81 FR 3819 - Generalized System of Preferences: Possible Modifications, 2015 Review

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 14 (January 22, 2016)

Page Range		3819-3819
FR Document		2016-01267

Following receipt of an amended request on January 12, 2016, from the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission) has expanded the scope of investigation No. 332-556, Generalized System of Preferences: Possible Modifications, 2015 Review, to include five additional HTS statistical reporting numbers relating to certain handbags and travel goods products: 4202.92.30.20; 4202.92.30.31; 4202.92.30.91; 4202.92.90.26; and 4202.92.90.60. The USTR asked that the Commission provide its advice as to the probable economic effect on total U.S. imports, U.S. industries producing like or directly competitive articles, and on U.S. consumers of the elimination of U.S. import duties on these five articles for all beneficiary developing countries under the GSP program, least-developed beneficiary developing countries (LDBDCs), beneficiary developing countries of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and both LDBDCs and AGOA beneficiary developing countries combined under the GSP program. In his January 12, 2016 letter, the USTR also requested that the Commission provide its advice with respect to whether like or directly competitive products were being produced in the United States on January 1, 1995 for these additional 5 articles as well as for all of the products being considered for addition to and removal from the list of GSP-eligible products listed in Tables A and B of the Annex to the December 30, 2015 request letter.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 14 (Friday, January 22, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 14 (Friday, January 22, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 3819]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01267]


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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: Expansion of scope of the investigation.

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SUMMARY: Following receipt of an amended request on January 12, 2016, 
from the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the U.S. 
International Trade Commission (Commission) has expanded the scope of 
investigation No. 332-556, Generalized System of Preferences: Possible 
Modifications, 2015 Review, to include five additional HTS statistical 
reporting numbers relating to certain handbags and travel goods 
products: 4202.92.30.20; 4202.92.30.31; 4202.92.30.91; 4202.92.90.26; 
and 4202.92.90.60. The USTR asked that the Commission provide its 
advice as to the probable economic effect on total U.S. imports, U.S. 
industries producing like or directly competitive articles, and on U.S. 
consumers of the elimination of U.S. import duties on these five 
articles for all beneficiary developing countries under the GSP 
program, least-developed beneficiary developing countries (LDBDCs), 
beneficiary developing countries of the African Growth and Opportunity 
Act (AGOA), and both LDBDCs and AGOA beneficiary developing countries 
combined under the GSP program. In his January 12, 2016 letter, the 
USTR also requested that the Commission provide its advice with respect 
to whether like or directly competitive products were being produced in 
the United States on January 1, 1995 for these additional 5 articles as 
well as for all of the products being considered for addition to and 
removal from the list of GSP-eligible products listed in Tables A and B 
of the Annex to the December 30, 2015 request letter.

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://www.usitc.gov/secretary/edis.htm.

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.

Background

    The Commission initially instituted this investigation in response 
to a request letter from the USTR dated December 30, 2015. The 
Commission published notice of institution of this investigation and 
the scheduling of a public hearing in the Federal Register on January 
19, 2016 (81 FR 2904). As previously announced, the public hearing in 
this investigation will be held on February 24, 2016, and it will 
include the articles covered by the five additional HTS statistical 
reporting numbers as well as the articles described in the January 19, 
2016 notice. The deadlines for filing requests to appear at the public 
hearing (February 1, 2016), pre-hearing briefs and statements (February 
3, 2016), post-hearing briefs and all other written submissions in this 
investigation (February 29, 2016) remain the same as previously 
announced. All other information in the January 19, 2016, notice 
remains the same, including with respect to the procedures relating to 
the filing of written submissions and the submission of confidential 
business information.
    The Commission expects to transmit its report to the USTR by April 
28, 2016, the date indicated in the earlier notice).

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: January 19, 2016.
Lisa R. Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2016-01267 Filed 1-21-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7020-02-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 14 / Friday, January 22, 2016 / Notices 3819

telecommunications device for the deaf SUMMARY: Following receipt of an investigation, contact William Gearhart
(TDD) may call the Federal Information amended request on January 12, 2016, of the Commission’s Office of the
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 from the United States Trade General Counsel (202–205–3091 or
to contact either of the above Representative (USTR), the U.S. william.gearhart@usitc.gov). The media
individuals. The FIRS is available 24 International Trade Commission should contact Margaret O’Laughlin,
hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a (Commission) has expanded the scope Office of External Relations (202–205–
message or question with the above of investigation No. 332–556, 1819 or margaret.olaughlin@usitc.gov).
individual. You will receive a reply Generalized System of Preferences: Hearing-impaired individuals may
during normal business hours. Possible Modifications, 2015 Review, to obtain information on this matter by
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The include five additional HTS statistical
contacting the Commission’s TDD
purpose for the extension of the reporting numbers relating to certain
terminal at 202–205–1810. General
duration of the withdrawal created by handbags and travel goods products:
4202.92.30.20; 4202.92.30.31; information concerning the Commission
Public Land Order No. 7179 is to may also be obtained by accessing its
continue protecting seismic monitoring 4202.92.30.91; 4202.92.90.26; and
4202.92.90.60. The USTR asked that the Web site (http://www.usitc.gov). Persons
instruments and the seismic integrity of with mobility impairments who will
the University of California–Berkeley Commission provide its advice as to the
probable economic effect on total U.S. need special assistance in gaining access
Seismic Observatory, located on 45
imports, U.S. industries producing like to the Commission should contact the
acres of National Forest System land,
or directly competitive articles, and on Office of the Secretary at 202–205–2000.
from future mining activities that either
disturb the seismic equipment or create U.S. consumers of the elimination of
Background
seismic noise in the general area that U.S. import duties on these five articles
would interfere with the accuracy of the for all beneficiary developing countries The Commission initially instituted
seismograph. under the GSP program, least-developed this investigation in response to a
beneficiary developing countries request letter from the USTR dated
Order (LDBDCs), beneficiary developing December 30, 2015. The Commission
By virtue of the authority vested in countries of the African Growth and published notice of institution of this
the Secretary of the Interior by Section Opportunity Act (AGOA), and both investigation and the scheduling of a
204 of the Federal Land Policy and LDBDCs and AGOA beneficiary
public hearing in the Federal Register
Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. developing countries combined under
on January 19, 2016 (81 FR 2904). As
1714, it is hereby ordered as follows: the GSP program. In his January 12,
previously announced, the public
Public Land Order No. 7179 (61 FR 2016 letter, the USTR also requested
that the Commission provide its advice hearing in this investigation will be held
2137 (1996)) which withdrew 45 acres on February 24, 2016, and it will
of National Forest System land from with respect to whether like or directly
competitive products were being include the articles covered by the five
location and entry under the United
produced in the United States on additional HTS statistical reporting
States mining laws, but not from leasing
January 1, 1995 for these additional 5 numbers as well as the articles
under the mineral leasing laws to
protect the seismic integrity of the articles as well as for all of the products described in the January 19, 2016
University of California–Berkeley being considered for addition to and notice. The deadlines for filing requests
Seismic Observatory, is hereby extended removal from the list of GSP-eligible to appear at the public hearing
for an additional 20-year period. This products listed in Tables A and B of the (February 1, 2016), pre-hearing briefs
withdrawal will expire on January 24, Annex to the December 30, 2015 request and statements (February 3, 2016), post-
2036, unless, as a result of a review letter. hearing briefs and all other written
conducted before the expiration date ADDRESSES: All Commission offices, submissions in this investigation
pursuant to Section 204(f) of the Federal including the Commission’s hearing (February 29, 2016) remain the same as
Land Policy and Management Act of rooms, are located in the United States previously announced. All other
1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714(f), the Secretary International Trade Commission information in the January 19, 2016,
determines that the withdrawal shall be Building, 500 E Street SW., Washington, notice remains the same, including with
further extended. DC. All written submissions should be respect to the procedures relating to the
Dated: January 10, 2016.
addressed to the Secretary, United filing of written submissions and the
States International Trade Commission, submission of confidential business
Janice M. Schneider,
500 E Street SW., Washington, DC information.
Assistant Secretary—Land and Minerals 20436. The public record for this
Management.
investigation may be viewed on the The Commission expects to transmit
[FR Doc. 2016–01295 Filed 1–21–16; 8:45 am]
Commission’s electronic docket (EDIS) its report to the USTR by April 28, 2016,
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P at http://www.usitc.gov/secretary/ the date indicated in the earlier notice).
edis.htm. By order of the Commission.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Issued: January 19, 2016.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Information specific to this investigation Lisa R. Barton,
COMMISSION
may be obtained from Mahnaz Khan, Secretary to the Commission.
[Investigation No. 332–556] Project Leader, Office of Industries [FR Doc. 2016–01267 Filed 1–21–16; 8:45 am]
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

(202–205–2046 or mahnaz.khan@
Generalized System of Preferences: BILLING CODE 7020–02–P
usitc.gov), Jessica Pugliese, Deputy
Possible Modifications, 2015 Review Project Leader, Office of Industries
AGENCY: United States International (202–205–3064 or jessica.pugliese@
Trade Commission. usitc.gov), or Cynthia Foreso, Technical
Advisor, Office of Industries (202–205–
ACTION: Expansion of scope of the
3348 or cynthia.foreso@usitc.gov). For
investigation.
information on the legal aspects of this

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Document Created: 2016-01-22 01:16:55
Document Modified: 2016-01-22 01:16:55

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Expansion of scope of the investigation.
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.
FR Citation		81 FR 3819