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

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

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

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


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

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

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