[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8505-8506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4645]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Trade Policy Staff Committee; Public Comments on the Accessions
of Algeria, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Oman,
Seychelles and Vanuatu to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and on
U.S. Participation in Negotiations for the Terms of Those Accessions
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is requesting written
public comments concerning U.S. commercial interests and other issues
related to the accessions of Algeria, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyz
Republic, Moldova, Oman, Seychelles and Vanuatu to the WTO. Public
comments should include, but not be limited to, information concerning
those countries' current trade policies and practices which affect (A)
market access for U.S. exports, e.g., tariffs, non-tariff measures; (B)
trade and investment in services, (C) other aspects of the trade regime
affecting U.S. trade interests subject to WTO provisions, and (D)
conditions or practices that impair the ability of WTO provisions to be
applied on a reciprocal basis in these countries' trade regimes.
Comments received will be considered in developing U.S. positions and
objectives for the multilateral and bilateral negotiations that will
determine the terms of WTO accession for Algeria, Jordan, Kazakstan,
Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Oman, Seychelles and Vanuatu to the World
Trade Organization.
DATES: Public comments are due by noon on Friday, March 28, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, 600 17th Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20508.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barbara Chattin, Director for Tariff Negotiations (202-395-5097), Peter
Collins, Deputy Assistant USTR for Services and Investment (202-395-
7271) or Cecilia Leahy Klein, Director for WTO Accessions (202-395-
9437), Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Chairman of the Trade Policy Staff
Committee invites written comments from the public on market access and
other issues to be addressed in the course of negotiations with
Algeria, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Oman, Seychelles
and Vanuatu to the WTO. Each of these countries have already tabled the
documentation necessary to begin the process of accession. Jordan and
Vanuatu have already completed their first working party meetings, and
first working party meetings are scheduled during the first half of
1997 for Algeria, Kazakstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Oman, and
Seychelles. The terms of WTO membership for these countries will be
negotiated with WTO Members bilaterally and in meetings of the Working
Parties established by the Members of the WTO to conduct negotiations.
All comments received will be considered in developing U.S.
positions and objectives for participation in these negotiations, which
will establish schedules of commitments and concessions in the areas of
agriculture, industrial goods, and trade and investment in services,
and will develop elements of the protocols of accession for Algeria,
Jordan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Oman, Seychelles and
Vanuatu to the WTO.
The Committee is seeking public comments on the possible affect on
U.S. trade of the accessions of Algeria, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyz
Republic, Moldova, Oman, Seychelles and Vanuatu to the WTO, with
reference to tariffs applied to imports and any other trade measures
currently applied by those countries that could be subject to the
provisions of the WTO; particularly market access issues for goods and
services, or practices that could affect the competitiveness of U.S.
goods and services in those markets. Issues of interest to the TPSC
include, but are not limited to: (a) Comments on possible tariff
reductions and the removal of border measures such as quotas or import
licensing requirements; (b) uniform application of the trading system
and access to the right to trade; (c) the provision of national
treatment and nondiscriminatory treatment for imports, especially in
the area of domestic taxation; (d) transparency in application of trade
laws and regulations; (e) right of appeal in cases involving
application of trade laws and other laws relating to WTO provisions,
such as protection and enforcement of
[[Page 8506]]
intellectual property rights (IPR) and services; (f) customs processing
issues; such as document certification prior to export, fees, customs
valuation, and certification requirements; (g) industrial export and
domestic subsidies; (h) agricultural export subsidies and domestic
supports and incentives; (i) safeguard and unfair trade practice
procedures applied to imports; (j) plant, animal, and human health and
safety requirements; (k) requirements for and restrictions on the right
to import and export goods; (l) technical barriers to trade; (m)
utilization of preshipment inspection services; (n) activities of state
trading enterprises, including restrictions and other trade-distorting
practices made effective through state trading; (o) price controls and
policies; (p) foreign exchange controls that act as barriers to trade
and investment; (q) membership in preferential trade arrangements, free
trade arrangements, or customs unions; (r) government procurement
practices; (s) policies concerning trade in civil aircraft; (t) the
trade-related aspects of investment policies; and (u) the protection
and enforcement of intellectual property. Market access issues for
services include, but are not limited to, the right of establishment
for U.S. services providers, the right to purchase services abroad, the
ability to provide services on a cross-border basis, and the ability of
persons to enter temporarily to provide services.
Information on products or practices subject to these negotiations
should include, whenever appropriate, the import or export tariff
classification number used by Algeria, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kyrgyz
Republic, Moldova, Oman, Seychelles and Vanuatu for the product
concerned.
WRITTEN COMMENTS: All written comments should be addressed to: Gloria
Blue, Executive Secretary, Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the
United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street N.W., Room 501,
Washington, D.C. 20508.
All submissions must be in English and should conform to the
information requirements of 15 CFR 2003.
A party must provide ten copies of its submission which must be
received at USTR no later than noon, Friday, March 28, 1997. If the
submission contains business confidential information, ten copies of a
non-confidential version must also be submitted. A justification as to
why the information contained in the submission should be treated
confidentially must be included in the submission. In addition, any
submissions containing business confidential information must be
clearly marked ``confidential'' at the top and bottom of the cover page
(or letter) and of each succeeding page of the submission. The version
does not contain confidential information should also be clearly
marked, at the top and bottom of each page, ``public version'' or
``non-confidential.''
Written comments submitted in connection with this request, except
for information granted ``business confidential'' status pursuant to 15
CFR 2003.6, will be available for public inspection shortly after the
filing deadline. Inspection is by appointment only with the staff of
the USTR Public Reading Room and can be arranged by calling (202) 395-
6186.
Frederick L. Montgomery,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 97-4645 Filed 2-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M
