2012-17933. Request for Comments on Negotiating Objectives With Respect to Mexico's Participation in the Proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement

AGENCY:

Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION:

Request for comments on negotiating objectives with respect to Mexico's participation in the ongoing negotiations of a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, and notice of public hearing.

SUMMARY:

The United States intends to commence negotiations with Mexico as part of the ongoing negotiations of a TPP trade agreement. Including Mexico in the TPP negotiations furthers the objective of achieving a high-standard, broad-based Asia-Pacific regional agreement. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is seeking public comments on all elements related to Mexico's participation in the TPP negotiations in order to develop U.S. negotiating positions.

DATES:

Persons wishing to testify orally at the hearing must provide written notification of their intention, as well as their testimony, by September 4, 2012. The hearing will be held in Washington, DC, on September 21, 2012. Written comments are due by noon, September 4, 2012.

ADDRESSES:

Submissions via on-line: www.regulations.gov. For alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact Donald W. Eiss at [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For questions concerning requirements for written comments, please contact Donald W. Eiss at [phone]. All other questions regarding this notice should be directed to Kent Shigetomi, Director for Mexico and NAFTA, at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

On November 13, 2011, Mexican Economy Secretary Bruno Ferrari stated Mexico's intention to begin consultations with the current TPP participating countries regarding Mexico's participation in the TPP negotiations. On December 7, 2011, USTR published notices in the Federal Register (76 FR 76479), seeking public comments on Mexico's possible participation in the TPP negotiations.

On July 9, 2012, following consultations with relevant Congressional committees and after having reached consensus on Mexico's participation with the other TPP negotiating partners (Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam), the U.S. Trade Representative informed Congress that the President intends to commence negotiations with Mexico in the context of the ongoing negotiations of the TPP. The objective of this negotiation is to achieve a high-standard, 21st century agreement with a membership and coverage that provides economically significant market access opportunities for America's workers, manufacturers, service suppliers, farmers, ranchers, and small businesses. The addition of Mexico to the group of TPP negotiating partners will contribute meaningfully to the achievement of these goals.

In addition, under the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2151, 2153), in the case of an agreement such as the proposed TPP trade agreement, the President must (i) afford interested persons an opportunity to present their views regarding any matter relevant to the proposed agreement, (ii) designate an agency or inter-agency committee to hold a public hearing regarding the proposed agreement, and (iii) seek the advice of the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) regarding the probable economic effects on U.S. industries and consumers of the removal of tariffs and non-tariff barriers on imports pursuant to the proposed agreement.

USTR intends to hold a public hearing on matters related to Mexico's participation in the TPP negotiations on September 21, 2012. In addition, USTR has requested the ITC to provide advice to USTR on the probable economic effects of including Mexico in a TPP agreement.

2. Public Comments

To assist USTR as it develops its negotiating objectives for the agreement, the Trade Policy Subcommittee Chair invites interested persons to submit written comments and/or oral testimony at a public hearing on matters relevant to Mexico's participation in the TPP negotiations. Members of the public who submitted comments in response to the earlier request (76 FR 76479) need not make an additional submission unless the comments are different.

Comments and testimony may address the reduction or elimination of tariffs or non-tariff barriers on any articles provided for in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) that are products of Mexico, any concession that should be sought by the United States, or any other matter relevant to the inclusion of Mexico in the proposed TPP agreement. The TPSC Chair invites comments on all of these matters and, in particular, seeks comments addressed to:

(a) General and product-specific negotiating objectives for Mexico in the context of this proposed regional agreement.

(b) Economic costs and benefits to U.S. producers and consumers of removal of tariffs and removal or reduction in non-tariff barriers on articles traded with Mexico.

(c) Treatment of specific goods (described by HTSUS numbers) under the proposed regional agreement, including comments on—

(1) Product-specific import or export interests or barriers,

(2) experience with particular measures that should be addressed in the negotiations, and

(3) approach to tariff negotiations, including ways to address export priorities and import sensitivities related to Mexico in the context of this regional agreement.

(d) Adequacy of existing customs measures to ensure that qualifying imported goods from TPP countries, including Mexico, receive preferential treatment, and appropriate rules of origin for goods entering the United States under the proposed regional agreement.

(e) Existing sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade imposed by Mexico that should be addressed in the negotiations.

(f) Existing barriers to trade in services between the United States and Mexico that should be addressed in the negotiations.

(g) Relevant electronic commerce issues that should be addressed in the negotiations.

(h) Relevant trade-related intellectual property rights issues that should be addressed in the negotiations.

(i) Relevant investment issues that should be addressed in the negotiations.

(j) Relevant competition-related matters that should be addressed in the negotiations.

(k) Relevant government procurement issues that should be addressed in the negotiations.

(l) Relevant environmental issues that should be addressed in the negotiations.

(m) Relevant labor issues that should be addressed in the negotiations.

In addition to the matters described above, USTR is addressing new and emerging issues in this proposed regional agreement. Specifically, USTR is considering new approaches designed to promote innovation and competitiveness, encourage new technologies and emerging economic sectors, increase the participation of small- and medium-sized businesses in trade, and support the development of efficient production and supply chains that include U.S. firms in order to encourage firms to invest and produce in the United States. The Chair of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TSPC) invites comments regarding how Mexico's participation in the negotiations might affect these new approaches. The TPSC Chair also invites comments on the impact of Mexico's participation in the negotiations on other trade-related priorities in this regional agreement, including environmental protection and conservation, transparency, workers rights and protections, development, and other issues.

USTR has already provided notice and requested comments on the scope for an environmental review of the proposed TPP trade agreement (see 75 FR 14470, March 25, 2010). As described above, the present notice invites comments on, among other topics, environmental issues to be addressed in the TPP negotiations to take into account Mexico's participation in the negotiation. Further comments are also invited on the environmental review, including possible changes in the scope or other issues that should be addressed in the review. At a later date, USTR, through the TPSC, will publish notice of reviews regarding the impact of the proposed agreement on U.S. employment and labor markets. These reviews will take into account Mexico's participation in the negotiations.

A hearing will be held on September 21, 2012, in Rooms 1, and 2, 1724 F Street NW., Washington, DC. Persons wishing to testify at the hearing must provide written notification of their intention by September 4, 2012. The notification should include: (1) The name, address, and telephone number of the person presenting the testimony; and (2) a short (one or two paragraph) summary of the presentation, including the subject matter and, as applicable, the products(s) (with HTSUS numbers), service sector(s), or other subjects (such as investment, intellectual property and/or government procurement) to be discussed. A copy of the testimony must accompany the notification. Remarks at the hearing should be limited to no more than five minutes to allow for possible questions from the TPSC. Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the hearing should contact the TPSC Executive Secretary.

Interested persons, including persons who participate in the hearing, may submit written comments by no later than noon, September 4, 2012.

Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions

Persons submitting written comments must do so in English and must identify (on the first page of the submission) “Participation of Mexico in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Negotiations.” Persons may submit public comments electronically to www.regulations.gov docket number USTR-2012-0014. In order to be assured of consideration, comments should be submitted by noon, September 4, 2012.

In order to ensure the timely receipt and consideration of comments, USTR strongly encourages commenters to make on-line submissions, using the http://www.regulations.gov Web site. Comments should be submitted under the following docket: USTR-2012-0014. To find the docket, enter the docket number in the “Enter Keyword or ID” window at the http://www.regulations.gov 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 by selecting “Notices” under “Document Type” on the search-results page, and click on the link entitled “Submit a Comment.” (For further information on using the www.regulations.gov Web site, please consult the resources provided on the web site by clicking on the “Help” tab.)

The http://www.regulations.gov Web site provides the option of providing comments using the “Type Comments” field, or by attaching a document using the “Upload File(s)” field. USTR prefers submissions to be provided in an attached document. If a document is attached, it is sufficient to type “See attached” in the “Type Comments” field. USTR also 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 Comments” 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 character “P,” followed by 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.

USTR strongly urges submitters to file comments through www.regulations.gov, if at all possible. Any alternative arrangements must be made with Donald W. Eiss in advance of transmitting a comment. Mr. Eiss should be contacted at [phone]. General information concerning USTR is available at http://www.ustr.gov.

Douglas Bell,

Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.