborah Lehr, Director for China and Mongolian Affairs (202) 395-5050, 
or Thomas Robertson, Assistant General Counsel (202) 395-6800.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 30, 1994, China was identified as a 
priority foreign country under the ``special 301'' provisions of the 
Trade Act for its failure to enforce intellectual property rights or to 
provide fair and equitable market access to persons who rely on 
intellectual property protection. On the same day, the USTR initiated 
an investigation of those acts, policies and practices of China that 
were the basis for its identification as a priority foreign country 
(PFC) under section 182(c)(1)(B) of the Trade Act. 59 FR 35558 (July 
12, 1994).
    On December 31, 1994, the USTR extended the investigation until 
February 4, 1995, and sought public comment on proposed determinations 
under section 304(a)(1). 60 FR 1829 (January 5, 1995). On February 4, 
1995, the USTR determined that the acts, policies and practices of the 
Chinese government at issue in the investigation are unreasonable and 
constitute a burden or restriction on U.S. commerce. The USTR also 
determined that the appropriate action in response was to impose duties 
of 100 percent ad valorem on certain Chinese-origin products that were 
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 
February 26, 1995. 60 FR 7230 (February 7, 1995).
    After extensive negotiations, the United States and China entered 
into an exchange of letters (including an Action Plan for the Effective 
Protection and Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights) by which 
China will address the issues raised by the United States in the 
negotiations. Under the agreement, China will, among other things, 
establish a system at the central, provincial and local levels to 
provide strong, transparent and responsive enforcement of intellectual 
property rights; initiate a special enforcement period during which 
enhanced resources will be allocated to the enforcement of intellectual 
property rights; establish an effective border enforcement regime; 
ensure the transparency of its legal regime, [[Page 12583]] including 
the publication of all laws and regulations concerning intellectual 
property protection; and provide U.S. right holders with enhanced 
access to the Chinese market. The United States and China will consult 
regularly on China's implementation of the agreement.
    On the basis of the measures that China has agreed to undertake in 
the agreement, the USTR has decided that the action taken pursuant to 
section 301(b) (the increase in tariffs on certain products from China) 
is no longer appropriate and should be terminated. The United States 
Custom Service has been notified of this determination. Pursuant to 
section 182(c)(1)(A) of the Trade Act, the USTR has also decided to 
revoke China's designation as a priority foreign country.
    Section 307(a)(1)(C) of the Trade Act authorizes the USTR to 
terminate any action, subject to the specific direction, if any, of the 
President, if, inter alia, the USTR determines that the action being 
taken under section 301(b) of the Trade Act is no longer appropriate. 
Prior to terminating this 301 action, the USTR consulted with the 
domestic industries concerned regarding the modification and 
termination of the existing action. An opportunity for public comment 
prior to this action was not possible in view of the need for 
expeditious action. Immediate termination of the 301 action was 
required so that U.S. intellectual property right holders could 
immediately start to receive the benefits of the agreement entered into 
with China. However, interested members of the public are now invited 
to submit comments to USTR regarding this action in accordance with the 
directions provided below. USTR will review these comments upon 
receipt.
    Pursuant to section 306 of the Trade Act, the USTR will monitor 
China's implementation of the agreement. If, on the basis of this 
monitoring, the USTR considers that China is not satisfactorily 
implementing the terms of the agreement, the USTR will decide what 
further action to take under section 301(a) of the Trade Act.

Public Comments

    Comments must be filed in accordance with the requirements set 
forth in 15 CFR 2006.8(b) and are due no later than noon, Friday, March 
10, 1995. Comments must be in English and be provided in twenty copies 
to: Chairman, section 301 Committee, Room 223, USTR, 600 17th Street, 
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20506.
    Comments will be placed in a file [Docket 301-92] open to public 
inspection pursuant to 15 CFR 2006.13, except confidential business 
information exempt from public inspection in accordance with 15 CFR 
2006.15. Confidential business information submitted in accordance with 
15 CFR 2006.15 must be clearly marked ``Business Confidential'' in a 
contrasting color ink at the top of each page (on each of the 20 
copies), and must be accompanied by a nonconfidential summary of the 
confidential information. The nonconfidential summary shall be placed 
in the docket open to public inspection.

Modification of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTS)

    Accordingly, the HTS is hereby modified by deleting subheadings 
9903.50.01 through 9903.50.33, inclusive, and the superior text 
immediately preceding such subheadings, effective February 26, 1995.
Irving A. Williamson,
Chairman, Section 301 Committee.
[FR Doc. 95-5664 Filed 3-6-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M