[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 14, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13746-13747]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6154]



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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Negotiation of Chilean Accession to the North American Free Trade 
Agreement

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of negotiations regarding Chile's entry into the North 
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), notice of goods and services 
that may be covered by such negotiations, and of public hearings and 
request for public comment concerning such negotiations.

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SUMMARY: This publication gives notice that the United States, along 
with the Governments of Canada and Mexico, expects to undertake 
negotiations with the Republic of Chile regarding its accession to 
(i.e., inclusion in) the NAFTA. This publication also (1) identifies 
the range of Chilean articles (products) for which U.S. tariffs and 
non-tariff measures may be reduced or eliminated as a result of the 
negotiations; (2) provides notice of a request by the United States 
Trade Representative (the USTR) to the International Trade Commission 
(Commission) for advice concerning the economic effects of Chilean 
accession; and (3) gives notice that the Trade Policy Staff Committee 
(TPSC) invites public comments on, and will conduct public hearings 
concerning, the negotiations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For procedural questions concerning public comments or public hearings, 
contact Carolyn Frank, Executive Secretary, Trade Policy Staff 
Committee, Office of the USTR, (202) 395-9557. All other questions 
should be directed to Jane Earley, Director for Chilean Affairs, (202) 
395-5190, or James Southwick, Assistant General Counsel, (202) 395-
7203.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

    The NAFTA entered into force between the United States, Canada, and 
Mexico on January 1, 1994. On December 11, 1994, President Clinton, and 
the heads of state of Canada, Chile, and Mexico agreed to begin the 
process by which Chile will accede to the NAFTA. The four governments 
plan to hold a ministerial meeting in May, 1995, concerning Chile's 
accession, and substantive negotiations may begin shortly thereafter.

2. Articles That May Be Considered in Trade Negotiations

    All articles provided for in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 
United States (HTSUS) that are products of Chile will be considered for 
duty reduction or elimination and for the elimination or reduction of 
non-tariff barriers.

3. Advice From the U.S. International Trade Commission

    On March 7, 1995, under authority delegated by the President, the 
USTR requested the Commission, pursuant to section 332(g) of the Tariff 
Act of 1930 (codified at 19 U.S.C. 1332(g)), to provide advice to the 
President, with respect to each article listed in the HTSUS, as to the 
probable economic effect of (1) providing duty-free treatment for 
imports of products of Chile on industries in the United States 
producing like or directly competitive articles and on consumers; and 
(2) eliminating U.S. non-tariff measures that are inconsistent with the 
NAFTA. In addition, the USTR requested advice on the probable economic 
effect on U.S. exports to Chile of (3) the removal of Chilean import 
duties; and (4) the removal of Chilean nontariff measures that are 
inconsistent with the NAFTA. Finally, the USTR requested the Commission 
to provide a report on (5) the nature and extent of services 
transactions between the United States and Chile, the key U.S. services 
industries that export services to Chile, the principal barriers 
impeding the participation of U.S. service providers in the Chilean 
market, and the effect of such barriers on U.S. services providers.
    The USTR requested the Commission to provide its advice as soon as 
possible, but no later than six months after the date of the letter.

4. Public Comments and Testimony

    In conformity with TPSC regulations (15 CFR part 2003), the 
Chairman of the TPSC invites written comments and/or oral testimony of 
interested persons in a public hearing on the desirability and economic 
effects of Chilean accession to the NAFTA.
    Comments are particularly invited on:
    (a) Economic costs and benefits to U.S. producers and consumers of 
removal of all tariff barriers to trade between Chile and the United 
States and between and among Chile and the current NAFTA parties and, 
in the case of articles for which immediate [[Page 13747]] elimination 
of tariffs is not appropriate, the appropriate staging schedule for 
such elimination.
    (b) Existing nontariff barriers to trade in goods between Chile and 
the United States and between and among Chile and the current NAFTA 
parties and the economic costs and benefits to U.S. producers and 
consumers of removing those barriers.
    (c) Existing barriers to trade in services between Chile and the 
United States and between and among Chile and the current NAFTA 
parties, and economic costs and benefits to U.S. services firms and 
consumers of removing such barriers.
    (d) Existing restrictions on investment flows between Chile and the 
United States and between and among Chile and the current NAFTA 
parties, and the costs and benefits to U.S. investors and consumers of 
eliminating such restrictions.
    (e) Any other measures, policies, or practices of the Government of 
Chile falling within the scope of the NAFTA that should be addressed in 
the negotiations.
    In addition, comments are invited on the possible environmental 
effects of Chile's accession to the NAFTA, as well as the possible 
effects on basic workers' rights, working conditions, and living 
standards.

5. Requests to Participate in Public Hearings

    A hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 25, 1995 in the Truman 
Room, White House Conference Center, 726 Jackson Place, Washington, DC. 
Hearings will continue on succeeding days if necessary.
    Parties wishing to testify orally at the hearings must provide 
written notification of their intention by noon, Friday, April 14, 1995 
to Carolyn Frank, Executive Secretary, Trade Policy Staff Committee, 
Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 Seventeenth 
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20506. The notification should include 
(1) the name, address, and telephone number of the person presenting 
the testimony; and (2) a brief summary of the presentation, including 
the product(s) (with HTSUS numbers), service sector(s), or other 
subjects to be discussed.
    Parties presenting oral testimony must also submit to the above 
address by noon, Friday, April 14, 1995 a written brief, in 20 copies. 
Remarks at the hearing should be limited to no more than five minutes 
to allow for possible questions from the Chairman and the interagency 
panel. Participants should provide 30 typed copies of their oral 
statement at the time of the hearings.
    Any business confidential material must be clearly marked as such 
on the cover page (or letter) and succeeding pages. Such submissions 
must be accompanied by a nonconfidential summary of the confidential 
information.

6. Written Comments

    Those persons not wishing to participate in the hearing may submit 
written comments, in 20 typed copies, no later than noon, Friday, April 
28, 1995 to Carolyn Frank, Executive Secretary, Trade Policy Staff 
Committee, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 
Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20506. Comments should state 
clearly the position taken and should describe with particularity the 
evidence supporting that position. Any business confidential material 
must be clearly marked as such on the cover page (or letter) and 
succeeding pages. Such submissions must be accompanied by a 
nonconfidential summary of the confidential information.
    Nonconfidential submissions will be available for public inspection 
at the USTR Reading Room, Room 101, Office of the United States Trade 
Representative, 600 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. An 
appointment to review the file may be made by calling Brenda Webb (202) 
395-6186. The Reading Room is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 12 
noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Frederick L. Montgomery,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 95-6154 Filed 3-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M