[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 241 (Tuesday, December 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74803-74804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29388]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Request for Comments on Israel's and Turkey'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 Governments of Israel and Turkey 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 Israel and Turkey to join the EGA negotiations.

DATES: Written comments are due by midnight, January 12, 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, 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 Governments of Israel and Turkey notified EGA participants of 
their interests in joining these negotiations earlier this year. 
Following these notifications of interest, EGA participants agreed to 
begin any relevant

[[Page 74804]]

domestic procedures so as to allow Israel and Turkey to join the EGA 
negotiations. On October 20, 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 Israel 
to join the EGA negotiations. With respect to the Government of Turkey, 
the United States Trade Representative sent a similar notification to 
Congress on November 20, 2014.
    The Chair of the TPSC invites interested persons to provide written 
comments that will assist USTR in assessing Israel's and Turkey'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 Israel and Turkey are significant 
producers and consumers, as well as current market conditions for 
environmental technologies in Israel and Turkey.
    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 Participants: Israel and Turkey''. In order to be assured of 
consideration, comments should be submitted by 11:59 p.m., January 12, 
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-2014-0024 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 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. 2014-29388 Filed 12-15-14; 8:45 am]
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