83_FR_40540 83 FR 40383 - Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning Russia's Implementation of Its WTO Commitments

83 FR 40383 - 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 83, Issue 157 (August 14, 2018)

Page Range40383-40384
FR Document2018-17379

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 obligations as a Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 157 (Tuesday, August 14, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40383-40384]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17379]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket Number USTR-2018-0028]


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: Request for comments and notice of public hearing.

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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 
obligations as a Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

DATES: 
    September 25, 2018 at midnight EST: Deadline for submission of 
written comments and for filing requests to appear and a summary of 
expected testimony at the public hearing.
    October 4, 2018: The TPSC will convene a public hearing in Rooms 1 
& 2, 1724 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20508 beginning at 9:30 a.m.

ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments in section III below. The docket 
number is USTR-2018-0028. For alternatives to online submissions, 
please contact Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395-3475 before transmitting a 
comment and in advance of the relevant deadline.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. 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 Magnitsky 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 and implementing 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 any 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.
    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. You can 
find the Protocol and Working Party Report on USTR's website at https://ustr.gov/node/5887 or on the WTO website at http://docsonline.wto.org 
(document symbols: WT/ACC/RUS/70, WT/MIN(11)/2, WT/MIN(11)/24, WT/L/
839, WT/ACC/RUS/70/Add.1, WT/MIN(11)/2/Add.1, WT/ACC/RUS/70/Add.2, and 
WT/MIN(11)/2/Add.1).

II. 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 (including local content 
requirements).
    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. Government procurement.
    l. Rule of law issues (e.g., transparency, judicial review, uniform 
administration of laws and regulations).
    m. Other WTO commitments.
    USTR must receive your written comments no later than September 25, 
2018 at midnight EST.
    The TPSC will convene a public hearing on Thursday, October 4, 
2018, 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 no later than September 25, 2018 at midnight EST. The 
intent to testify notification must be made in the ``Type Comment'' 
field under docket number USTR-2018-0028 on the www.regulations.gov 
website and should include the name, address, and telephone number of 
the person presenting the testimony. You should attach a summary of the 
testimony by using the ``Upload File'' field. The name of the file also 
should include who will be presenting the testimony. Remarks at the 
hearing will be limited to no more than five minutes to allow for 
possible questions from the TPSC.

III. 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.'' The deadline for submission is September 25, 2018 at 
midnight EST. 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 website. To submit comments 
via www.regulations.gov, enter docket number USTR-2018-0028

[[Page 40384]]

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 
website, please consult the resources provided on the website by 
clicking on ``How to Use Regulations.gov'' on the bottom of the home 
page.
    The www.regulations.gov website 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 you provide comments 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.
    Filers submitting comments containing no business confidential 
information should name their file using the name of the person or 
entity submitting the comments. 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. 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 that you file submissions through 
www.regulations.gov. You must make any alternative arrangements with 
Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395-3475 before transmitting a comment and in 
advance of the relevant deadline.
    We will post comments in the docket for public inspection, except 
business confidential information. You can view comments on the https://www.regulations.gov website by entering docket number USTR-2018-0028 
in the search field on the home page. General information concerning 
USTR is available at www.ustr.gov.

Edward Gresser,
Chair of the Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the United States 
Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2018-17379 Filed 8-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3290-F8-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Notices 40383 note, et seq.), Delegation of Authority I. Background its accession to the WTO, including, but No. 234 of October 1, 1999, and Russia became a Member of the WTO not limited to, commitments in the Delegation of Authority No. 236–3 of on August 22, 2012, and on December following areas: August 28, 2000. 21, 2012, following the termination of a. Import regulation (e.g., tariffs, tariff- the application of the Jackson-Vanik rate quotas, quotas, import licenses). Marie Therese Porter Royce, b. Export regulation. Assistant Secretary for Educational and amendment to Russia and the extension c. Subsidies. Cultural Affairs, Department of State. of permanent normal trade relations to d. Standards and technical [FR Doc. 2018–17434 Filed 8–13–18; 8:45 am] the products of Russia, the United States regulations. BILLING CODE 4710–05–P and Russia both filed letters with the e. Sanitary and phytosanitary WTO withdrawing their notices of non- measures. application and consenting to have the f. Trade-related investment measures WTO Agreement apply between them. (including local content requirements). OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES In accordance with Section 201(a) of the g. Taxes and charges levied on TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik imports and exports. Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of h. Other internal policies affecting Law Accountability Act of 2012 (Pub. L. trade. [Docket Number USTR–2018–0028] 112–208), USTR is required to submit, i. Intellectual property rights Request for Comments and Notice of by December 21st of each year, a report (including intellectual property rights Public Hearing Concerning Russia’s to Congress on the extent to which enforcement). Implementation of Its WTO Russia is implementing the WTO j. Services. Commitments Agreement, including the Agreement on k. Government procurement. the Application of Sanitary and l. Rule of law issues (e.g., AGENCY: Office of the United States Phytosanitary Measures and the transparency, judicial review, uniform Trade Representative. Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of administration of laws and regulations). ACTION: Request for comments and Intellectual Property Rights. The Report m. Other WTO commitments. notice of public hearing. also must assess Russia’s progress on USTR must receive your written acceding to and implementing the comments no later than September 25, SUMMARY: The interagency Trade Policy Information Technology Agreement 2018 at midnight EST. Staff Committee (TPSC) will convene a (ITA) and the Government Procurement The TPSC will convene a public public hearing and seek public Agreement (GPA). In addition, to the hearing on Thursday, October 4, 2018, comment to assist the Office of the extent that USTR finds that Russia is not in Rooms 1 & 2, 1724 F Street NW, United States Trade Representative implementing fully any WTO agreement Washington, DC 20508. Persons wishing (USTR) in the preparation of its annual or is not making adequate progress in to testify at the hearing must provide report to Congress on Russia’s acceding to the ITA or the GPA, USTR written notification of their intention no implementation of its obligations as a must describe in the report the actions later than September 25, 2018 at Member of the World Trade it plans to take to encourage Russia to midnight EST. The intent to testify Organization (WTO). improve its implementation and/or notification must be made in the ‘‘Type DATES: increase its accession efforts. In Comment’’ field under docket number September 25, 2018 at midnight EST: accordance with Section 201(a), and to USTR–2018–0028 on the Deadline for submission of written assist it in preparing this year’s report, www.regulations.gov website and comments and for filing requests to the TPSC is hereby soliciting public should include the name, address, and appear and a summary of expected comment. telephone number of the person testimony at the public hearing. The terms of Russia’s accession to the presenting the testimony. You should October 4, 2018: The TPSC will WTO are contained in the Marrakesh attach a summary of the testimony by convene a public hearing in Rooms 1 & Agreement Establishing the World using the ‘‘Upload File’’ field. The name 2, 1724 F Street NW, Washington, DC Trade Organization and the Protocol on of the file also should include who will 20508 beginning at 9:30 a.m. the Accession of the Russian Federation be presenting the testimony. Remarks at ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers to the WTO (including its annexes) the hearing will be limited to no more electronic submissions made through (Protocol). The Report of the Working than five minutes to allow for possible the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// Party on the Accession of the Russian questions from the TPSC. www.regulations.gov. Follow the Federation (Working Party Report) III. Requirements for Submissions instructions for submitting comments in provides detail and context to the commitments listed in the Protocol. You Persons submitting a notification of section III below. The docket number is intent to testify and/or written USTR–2018–0028. For alternatives to can find the Protocol and Working Party Report on USTR’s website at https:// comments must do so in English and online submissions, please contact must identify (on the first page of the Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395–3475 ustr.gov/node/5887 or on the WTO website at http://docsonline.wto.org submission) ‘‘Russia’s WTO before transmitting a comment and in Implementation of its WTO advance of the relevant deadline. (document symbols: WT/ACC/RUS/70, WT/MIN(11)/2, WT/MIN(11)/24, WT/L/ Commitments.’’ The deadline for FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 839, WT/ACC/RUS/70/Add.1, WT/ submission is September 25, 2018 at procedural questions concerning written MIN(11)/2/Add.1, WT/ACC/RUS/70/ midnight EST. In order to ensure the amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 comments, contact Yvonne Jamison at Add.2, and WT/MIN(11)/2/Add.1). timely receipt and consideration of (202) 395–3475. Direct all other comments, USTR strongly encourages questions to Betsy Hafner, Deputy II. Public Comment and Hearing commenters to make on-line Assistant United States Trade USTR invites written comments and/ submissions, using the Representative for Russia and Eurasia, at or oral testimony of interested persons www.regulations.gov website. To submit (202) 395–9124. on Russia’s implementation of the comments via www.regulations.gov, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: commitments made in connection with enter docket number USTR–2018–0028 VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:13 Aug 13, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00172 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\14AUN1.SGM 14AUN1

40384 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 157 / Tuesday, August 14, 2018 / Notices on the home page and click ‘‘search.’’ entering docket number USTR–2018– process. DOT posts these comments, The site will provide a search-results 0028 in the search field on the home without edit, including any personal page listing all documents associated page. General information concerning information the commenter provides, to with this docket. Find a reference to this USTR is available at www.ustr.gov. http://www.regulations.gov, as notice and click on the link entitled described in the system of records Edward Gresser, ‘‘comment now!’’ For further notice (DOT/ALL–14 FDMS), which can information on using the Chair of the Trade Policy Staff Committee, be reviewed at http://www.dot.gov/ Office of the United States Trade www.regulations.gov website, please privacy. Representative. consult the resources provided on the Docket: Background documents or [FR Doc. 2018–17379 Filed 8–13–18; 8:45 am] website by clicking on ‘‘How to Use comments received may be read at BILLING CODE 3290–F8–P Regulations.gov’’ on the bottom of the http://www.regulations.gov at any time. home page. Follow the online instructions for The www.regulations.gov website accessing the docket or go to the Docket allows users to provide comments by DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Operations in Room W12–140 of the filling in a ‘‘type comment’’ field, or by West Building Ground Floor at 1200 attaching a document using an ‘‘upload Federal Aviation Administration New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC file’’ field. USTR prefers that you [Summary Notice No. 2018–61] 20590–0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., provide comments in an attached Monday through Friday, except Federal document. If a document is attached, it Petition for Exemption; Summary of holidays. is sufficient to type ‘‘see attached’’ in Petition Received; Embry-Riddle FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: the ‘‘type comment’’ field. USTR prefers Aeronautical University Brent Hart, (202) 267–4034, Office of submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Rulemaking, Federal Aviation Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If the submission AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Administration, 800 Independence is in an application other than those Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591. two, please indicate the name of the Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice. This notice is published pursuant to application in the ‘‘type comment’’ 14 CFR 11.85. field. SUMMARY: This notice contains a Filers submitting comments Issued in Washington, DC, on July 25, summary of a petition seeking relief 2018. containing no business confidential from specified requirements of Federal Dale Bouffiou, information should name their file using Aviation Regulations. The purpose of Deputy Executive Director, Office of the name of the person or entity this notice is to improve the public’s Rulemaking. submitting the comments. For any awareness of, and participation in, the comments submitted electronically Petition for Exemption FAA’s exemption process. Neither containing business confidential publication of this notice nor the Docket No.: FAA–2018–0618 information, the file name of the inclusion or omission of information in Petitioner: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical business confidential version should the summary is intended to affect the University begin with the characters ‘‘BC’’. Any page containing business confidential legal status of the petition or its final Section(s) of 14 CFR Affected: information must be clearly marked disposition. 141.63(a)(5)(i) and (ii) ‘‘BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL’’ on the DATES: Comments on this petition must Description of Relief Sought: The top of that page. Filers of submissions identify the petition docket number and petitioner seeks relief from 14 CFR containing business confidential must be received on or before 141.63(a)(5)(i) and (ii) for the purpose of information also must submit a public September 4, 2018. seeking a one-time approval to establish version of their comments. The file ADDRESSES: Send comments identified examining authority privileges to new name of the public version should begin by docket number FAA–2018–0618 courses, based on existing courses in with the character ‘‘P’’. The ‘‘BC’’ and using any of the following methods: which examining authority is currently ‘‘P’’ should be followed by the name of • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to approved, for Air Agency certificate the person or entity submitting the http://www.regulations.gov and follow #BF8S032Q. comments. Please do not attach separate the online instructions for sending your [FR Doc. 2018–17468 Filed 8–13–18; 8:45 am] cover letters to electronic submissions; comments electronically. BILLING CODE 4910–13–P rather, include any information that • Mail: Send comments to Docket might appear in a cover letter in the Operations, M–30; U.S. Department of comments themselves. Similarly, to the Transportation, 1200 New Jersey DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION extent possible, please include any Avenue SE, Room W12–140, West exhibits, annexes, or other attachments Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC Federal Aviation Administration in the same file as the submission itself, 20590–0001. Agency Information Collection not as separate files. • Hand Delivery or Courier: Take Activities: Requests for Comments; As noted, USTR strongly urges that comments to Docket Operations in Clearance of Renewed Approval of you file submissions through Room W12–140 of the West Building Information Collection: Dealer’s www.regulations.gov. You must make Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Aircraft Registration Certificate any alternative arrangements with Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590– Application Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395–3475 0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 before transmitting a comment and in Monday through Friday, except Federal AGENCY: Federal Aviation advance of the relevant deadline. holidays. Administration (FAA), DOT. We will post comments in the docket • Fax: Fax comments to Docket ACTION: Notice and request for for public inspection, except business Operations at (202) 493–2251. comments. confidential information. You can view Privacy: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. comments on the https:// 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the SUMMARY: In accordance with the www.regulations.gov website by public to better inform its rulemaking Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:13 Aug 13, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00173 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\14AUN1.SGM 14AUN1


Document Created: 2018-08-14 02:18:26
Document Modified: 2018-08-14 02:18:26
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
ActionRequest for comments and notice of public hearing.
DatesSeptember 25, 2018 at midnight EST: Deadline for submission of written comments and for filing requests to appear and a summary of expected testimony at the public hearing.
ContactFor procedural questions concerning written comments, contact Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395-3475. Direct all other questions to Betsy Hafner, Deputy Assistant United States Trade Representative for Russia and Eurasia, at (202) 395-9124.
FR Citation83 FR 40383 
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