[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64365-64366]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30896]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation 332-372]
The Economic Implications of Liberalizing APEC Tariff and
Nontariff Barriers to Trade
AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Institution of investigation, scheduling of public symposium,
and call for papers.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
EFFECTIVE DATE: November 25, 1996.
SUMMARY: Following receipt on November 1, 1996 of a request from the
U.S. Trade Representative, the Commission instituted Investigation No.
332-372, The Economic Implications of Liberalizing APEC Tariff and
Nontariff Barriers To Trade, under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of
1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)). As requested, the investigation will seek to
provide an objective, critical report, based on a symposium to be held
by the Commission, on the identification and assessment of the impact
of nontariff barriers (NTBs) to trade and investment in APEC and on the
general equilibrium modeling of APEC trade liberalization. The
Commission will confine the investigation to studies that are already
underway or have been recently completed. The Commission will offer the
opportunity for all economic researchers selected for participation in
the symposium to present their findings on the evaluation of NTBs to
trade and investment in the APEC region and the general equilibrium
modeling of APEC trade liberalization at the symposium. To promote an
objective, critical assessment of this body of inquiry, economic
researchers recognized as experts in their fields will also be
designated to provide a critical assessment of the merits and
limitations of the methods and data employed in the research. The final
report will be submitted to USTR approximately six months after the
symposium. The final report will consist of four parts: (1) an
assessment of the principal results presented at the symposium, both
with respect to identified trade barriers and distortions in the APEC
area and with respect to modeling of APEC liberalization, (2) a
compilation of the technical papers submitted in the symposium,
together with any revisions or comments the authors may make in
response to the critiques received in the symposium, (3) a compilation
of the written critiques of those papers, and (4) an objective summary
and critical evaluation by the Commission of the analytical frameworks
and of the main findings of these papers.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Benjamin, Office of Economics,
at (202-205-3125). The media should contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Office
of External Relations (202-205-1819). Hearing impaired individuals are
advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting
the TDD terminal on (202-205-1810).
Call for Papers
The Commission encourages all parties currently engaged in the
evaluation of NTBs to trade and investment among APEC members or the
general equilibrium modeling of APEC trade liberalization to present
their work at the symposium. The purpose of the symposium is to examine
critically, through peer review by recognized experts, studies recently
completed or currently being developed that meet recognized academic
standards. Research within the scope of this investigation include the
following:
Papers identifying and assessing the impact of barriers to
trade and investment in the APEC region other than tariff barriers and
quantitative
[[Page 64366]]
restrictions. This category includes any other non-tariff barriers as
well as policies and practices with respect to regulation, intellectual
property rights, standards and conformance, customs procedures,
investment, oligopolistic behavior, services, and/or government
procurement which materially limit trade and investment but for which
there has hitherto been relatively little quantitative assessment.
Papers emphasizing modeling of APEC trade liberalization
with economy-wide perspectives.
Papers which bridge and synthesize the above two areas of
interest would be particularly welcome.
Papers presented at the symposium must meet the following criteria:
(1) All papers must describe any technical assumptions and methods
employed to obtain the results presented and provide full details about
the data and scenarios evaluated. This requirement is critical because
the purpose of the symposium is to provide an objective critical
assessment of this research.
(2) The research described in papers emphasizing modeling of APEC
trade liberalization must be economy-wide in scope, whether they are
multi-country models or single-country models. Economy-wide models
include all sectors of the economies represented, though with varying
degrees of disaggregation, and allow for explicit analysis of the
complex interactions inherent in comprehensive economic policy changes,
such as free trade agreements, even when the focus of such analysis is
on a particular sector. Research within the scope of this investigation
include both (i) computable general equilibrium (CGE) trade policy
modeling: and (ii) economy-wide, multi-sector macroeconomic models. The
research should take into account the effects of APEC trade
liberalization on production, income, trade, employment, and prices.
Because scheduling will be tight, persons interested in presenting
papers or participating as discussants should submit a curriculum vitae
and description of the relevant research to Nancy Benjamin (202-205-
3125) or William Donnelly (202-205-3223), Research Division, Office of
Economics, U.S. International Trade Commission, by May 30, 1997.
Discussants will be designated to provide detailed written
critiques of the papers reviewed. All papers to be presented must meet
recognized academic standards. It is also required that all papers be
technically transparent and provide technical details about the methods
and data employed to obtain results. The final scheduling of papers and
discussants will be made by Commission staff and will be published in a
subsequent Federal Register notice by July 15, 1997. All papers must be
provided to the Commission in a form ready for distribution 30 days
prior to the symposium, and must meet the criteria outlined above.
SYMPOSIUM: The symposium will be held on September 11 and 12, 1997 at
the U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington
DC. Members of the public may attend the symposium and there will be an
opportunity for brief technical comments on the papers from the
audience. Those who would like to attend the symposium are requested to
indicate their intention by sending a letter or fax to the Office of
Economics, U.S. International Trade Commission (fax no. 202-205-2340)
by September 2, 1997.
By order of the Commission.
Issued: November 27, 1996.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-30896 Filed 12-03-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P
