[Federal Register: January 18, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 11)]
[Notices]
[Page 2316-2317]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18ja07-115]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Trade Policy Staff Committee: Seeking Comments From the Public on
the 2005 WTO Ministerial Decision on Duty-Free Quota-Free Market Access
for the Least Developed Countries
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is requesting the
public to submit written comments on considerations relating to the
Decision that Members adopted at the Sixth Ministerial Conference of
the World Trade Organization (WTO) in December 2005 on duty-free,
quota-free (DFQF) market access for the least-developed countries
(LDCs). The TPSC is seeking comments from the public on to the full
range of issues that may affect implementation of this Decision.
DATES: Comments are due by March 15, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Submissions by electronic mail: FR0704@USTR.EOP.GOV.
Submissions by facsimile: Gloria Blue, Executive Secretary, Trade
Policy Staff Committee, at (202) 395-6143. The public is strongly
encouraged to submit documents electronically rather than by facsimile.
(See requirements for submissions below.)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General inquiries should be made to
the USTR Office of WTO and Multilateral Affairs at (202) 395-6843;
calls on individual subjects will be transferred as appropriate.
Procedural inquiries concerning the public comment process should be
directed to Gloria Blue, Executive Secretary, Trade Policy Staff
Committee, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), (202) 395-
3475. Further information on the WTO, including the declarations,
decisions referred to in this notice, can be obtained via the Internet
at the WTO Web site, http://www.wto.org, and/or the USTR Web site,
http://www.ustr.gov. The 2005 President's Annual Report on the Trade
Agreements Program, which is available on the USTR Web site, contains
extensive information on the WTO, the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference
in Hong Kong, China, and the status of work in the WTO.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Duty-Free Quota-Free Market Access: The TPSC calls attention to the
decision adopted at the Sixth Ministerial Conference of the WTO in
December 2005 on duty-free, quota-free (DFQF) market access for LDCs.
The DFQF decision is contained in Annex F of the Ministerial
Declaration, which can be found at http://www.wto.org with the document
symbol ``WT/MIN(05)/DEC''. Ministers agreed that WTO Members would
implement the DFQF initiative coincident with the implementation of the
results of the negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). On
a voluntary basis, WTO Members may also implement sooner.
Implementation of the DFQF by relevant WTO Members is subject to
review by Members through the WTO Committee on Trade and Development
(CTD). On May 15, 2006, the United States submitted a paper to the CTD,
``Duty-Free, Quota-Free Market Access for the Least-Developed
Countries: Communication from the United States''. This paper can be
found at http://www.wto.org with the document symbol ``WT/COMTD/W/
149''. The paper summarizes the U.S. legal and consultative process for
implementing the DFQF decision, and outlines certain factors and
related obligations affecting implementation. The TPSC recognizes
[[Page 2317]]
that some factors related to implementation of DFQF can only be
determined once certain results are obtained in the overall DDA
negotiations. At this time, however, as part of consultative process,
the TPSC is seeking comments from the public addressing the range of
issues that may affect implementation in order to inform the planning
process. The TPSC may seek further public comments on specific issues
related to implementation of DFQF at a later time.
The U.S. International Trade Commission has provided to the TPSC
the comments received from the public on agricultural and non-
agricultural products as part of its investigation No. 332-440,
Probable Economic Effects on Reduction or Elimination of U.S. Tariffs,
August 9, 2002 (Confidential Report). Hence, these comments need not be
resubmitted.
Written Submissions: Comments should state clearly the issue
identified and should contain detailed information explaining why it is
an issue and, to the extent possible, the means to address the issue.
The provision of supplemental technical information is optional. This
information should be provided in an attachment containing a
spreadsheet or table in Microsoft Word, Word Perfect, Excel, Quatro Pro
or MS Access.
Persons submitting comments may either send one copy by fax to
Gloria Blue, Executive Secretary, Trade Policy Staff Committee, at
(202) 395-6143 or transmit a copy electronically to
FR0704@USTR.EOP.GOV, with ``Duty-Free, Quota-Free'' in the subject
line. For documents sent by fax, USTR requests that the submitter
provide a confirmation copy electronically. The public is strongly
encouraged to submit documents electronically rather than by facsimile.
USTR encourages the use of Adobe PDF format to submit attachments to an
electronic mail. Interested persons who make submissions by electronic
mail should not provide separate cover letters; information that might
appear in a cover letter should be included in the submission itself.
Similarly, to the extent possible, any attachments to the submission
should be included in the same file as the submission itself, and not
as separate files.
Comments should be submitted electronically no later than March 15,
2007.
Business confidential information will be subject to the
requirements of 15 CFR 2003.6. Any business confidential material must
be clearly marked as such and must be accompanied by a non-confidential
summary thereof. A justification as to why the information contained in
the submission should be treated confidentially should also be
contained in the submission. In addition, any submissions containing
business confidential information must clearly be marked ``Business
Confidential'' at the top and bottom of the cover page (or letter) and
each succeeding page of the submission. The version that does not
contain business 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 in the USTR Reading
Room, Office of the United States Trade Representative. An appointment
to review the file can be made by calling (202) 395-6186. The Reading
Room is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 4
p.m. Monday through Friday.
Dated: January 10, 2007.
Susan C. Schwab,
United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 07-198 Filed 1-12-07; 4:38 pm]
BILLING CODE 3190-W7-P