81_FR_11332 81 FR 11290 - Generalized System of Preferences: Possible Modifications, 2015 Review

81 FR 11290 - Generalized System of Preferences: Possible Modifications, 2015 Review

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 42 (March 3, 2016)

Page Range11290-11291
FR Document2016-04649

Following receipt of a letter on behalf of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) dated February 16, 2016, advising that several petitioners have withdrawn requests for waivers of the competitive need limitation under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program and that USTR accordingly was withdrawing its request for advice regarding such petitions, the U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission) has amended the scope of its investigation and will not provide advice regarding the withdrawn petitions.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 42 (Thursday, March 3, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 42 (Thursday, March 3, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11290-11291]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04649]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-556]


Generalized System of Preferences: Possible Modifications, 2015 
Review

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Change in scope of investigation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 11291]]

SUMMARY: Following receipt of a letter on behalf of the United States 
Trade Representative (USTR) dated February 16, 2016, advising that 
several petitioners have withdrawn requests for waivers of the 
competitive need limitation under the Generalized System of Preferences 
(GSP) program and that USTR accordingly was withdrawing its request for 
advice regarding such petitions, the U.S. International Trade 
Commission (Commission) has amended the scope of its investigation and 
will not provide advice regarding the withdrawn petitions.

ADDRESSES: All Commission offices, including the Commission's hearing 
rooms, are located in the United States International Trade Commission 
Building, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC. All written submissions 
should be addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade 
Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436. The public record 
for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic 
docket (EDIS) at http://edis.usitc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information specific to this 
investigation may be obtained from Mahnaz Khan, Project Leader, Office 
of Industries (202-205-2046 or [email protected]), Jessica 
Pugliese, Deputy Project Leader, Office of Industries (202-205-3064 or 
[email protected]), or Cynthia Foreso, Technical Advisor, 
Office of Industries (202-205-3348 or [email protected]). For 
information on the legal aspects of this investigation, contact William 
Gearhart of the Commission's Office of the General Counsel (202-205-
3091 or [email protected]). The media should contact Margaret 
O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations (202-205-1819 or 
[email protected]). Hearing-impaired individuals may obtain 
information on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal 
at 202-205-1810. General information concerning the Commission may also 
be obtained by accessing its Web site (http://www.usitc.gov). Persons 
with mobility impairments who will need special assistance in gaining 
access to the Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at 
202-205-2000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: The February 16, 2016, letter from USTR advised the 
Commission that several petitioners have withdrawn requests for waivers 
of the competitive need limitation (CNL) under the GSP program, and 
that in view of the withdrawals USTR is withdrawing its request for 
Commission advice as to whether any industry in the United States is 
likely to be adversely affected by the waiver of the CNLs, whether like 
or directly competitive products were being produced in the United 
States on January 1, 1995, and what would be the probable economic 
effect on total U.S. imports, as well as on consumers, of the subject 
CNL waivers. The letter asked that the Commission continue with its 
analysis of all other petitions cited in the December 30, 2015 and 
January 12, 2016 letters from Ambassador Michael Froman.
    As a result, the Commission is terminating the portion of its 
investigation that concerns the waivers that are the subject of the 
withdrawn petitions and will not provide advice regarding them. The 
withdrawn petitions concern the following articles, HTS subheadings, 
countries, and petitioners:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           HTS subheading                 Brief description               Country               Petitioner
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1509.10.40.........................  Virgin olive oil and its     Tunisia...............  Government of Tunisia.
                                      fractions, whether or not
                                      refined, not chemically
                                      modified, weighing with
                                      the immediate container 18
                                      kg or over.
2804.29.00.........................  Rare gases, other than       Ukraine...............  Government of Ukraine.
                                      argon.
4202.92.04.........................  Insulated beverage bag w/    Philippines...........  Camelbak Products.
                                      outer surface textiles,
                                      interior only flexible
                                      plastic container storing/
                                      dispensing beverage thru
                                      flexible tubing.
6911.10.37.........................  Porcelain or china (o/than   Indonesia.............  Lenox Corporation.
                                      bone china) household
                                      table & kitchenware in
                                      sets in which aggregate
                                      val. of arts./US not 6 (b)
                                      o/$56 n/o $200.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In response to the USTR's letter of December 30, 2015, the 
Commission published its notice of institution of this investigation 
and the scheduling of a public hearing in connection therewith in the 
Federal Register on January 19, 2016 (81 FR 2904). As stated in that 
notice, the public hearing in this investigation (concerning the 
remaining articles) was held on February 24, 2016. In response to the 
USTR's letter of January 12, 2016, the Commission published a notice in 
the Federal Register on January 22, 2016 (81 FR 3819) to expand the 
scope of the investigation to provide probable economic effect advice 
with regard to certain handbags and travel goods products covered by 
five additional HTS statistical reporting numbers.
    The hearing date and deadlines for filing pre-hearing and post-
hearing briefs and all other written submissions in this investigation 
remain the same as previously announced, as does the information 
relating to the filing of those documents. As previously announced, the 
Commission expects to transmit its report in this investigation to the 
USTR by April 28, 2016.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: February 26, 2016.
William R. Bishop,
Supervisory Hearings and Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-04649 Filed 3-2-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7020-02-P



                                                  11290                         Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 42 / Thursday, March 3, 2016 / Notices

                                                  be considered for deferred action for                   FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      Environment, and Public Comment
                                                  childhood arrivals, except in                           Deputy Realty Officer Rachel McManus,                 (PEPC) Web site http://
                                                  exceptional circumstances.                              National Park Service, Land Resources                 parkplanning.nps.gov/saju the San Juan
                                                    (5) An estimate of the total number of                Program Center, Northeast Region, New                 National Historic Site Web site, and in
                                                  respondents and the amount of time                      England Office, 115 John Street, 5th                  local media outlets.
                                                  estimated for an average respondent to                  Floor, Lowell, MA 01852, telephone                    ADDRESSES: San Juan National Historic
                                                  respond: 58,314 respondents responding                  (978) 970–5260.                                       Site, 501 Calle Norzagaray, San Juan,
                                                  for initial request at 3 hours per                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is                  Puerto Rico 00901.
                                                  response and 200,306 respondents                        hereby given that, pursuant to 54 U.S.C.              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  responding for renewal request at 3                     100506(c), the boundary of Saratoga                   Walter J. Chavez, San Juan National
                                                  hours per response.                                     National Historical Park is modified to               Historic Site, 501 Calle Norzagaray, San
                                                    (6) An estimate of the total public                   include an adjoining tract containing                 Juan, Puerto Rico 00901, by phone at
                                                  burden (in hours) associated with the                   169 acres of land. The boundary                       (787) 729–6777.
                                                  collection: The total estimated annual                  revision is depicted on Map No. 374/
                                                  hour burden associated with this                                                                              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
                                                                                                          127824, dated February 5, 2015.                       to the National Environmental Policy
                                                  collection is 775,860 hours.                               54 U.S.C. 100506(c) provides that,
                                                    (7) An estimate of the total public                                                                         Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., NPS
                                                                                                          after notifying the House Committee on
                                                  burden (in cost) associated with the                                                                          announces the termination of the EIS for
                                                                                                          Natural Resources and the Senate
                                                  collection: The estimated total annual                                                                        the Paseo del Morro National
                                                                                                          Committee on Energy and Natural
                                                  cost burden associated with this                                                                              Recreational Trail Extension, San Juan
                                                                                                          Resources, the Secretary of the Interior
                                                  collection of information is $44,353,330.                                                                     National Historic Site, San Juan, Puerto
                                                                                                          is authorized to make this boundary
                                                                                                                                                                Rico. A Notice of Intent to prepare an
                                                    Dated: February 25, 2016.                             revision upon publication of notice in
                                                                                                                                                                EIS was published in the Federal
                                                  Samantha Deshommes,                                     the Federal Register. The Committees
                                                                                                                                                                Register on November 15, 2012 (77 FR
                                                  Acting Chief, Regulatory Coordination                   have been notified of this boundary
                                                                                                                                                                68146, Column 3). The NPS then
                                                  Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S.           revision. This boundary revision and
                                                                                                                                                                engaged in a scoping process which
                                                  Citizenship and Immigration Services,                   subsequent acquisition will ensure
                                                                                                                                                                included public meetings and
                                                  Department of Homeland Security.                        preservation and protection of the park’s
                                                                                                                                                                consultation with federal agencies, and
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–04663 Filed 3–2–16; 8:45 am]              scenic and historic resources.
                                                                                                                                                                the initial development of a range of
                                                  BILLING CODE 9111–97–P                                    Dated: January 6, 2016.                             management alternatives with
                                                                                                          Michael A. Caldwell,                                  preliminary environmental impact
                                                                                                          Regional Director, Northeast Region.                  assessment. Due to the results of the
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                              [FR Doc. 2016–04644 Filed 3–2–16; 8:45 am]            preliminary analysis of the alternatives
                                                                                                          BILLING CODE 4310–WV–P                                and removal of a proposed project
                                                  National Park Service                                                                                         element, the NPS has determined that
                                                  [NPS–NER–SARA–19331;                                                                                          there is no potential for significant
                                                  PS.SSARA0003.00.1]                                      DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                            impacts to park resources and values. In
                                                                                                                                                                addition, no concerns or issues were
                                                  Minor Boundary Revision at Saratoga                     National Park Service                                 expressed during the public scoping
                                                  National Historical Park                                                                                      process that would indicate the
                                                                                                          [NPS–SERO–SAJU–19519; PPSESEROC3,
                                                  AGENCY:   National Park Service, Interior.              PMP00UP05.YP0000]                                     potential for highly controversial
                                                                                                                                                                impacts. For these reasons, the NPS
                                                  ACTION: Notification of boundary
                                                                                                          Environmental Impact Statement for                    determined the proposal would not
                                                  revision.
                                                                                                          the San Juan Promenade Extension                      constitute a major federal action
                                                  SUMMARY:  The boundary of Saratoga                      Project From El Morro Floating Battery                requiring an EIS.
                                                  National Historical Park is modified to                 Area to San Juan Bautista Plaza                         The responsible official is the
                                                  include approximately 169 acres of                                                                            Regional Director, NPS Southeast
                                                                                                          AGENCY:   National Park Service, Interior.            Region, 100 Alabama Street SW., 1924
                                                  land, more or less, located in Saratoga
                                                                                                          ACTION:   Notice of termination.                      Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.
                                                  County, New York, immediately
                                                  adjoining the boundary of Saratoga                      SUMMARY:   The National Park Service                    Dated: February 2, 2016.
                                                  National Historical Park. Subsequent to                 (NPS) is terminating preparation of an                Shawn T. Benge,
                                                  the boundary revision, the National Park                environmental impact statement (EIS)                  Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
                                                  Service will acquire the land by                        for the San Juan Promenade Extension                  [FR Doc. 2016–04645 Filed 3–2–16; 8:45 am]
                                                  purchase from Open Space                                project from El Morro Floating Battery                BILLING CODE 4310–JD–P
                                                  Conservancy, Inc., a nonprofit                          Area to San Juan Bautista Plaza in San
                                                  conservation organization.                              Juan National Historic Site, Puerto Rico.
                                                  DATES: The effective date of this                       Instead, the NPS will be preparing an
                                                                                                                                                                INTERNATIONAL TRADE
                                                  boundary revision is March 3, 2016.                     environmental assessment (EA) to assist
                                                                                                                                                                COMMISSION
                                                  ADDRESSES: The map depicting this                       the NPS in evaluating the impacts of the
                                                  boundary revision is available for                      proposed extension of Paseo del Morro.                [Investigation No. 332–556]
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  inspection at the following locations:                  DATES: The EA for the extension of
                                                  National Park Service, Land Resources                   Paseo del Morro National Recreational                 Generalized System of Preferences:
                                                  Program Center, Northeast Region, New                   Trail is expected to be distributed for               Possible Modifications, 2015 Review
                                                  England Office, 115 John Street, 5th                    public comment in the winter of 2016.                 AGENCY:  United States International
                                                  Floor, Lowell, MA 01852, and National                   The public comment period for the EA                  Trade Commission.
                                                  Park Service, Department of the Interior,               and the dates, times, and locations of
                                                                                                                                                                ACTION: Change in scope of
                                                  1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC                       public meetings will be announced
                                                                                                                                                                investigation.
                                                  20240.                                                  through the NPS Planning,


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                                                                                      Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 42 / Thursday, March 3, 2016 / Notices                                                                     11291

                                                  SUMMARY:   Following receipt of a letter                       may be obtained from Mahnaz Khan,                              Commission that several petitioners
                                                  on behalf of the United States Trade                           Project Leader, Office of Industries                           have withdrawn requests for waivers of
                                                  Representative (USTR) dated February                           (202–205–2046 or mahnaz.khan@                                  the competitive need limitation (CNL)
                                                  16, 2016, advising that several                                usitc.gov), Jessica Pugliese, Deputy                           under the GSP program, and that in
                                                  petitioners have withdrawn requests for                        Project Leader, Office of Industries                           view of the withdrawals USTR is
                                                  waivers of the competitive need                                (202–205–3064 or jessica.pugliese@                             withdrawing its request for Commission
                                                  limitation under the Generalized System                        usitc.gov), or Cynthia Foreso, Technical                       advice as to whether any industry in the
                                                  of Preferences (GSP) program and that                          Advisor, Office of Industries (202–205–                        United States is likely to be adversely
                                                  USTR accordingly was withdrawing its                           3348 or cynthia.foreso@usitc.gov). For                         affected by the waiver of the CNLs,
                                                  request for advice regarding such                              information on the legal aspects of this                       whether like or directly competitive
                                                  petitions, the U.S. International Trade                        investigation, contact William Gearhart                        products were being produced in the
                                                  Commission (Commission) has                                    of the Commission’s Office of the                              United States on January 1, 1995, and
                                                  amended the scope of its investigation                         General Counsel (202–205–3091 or                               what would be the probable economic
                                                  and will not provide advice regarding                          william.gearhart@usitc.gov). The media                         effect on total U.S. imports, as well as
                                                  the withdrawn petitions.                                       should contact Margaret O’Laughlin,                            on consumers, of the subject CNL
                                                                                                                 Office of External Relations (202–205–                         waivers. The letter asked that the
                                                  ADDRESSES:   All Commission offices,
                                                                                                                 1819 or margaret.olaughlin@usitc.gov).
                                                  including the Commission’s hearing                                                                                            Commission continue with its analysis
                                                                                                                 Hearing-impaired individuals may
                                                  rooms, are located in the United States                                                                                       of all other petitions cited in the
                                                                                                                 obtain information on this matter by
                                                  International Trade Commission                                                                                                December 30, 2015 and January 12, 2016
                                                                                                                 contacting the Commission’s TDD
                                                  Building, 500 E Street SW., Washington,                                                                                       letters from Ambassador Michael
                                                                                                                 terminal at 202–205–1810. General
                                                  DC. All written submissions should be                          information concerning the Commission                          Froman.
                                                  addressed to the Secretary, United                             may also be obtained by accessing its                             As a result, the Commission is
                                                  States International Trade Commission,                         Web site (http://www.usitc.gov). Persons                       terminating the portion of its
                                                  500 E Street SW., Washington, DC                               with mobility impairments who will                             investigation that concerns the waivers
                                                  20436. The public record for this                              need special assistance in gaining access                      that are the subject of the withdrawn
                                                  investigation may be viewed on the                             to the Commission should contact the                           petitions and will not provide advice
                                                  Commission’s electronic docket (EDIS)                          Office of the Secretary at 202–205–2000.                       regarding them. The withdrawn
                                                  at http://edis.usitc.gov.                                                                                                     petitions concern the following articles,
                                                                                                                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                                  Background: The February 16, 2016,                          HTS subheadings, countries, and
                                                  Information specific to this investigation                     letter from USTR advised the                                   petitioners:

                                                         HTS subheading                                            Brief description                                           Country                              Petitioner

                                                  1509.10.40 ...........................   Virgin olive oil and its fractions, whether or not refined,            Tunisia ...............................   Government of Tunisia.
                                                                                             not chemically modified, weighing with the imme-
                                                                                             diate container 18 kg or over.
                                                  2804.29.00 ...........................   Rare gases, other than argon .......................................   Ukraine ..............................    Government of Ukraine.
                                                  4202.92.04 ...........................   Insulated beverage bag w/outer surface textiles, inte-                 Philippines .........................     Camelbak Products.
                                                                                             rior only flexible plastic container storing/dispensing
                                                                                             beverage thru flexible tubing.
                                                  6911.10.37 ...........................   Porcelain or china (o/than bone china) household                       Indonesia ...........................     Lenox Corporation.
                                                                                             table & kitchenware in sets in which aggregate val.
                                                                                             of arts./US not 6 (b) o/$56 n/o $200.



                                                     In response to the USTR’s letter of                         in this investigation remain the same as                       DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
                                                  December 30, 2015, the Commission                              previously announced, as does the
                                                  published its notice of institution of this                    information relating to the filing of                          Employment and Training
                                                  investigation and the scheduling of a                          those documents. As previously                                 Administration
                                                  public hearing in connection therewith                         announced, the Commission expects to
                                                  in the Federal Register on January 19,                                                                                        Comment Request for Information
                                                                                                                 transmit its report in this investigation
                                                  2016 (81 FR 2904). As stated in that                                                                                          Collection for Contractor Information
                                                                                                                 to the USTR by April 28, 2016.
                                                  notice, the public hearing in this                                                                                            Gathering, Extension Without Changes
                                                                                                                   By order of the Commission.
                                                  investigation (concerning the remaining                                                                                       AGENCY: Employment and Training
                                                  articles) was held on February 24, 2016.                         Issued: February 26, 2016.
                                                                                                                                                                                Administration (ETA), Department of
                                                  In response to the USTR’s letter of                            William R. Bishop,                                             Labor (Department).
                                                  January 12, 2016, the Commission                               Supervisory Hearings and Information
                                                                                                                                                                                ACTION: Notice.
                                                  published a notice in the Federal                              Officer.
                                                  Register on January 22, 2016 (81 FR                            [FR Doc. 2016–04649 Filed 3–2–16; 8:45 am]                     SUMMARY:   The Department, as part of its
                                                  3819) to expand the scope of the                               BILLING CODE 7020–02–P                                         continuing effort to reduce paperwork
                                                  investigation to provide probable
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                                                and respondent burden, is conducting a
                                                  economic effect advice with regard to                                                                                         preclearance consultation to provide the
                                                  certain handbags and travel goods                                                                                             public and Federal agencies with an
                                                  products covered by five additional HTS                                                                                       opportunity to comment on continuing
                                                  statistical reporting numbers.                                                                                                collection for contractor information in
                                                     The hearing date and deadlines for                                                                                         accordance with the Paperwork
                                                  filing pre-hearing and post-hearing                                                                                           Reduction Act of 1995 [44 U.S.C.
                                                  briefs and all other written submissions                                                                                      3506(c)(2)(A)].


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Document Created: 2016-03-03 03:51:54
Document Modified: 2016-03-03 03:51:54
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionChange in scope of investigation.
ContactInformation specific to this investigation may be obtained from Mahnaz Khan, Project Leader, Office of Industries (202-205-2046 or [email protected]), Jessica Pugliese, Deputy Project Leader, Office of Industries (202-205-3064 or [email protected]), or Cynthia Foreso, Technical Advisor, Office of Industries (202-205-3348 or [email protected]). For information on the legal aspects of this investigation, contact William Gearhart of the Commission's Office of the General Counsel (202-205- 3091 or [email protected]). The media should contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations (202-205-1819 or [email protected]). Hearing-impaired individuals may obtain information on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal at 202-205-1810. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Web site (http://www.usitc.gov). Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000.
FR Citation81 FR 11290 

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