[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 237 (Monday, December 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64935-64943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31146]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): Notice of Review
Timetable and Public Hearings Regarding Least Developed Beneficiary
Developing Countries
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) provides this notice
to identify the HTS numbers of articles (see attached list) imported
from the LDBDCs (identified in the general note 4(b) to the Harmonized
Tariff Schedule (HTS) of the United States) that are proposed for
designation as GSP eligible for duty-free entry. This notice also sets
forth the timetable for public hearings for GSP Subcommittee
consideration in reviewing the proposed list of articles for GSP
eligibility, and the procedures for further public comment prior to the
Presidential decision on which articles are to be designated as GSP
eligible under the recently reauthorized GSP program.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United
States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW, Room 518, Washington,
DC 20508. Telephone: (202) 395-6971.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The GSP program grants duty-free treatment
to designated eligible articles that are imported from designated
beneficiary developing countries. The GSP program is authorized by
Title V of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (``Trade Act'') (19 U.S.C.
2461 et seq.). The GSP program was implemented by Executive Order 11888
of November 24, 1975, and modified by subsequent Executive orders and
Presidential Proclamations.
Legislation amending and reauthorizing the GSP program was signed
by the President on August 20, 1996 (Public Law 104-188, 110 Stat.
1755) (Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996. For the GSP related
provisions, see subtitle J of Title I of the foregoing Act). The new
law provides for the possible designation as GSP-eligible certain
articles from LDBDCs that were previously ineligible. Specifically, the
President may designate as eligible for purposes of duty-free treatment
under the GSP articles imported only from countries designated as
LDBDCs if, after receiving the advice of the U.S. International Trade
Commission (USITC), the President determines that such articles are not
import-sensitive in the context of imports from the LDBDCs.
I. Review of Products from LDBDCs for GSP Eligibility
Notice is hereby given of a list of articles that are proposed for
eligibility for duty-free treatment under the GSP, provided they are
imported from the LDBDCs, as set forth in section 502 of the Trade Act.
These articles are identified in the attached list. The countries that
have been designated as LDBDCs are identified in general note 4(b) to
the HTS.
Listing the articles proposed for GSP eligibility does not indicate
any opinion about the merits of granting eligibility for these
articles. Placement on the list indicates only that the articles have
been found eligible for review by the GSP Subcommittee and the TPSC,
and that such review will take place.
A. GSP Eligibility
Section 501 of the Trade Act provides that the President, in
considering GSP eligibility for products from the LDBDCs, shall have
due regard for the following:
(1) the effect such action will have on furthering the economic
development of developing countries through the expansion of their
exports;
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(2) the extent to which other major developed countries are
undertaking a comparable effort to assist developing countries by
granting generalized preferences with respect to imports of products of
such countries;
(3) the anticipated impact of such action on U.S. producers of like
or directly competitive products; and
(4) the extent of the beneficiary country's competitiveness with
respect to eligible articles.
In addition, for those articles listed as watches in HTS headings
9101 and 9102, the President must determine that the designations of
the watch as an eligible article will not cause material injury to the
watch or watch band, strap or bracelet manufacturing and assembly
operations in the United States or the U.S. insular possessions.
B. Communications
The GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC invites submissions supporting or
opposing the granting of GSP eligibility for any article on the
attached list. All such submissions should include fourteen copies in
English and conform to 15 CFR 2007, particularly 2007.0, 2007.1(a)(1),
2007.1(a)(2), and 2007.1(a)(3). All submissions should identify the
subject article(s) in terms of the current HTS nomenclature and should
be provided by 5:00 p.m., January 3, 1997.
All communications about public comments should be addressed to:
Chairman of the GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United States Trade
Representative, 600 17th Street, NW, Room 518, Washington, DC 20506.
Telephone number: (202) 395-6971. Questions may be directed to any
staff member of the GSP Information Center. Public versions of all
documents relating to this review will be available for inspection by
appointment in the USTR public reading room. Appointments may be made
from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. by calling (202) 395-6186.
Submissions that are granted ``business confidential'' status
pursuant to 15 CFR 2203.6, and other qualifying information submitted
in confidence pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.7, will not be available for
public inspection. If a document contains such confidential
information, an original and fourteen (14) copies of the confidential
version of the document along with an original and fourteen (14) copies
of the non-confidential version must be submitted. The document that
contains confidential information should be clearly marked
``confidential'' at the top and bottom of each page. The version that
does not contain business confidential information (the public version)
should also be clearly marked at the top and bottom of every page
(either ``public version'' or ``nonconfidential'').
II. Requests To Participate in the Public Hearings
The GSP Subcommittee will hold hearings on January 23 and, if
needed, on January 24, 1997, beginning at 10 a.m., in the main hearing
room of the U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW.,
Washington, DC. The hearings will be open to the public, and a
transcript of the hearings will be available for public inspection or
it can be purchased from the reporting company. No electronic media
coverage will be allowed.
All interested parties wishing to make an oral presentation at the
hearings must submit the name, address, and telephone number of the
witness or witnesses representing their organization to the Chairman of
the GSP Subcommittee by 5 p.m., January 3, 1997, as well as fourteen
(14) copies, (in English) of all written briefs or statements. Oral
testimony before the GSP Subcommittee will be limited to five minute
presentations that summarize or supplement information contained in the
briefs or statements submitted for the record.
If, by the close of business on January 3, 1997, no witnesses are
scheduled to appear at the hearing, the hearing will be canceled. Any
person interested in attending the hearing as an observer or non-
participant may call the GSP Information Office (202) 395-6971 after
January 10, 1997, to determine whether a hearing will be held.
Post-hearing briefs or statements will be accepted if they conform
with the regulations cited above and if fourteen (14) copies in English
are submitted no later than 5 p.m., February 14, 1997. Parties not
wishing to appear at the public hearings may submit pre-hearing written
briefs or statements by January 3, 1997, and may submit post-hearing
written briefs or statements by February 14, 1997. Rebuttal briefs or
statements should be submitted in fourteen (14) copies, in English, by
5 p.m., February 28, 1997.
On behalf of the President and in accordance with sections 503(a)
and 131(a) of the Trade Act, on September 17, 1996, the list of
articles proposed for duty-free treatment eligibility under the GSP was
furnished to the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) to secure
its advice on: (1) The probable economic effect of the elimination of
U.S. import duties under GSP on U.S. industries producing like or
directly competitive articles, and on consumers; and (2) to the extent
possible, the level of U.S. sensitivity to imports of such LDBDC
articles.
During March 1997, the public will have an opportunity to comment
on the nonconfidential USITC analysis when a notice of the date of
availability of this analysis and the timetable for comments is
published in the Federal Register.
III. Announcement of Articles to be Accepted for Designations as
Eligible Articles for GSP Purposes When Imported Only from the LDBDCs
Pursuant to the law that the President signed on August 20, 1996,
he is authorized to designate as GSP eligible certain HTS articles
imported from LDBDCs. He may make this determination only after he has
received advice from the USITC on the probable effects of the requested
modification in the GSP on consumers and on industries producing like
or directly competitive articles, and he has determined that such
articles are not import-sensitive in the context of imports from least-
developed beneficiary developing countries. The list of articles
designated as eligible for duty-free treatment under the GSP as a
result of the review will be announced in the spring of 1997.
Frederick L. Montgomery,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
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[FR Doc. 96-31146 Filed 12-6-96; 8:45 am]
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