81 FR 54914 - Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning Russia's Implementation of Its WTO Commitments

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 159 (August 17, 2016)

Page Range		54914-54915
FR Document		2016-19593

The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) will convene a public hearing and seek public comment to assist the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in the preparation of its annual report to Congress on Russia's implementation of its commitments as a Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 159 (Wednesday, August 17, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54914-54915]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19593]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning 
Russia's Implementation of Its WTO Commitments

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of public hearing and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) will 
convene a public hearing and seek public comment to assist the Office 
of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in the preparation of 
its annual report to Congress on Russia's implementation of its 
commitments as a Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

DATES: If you want to testify at the hearing, you must provide written 
notification and a summary of your testimony by Tuesday, September 20, 
2016. Written comments also are due by Tuesday, September 20, 2016. The 
hearing will be held on Friday, September 30, 2016, beginning at 9:30 
a.m. in Rooms 1 & 2, 1724 F Street NW., Washington, DC 20508.

ADDRESSES: You should submit notifications of intent to testify and 
written comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments in 
section 3 below. For alternatives to on-line submissions, please 
contact Yvonne Jamison, Trade Policy Staff Committee, at (202) 395-
3475.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For procedural questions concerning 
written comments or participating in the public hearing, contact Yvonne 
Jamison at (202) 395-3475. Direct all other questions regarding this 
notice to Betsy Hafner, Deputy Assistant United States Trade 
Representative for Russia and Eurasia, at (202) 395-9124.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Background

    Russia became a Member of the WTO on August 22, 2012, and on 
December 21, 2012, following the termination of the application of the 
Jackson-Vanik amendment to Russia and the extension of permanent normal 
trade relations to the products of Russia, the United States and Russia 
both filed letters with the WTO withdrawing their notices of non-
application and consenting to have the WTO Agreement apply between 
them. In accordance with section 201(a) of the Russia and Moldova 
Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitskiy Rule of Law Accountability 
Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-208), USTR is required to submit, by December 
21st of each year, a report to Congress on the extent to which Russia 
is implementing the WTO Agreement, including the Agreement on the 
Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and the Agreement on 
Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. The Report also 
must assess Russia's progress on acceding to the Information Technology 
Agreement (ITA) and the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). In 
addition, to the extent that USTR finds that Russia is not implementing 
fully the WTO Agreement or is not making adequate progress in acceding 
to the ITA or the GPA, USTR must describe in the report the actions it 
plans to take to encourage Russia to improve its implementation and/or 
increase its accession efforts. In accordance with section 201(a), and 
to assist it in preparing this year's report, the TPSC is hereby 
soliciting public comment. Last year's report is available on USTR's 
Web site: https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/2015-Report-on-Implementation-Enforcement-Russia-WTO-Commitments.pdf
    The terms of Russia's accession to the WTO are contained in the 
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization and the 
Protocol on the Accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO 
(including its annexes) (Protocol). The Report of the Working Party on 
the Accession of the Russian Federation (Working Party Report) provides 
detail and context to the commitments listed in the Protocol. The 
Protocol and Working Party Report can be found on USTR's Web page, 
https://ustr.gov/node/5887 or on the WTO Web site, http://docsonline.wto.org (document symbols: WT/ACC/RUS/70, WT/MIN(11)/2, WT/
MIN(11)/24, WT/L/839, and WT/ACC/RUS/70/Add.1, WT/ACC/RUS/70/Add.2.

2. Public Comment and Hearing

    USTR invites written comments and/or oral testimony of interested 
persons on Russia's implementation of the commitments made in 
connection with its accession to the WTO, including, but not limited 
to, commitments in the following areas:
    (a) import regulation (e.g., tariffs, tariff-rate quotas, quotas, 
import licenses);
    (b) export regulation;
    (c) subsidies;
    (d) standards and technical regulations;
    (e) sanitary and phytosanitary measures;
    (f) trade-related investment measures;
    (g) taxes and charges levied on imports and exports;
    (h) other internal policies affecting trade;
    (i) intellectual property rights (including intellectual property 
rights enforcement);
    (j) services;
    (k) rule of law issues (e.g., transparency, judicial review, 
uniform administration of laws and regulations);
    (l) trade-related investment measures; and
    (m) other WTO commitments.
    You must submit written comments no later than Tuesday, September 
20, 2016.
    A hearing will be held on Friday, September 30, 2016, in Rooms 1 & 
2, 1724 F Street NW., Washington, DC 20508. Persons wishing to testify 
at the hearing must provide written notification of their intention by 
11:59 p.m., Tuesday, September 20, 2016. The intent to testify 
notification must be made in the ``Type Comment'' field under docket 
number USTR-2016-0014 on the www.regulations.gov Web site and should 
include the name, address and telephone number of the person presenting 
the testimony. A summary of the testimony should be attached by using 
the ``Upload File'' field. The name of the file also should include who 
will be presenting the testimony. Remarks at the hearing should be 
limited to no

[[Page 54915]]

more than five minutes to allow for possible questions from the TPSC.
    You should submit all documents in accordance with the instructions 
in section 3 below.

3. Requirements for Submissions

    Persons submitting a notification of intent to testify and/or 
written comments must do so in English and must identify (on the first 
page of the submission) ``Russia's WTO Implementation of its WTO 
Commitments.'' In order to be assured of consideration, comments should 
be submitted by 11:59 p.m., September 20, 2016.
    In order to ensure the timely receipt and consideration of 
comments, USTR strongly encourages commenters to make on-line 
submissions, using the www.regulations.gov Web site. To submit comments 
via www.regulations.gov, enter docket number USTR-2016-0014 on the 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 and click on the link entitled ``Comment Now!'' For further 
information on using the www.regulations.gov Web site, please consult 
the resources provided on the Web site by clicking on ``How to Use 
Regulations.gov'' on the bottom of the home page.
    The www.regulations.gov Web site allows users to provide comments 
by filling in a ``Type Comment'' field, or by attaching a document 
using an ``Upload File'' field. USTR prefers that comments be provided 
in an attached document. If a document is attached, it is sufficient to 
type ``See attached'' in the ``Type Comment'' field. USTR 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 ``Type Comment'' 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 also must 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.
    As noted, USTR strongly urges submitters to file comments through 
www.regulations.gov. Any alternative arrangements must be made with 
Yvonne Jamison in advance of transmitting a comment. You can contact 
Ms. Jamison at (202) 395-3475. General information concerning USTR is 
available at www.ustr.gov.
    Comments will be placed in the docket and open to public 
inspection, except business confidential information. Comments may be 
viewed on the www.regulations.gov Web site by entering the relevant 
docket number in the search field on the home page.

Edward Gresser,
Chair of the Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the United States 
Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2016-19593 Filed 8-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3290-F6-P

54914 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 159 / Wednesday, August 17, 2016 / Notices

August 4, 2016, and identified in the www.regulations.gov. Follow the to the WTO (including its annexes)
notice for such hearing, which was instructions for submitting comments in (Protocol). The Report of the Working
published in 81 FR 44407, July 7, 2016. section 3 below. For alternatives to on- Party on the Accession of the Russian
The public is invited to attend the line submissions, please contact Yvonne Federation (Working Party Report)
Commission’s business meeting. Jamison, Trade Policy Staff Committee, provides detail and context to the
Comments on the Regulatory Program at (202) 395–3475. commitments listed in the Protocol. The
projects and proposed rescission of the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Protocol and Working Party Report can
Commission’s Information Technology procedural questions concerning written be found on USTR’s Web page, https://
Services Fee Policy were subject to a comments or participating in the public ustr.gov/node/5887 or on the WTO Web
deadline of August 15, 2016. Written hearing, contact Yvonne Jamison at site, http://docsonline.wto.org
comments pertaining to other items on (202) 395–3475. Direct all other (document symbols: WT/ACC/RUS/70,
the agenda at the business meeting may questions regarding this notice to Betsy WT/MIN(11)/2, WT/MIN(11)/24, WT/L/
be mailed to the Susquehanna River Hafner, Deputy Assistant United States 839, and WT/ACC/RUS/70/Add.1, WT/
Basin Commission, 4423 North Front Trade Representative for Russia and ACC/RUS/70/Add.2.
Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110– Eurasia, at (202) 395–9124.
1788, or submitted electronically 2. Public Comment and Hearing
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
through http://www.srbc.net/pubinfo/ USTR invites written comments and/
publicparticipation.htm. Such 1. Background or oral testimony of interested persons
comments are due to the Commission Russia became a Member of the WTO on Russia’s implementation of the
on or before September 2, 2016. on August 22, 2012, and on December commitments made in connection with
Comments will not be accepted at the 21, 2012, following the termination of its accession to the WTO, including, but
business meeting noticed herein. the application of the Jackson-Vanik not limited to, commitments in the
Authority: Pub. L. 91–575, 84 Stat. 1509 et amendment to Russia and the extension following areas:
seq., 18 CFR parts 806, 807, and 808. of permanent normal trade relations to (a) import regulation (e.g., tariffs,
the products of Russia, the United States tariff-rate quotas, quotas, import
Dated: August 12, 2016.
and Russia both filed letters with the licenses);
Stephanie L. Richardson, (b) export regulation;
Secretary to the Commission. WTO withdrawing their notices of non-
(c) subsidies;
application and consenting to have the (d) standards and technical
[FR Doc. 2016–19649 Filed 8–16–16; 8:45 am]
WTO Agreement apply between them. regulations;
BILLING CODE 7040–01–P
In accordance with section 201(a) of the (e) sanitary and phytosanitary
Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik measures;
Repeal and Sergei Magnitskiy Rule of (f) trade-related investment measures;
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES Law Accountability Act of 2012 (Pub. L.
TRADE REPRESENTATIVE (g) taxes and charges levied on
112–208), USTR is required to submit, imports and exports;
by December 21st of each year, a report (h) other internal policies affecting
Request for Comments and Notice of
to Congress on the extent to which trade;
Public Hearing Concerning Russia’s
Russia is implementing the WTO (i) intellectual property rights
Implementation of Its WTO
Agreement, including the Agreement on (including intellectual property rights
Commitments
the Application of Sanitary and enforcement);
AGENCY: Office of the United States Phytosanitary Measures and the (j) services;
Trade Representative. Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of (k) rule of law issues (e.g.,
ACTION: Notice of public hearing and Intellectual Property Rights. The Report transparency, judicial review, uniform
request for comments. also must assess Russia’s progress on administration of laws and regulations);
acceding to the Information Technology (l) trade-related investment measures;
SUMMARY: The interagency Trade Policy Agreement (ITA) and the Government and
Staff Committee (TPSC) will convene a Procurement Agreement (GPA). In (m) other WTO commitments.
public hearing and seek public addition, to the extent that USTR finds You must submit written comments
comment to assist the Office of the that Russia is not implementing fully no later than Tuesday, September 20,
United States Trade Representative the WTO Agreement or is not making 2016.
(USTR) in the preparation of its annual adequate progress in acceding to the A hearing will be held on Friday,
report to Congress on Russia’s ITA or the GPA, USTR must describe in September 30, 2016, in Rooms 1 & 2,
implementation of its commitments as a the report the actions it plans to take to 1724 F Street NW., Washington, DC
Member of the World Trade encourage Russia to improve its 20508. Persons wishing to testify at the
Organization (WTO). implementation and/or increase its hearing must provide written
DATES: If you want to testify at the accession efforts. In accordance with notification of their intention by 11:59
hearing, you must provide written section 201(a), and to assist it in p.m., Tuesday, September 20, 2016. The
notification and a summary of your preparing this year’s report, the TPSC is intent to testify notification must be
testimony by Tuesday, September 20, hereby soliciting public comment. Last made in the ‘‘Type Comment’’ field
2016. Written comments also are due by year’s report is available on USTR’s Web under docket number USTR–2016–0014
Tuesday, September 20, 2016. The site: https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/ on the www.regulations.gov Web site
hearing will be held on Friday, 2015-Report-on-Implementation- and should include the name, address
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

September 30, 2016, beginning at 9:30 Enforcement-Russia-WTO- and telephone number of the person
a.m. in Rooms 1 & 2, 1724 F Street NW., Commitments.pdf presenting the testimony. A summary of
Washington, DC 20508. The terms of Russia’s accession to the the testimony should be attached by
ADDRESSES: You should submit WTO are contained in the Marrakesh using the ‘‘Upload File’’ field. The name
notifications of intent to testify and Agreement Establishing the World of the file also should include who will
written comments through the Federal Trade Organization and the Protocol on be presenting the testimony. Remarks at
eRulemaking Portal: http:// the Accession of the Russian Federation the hearing should be limited to no

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Document Created: 2018-02-09 11:35:22
Document Modified: 2018-02-09 11:35:22

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		Notice of public hearing and request for comments.
Dates		If you want to testify at the hearing, you must provide written notification and a summary of your testimony by Tuesday, September 20, 2016. Written comments also are due by Tuesday, September 20, 2016. The hearing will be held on Friday, September 30, 2016, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in Rooms 1 & 2, 1724 F Street NW., Washington, DC 20508.
Contact		For procedural questions concerning written comments or participating in the public hearing, contact Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395-3475. Direct all other questions regarding this notice to Betsy Hafner, Deputy Assistant United States Trade Representative for Russia and Eurasia, at (202) 395-9124.
FR Citation		81 FR 54914