98-28873. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP); Initiation of a Review To Consider the Designation of the Republic of Gabon as a Beneficiary Developing Country Under the GSP; Solicitation of Public Comments Relating to the Designation Criteria

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 208 (Wednesday, October 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57728-57729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-28873]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Generalized System of Preferences (GSP); Initiation of a Review 
To Consider the Designation of the Republic of Gabon as a Beneficiary 
Developing Country Under the GSP; Solicitation of Public Comments 
Relating to the Designation Criteria

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice and solicitation of public comment with respect to the 
eligibility of the Republic of Gabon for the GSP program.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the initiation of a review to consider 
the designation of the Republic of Gabon as a beneficiary developing 
country under the GSP program and solicits public comment relating to 
the designation criteria by December 10, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 
17th Street, NW., Room 518, Washington, DC 20508. The telephone number 
is [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The government of the Republic of Gabon has 
requested that it be granted eligibility for beneficiary status under 
the GSP program. The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) has initiated 
a review to determine if the Republic of Gabon should be designated as 
a beneficiary developing country. A country may not be designated a GSP 
beneficiary developing country, absent a finding that such designation 
would be in the economic interests of the United States, if any one of 
several elements are found, including: the participation by the country 
in a commodity cartel that causes serious disruption to the world 
economy; the provision by the country of preferential treatment to 
products of other developed countries which has a significant adverse 
effect on U.S. commerce; the expropriation by the country of U.S.-owned 
property without compensation; a failure by the country to enforce 
arbitral awards in favor of U.S. persons; the support by the country of 
international terrorism; or a failure by the country to take steps to 
protect internationally recognized worker rights. Other factors taken 
into account in determining whether a country will be designated a 
beneficiary developing country include: the extent to which the country 
has assured the United States that it will provide market access for 
U.S. goods; the extent to which the country has taken action to reduce 
trade-distorting investment practices and policies; and the extent to 
which the country is providing adequate and effective protection of 
intellectual property rights. The criteria for designation are set 
forth in full in section 502 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 
U.S.C. 2462).
    Interested parties are invited to submit comments regarding the 
eligibility of Gabon for designation as a GSP beneficiary developing 
country. Submission of comments must be made in English in 14 copies to 
the Chairman of the GSP Subcommittee, Trade Policy Staff Committee, and 
be received in Room 518 at 600 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508, 
no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 10, 1998. Except for 
submissions granted ``business confidential'' status pursuant to 15 CFR 
2003.6, information and comments submitted regarding Gabon will be 
subject to public inspection by appointment with the staff of the USTR 
Public Reading Room. For an appointment, please call Ms. Brenda Webb at 
202/395-6186. If the document contains business confidential 
information, 14 copies of a nonconfidential version of the

[[Page 57729]]

submission along with 14 copies of the confidential version must be 
submitted. In addition, the submission should be clearly marked 
``confidential'' at the top and bottom of each page of the document. 
The version which does not contain business confidential information 
(the public version) should also be clearly marked at the top and 
bottom of each page (either ``public version'' or ``non-
confidential'').
Frederick L. Montgomery,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 98-28873 Filed 10-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M