80 FR 26607 - Request for Comments on Additional Participants in Trade in Services Agreement

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 89 (May 8, 2015)

On January 15, 2013, the United States Trade Representative notified Congress of the Administration's intention to enter into negotiations for a Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) with an initial group of 20 trading partners. The January 15 notification states that the group negotiating TISA ``will expand as negotiations progress to include others who share our ambitious goals.'' In April 2015, the TISA negotiating participants reached a consensus decision to accept Mauritius into the negotiations. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) seeks public comments regarding particular priorities with respect to the participation of Mauritius in the negotiations. Comments may be provided in writing.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 89 (Friday, May 8, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26607-26608]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11069]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Request for Comments on Additional Participants in Trade in 
Services Agreement

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: On January 15, 2013, the United States Trade Representative 
notified Congress of the Administration's intention to enter into 
negotiations for a Trade in Services Agreement (TISA) with an initial 
group of 20 trading partners. The January 15 notification states that 
the group negotiating TISA ``will expand as negotiations progress to 
include others who share our ambitious goals.'' In April 2015, the TISA 
negotiating participants reached a consensus decision to accept 
Mauritius into the negotiations. The Office of the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) seeks public comments regarding particular 
priorities with respect to the participation of Mauritius in the 
negotiations. Comments may be provided in writing.

DATES: Written comments are due by noon, June 8, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submissions via on-line: http://www.regulations.gov. For 
alternatives to on-line submissions please contact Yvonne Jamison at 
(202) 395-3475.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions concerning requirements 
for written comments, please contact Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395-3475. 
All other questions regarding this notice should be directed to 
Christopher Melly at (202) 395-9581.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 15, 2013, Ambassador Kirk 
notified Congress of the Administration's intention to enter into the 
TISA negotiations. The following 20 trading partners constituted the 
initial group of TISA participants: Australia, Canada, Chile, Chinese 
Taipei, Colombia, Costa Rica, European Union on behalf of its member 
states, Hong Kong China, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New 
Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Switzerland, and Turkey. 
Paraguay and Liechtenstein joined the negotiations in September 2013. 
Uruguay followed in February 2015. USTR solicited public comments on 
the agreement through notifications published in the Federal Register 
on January 24, 2013 (Document number: 2013-01497), September 6, 2013 
(Document number: 2013-21836), and December 17, 2014 (Document number 
2014-29577). Comments received through that process may be reviewed at 
http://www.regulations.gov.
    The Chair of the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) 
now invites interested persons to provide written comments that will 
assist USTR in assessing U.S. objectives with regard to the 
participation of Mauritius in the negotiations. The TPSC Chair invites 
comments on all relevant matters, and, in particular, with regard to 
the nature of any existing barriers to trade in services with these 
markets or issues affecting the supply of services to these markets 
through various modes of supply and technologies.

Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions

    Persons submitting written comments must do so in English and must 
identify (on the first page of the submission) ``Trade in Services 
Agreement: New Participant.'' In order to be assured of consideration, 
comments should be submitted by noon, June 8, 2015. 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-2015-0006. 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 ``Comment Now!'' (For further information on using the 
http://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 
making submissions by filling in a ``Type Comment'' field, or by 
attaching a document using the ``Upload File'' 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 
Comment'' 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 
``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 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 http://www.regulations.gov, if at all possible. Any alternative arrangements 
must be

[[Page 26608]]

made with Yvonne Jamison in advance of transmitting a comment. Ms. 
Jamison should be contacted at (202) 395-3475. General information 
concerning USTR is available at http://www.ustr.gov.

Public Inspection of Submissions

    Comments will be placed in the docket and open to public 
inspection, except business confidential information. Comments may be 
viewed on the http://www.regulations.gov Web site by entering the 
relevant docket number in the search field on the home page.

Edward Gresser,
Acting Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 2015-11069 Filed 5-7-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F5-P