Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48969-48971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23679]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 332-369]


Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized 
System of Preferences

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of hearing.

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SUMMARY: On August 23, 1996, the Commission received a request from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR) for an investigation under 
section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 for the purpose of providing 
advice

[[Page 48970]]

concerning possible modifications to the Generalized System of 
Preferences (GSP).
    Following receipt of the request and in accordance therewith, the 
Commission instituted Investigation No. 332-369 in order to provide as 
follows--

    (1) In accordance with sections 503(a)(1)(A), 503(e), and 131(a) 
of the Trade Act of 1974 (1974 Act), with respect to each article 
listed in Part A of the attached annex, advice as to the probable 
economic effect on U.S. industries producing like or directly 
competitive articles and on consumers of the elimination of U.S. 
import duties under the GSP;
    (2) In accordance with section 503(c)(2)(E) of the 1974 Act, 
which exempts from one of the competitive need limits in section 
503(c)(2)(A) of the 1974 Act articles for which no like or directly 
competitive articles was being produced in the United States on 
January 1, 1995, advice as to whether products like or directly 
competitive with the articles in Part A of the attached annex were 
being produced in the United States on January 1, 1995;
    (3) With respect to the article listed in Part B of the attached 
annex, advice as to the probable economic effect on U.S. industries 
producing like or directly competitive articles and on consumers of 
the removal of the article in Part B of the attached annex from 
eligibility for duty-free treatment under the GSP;
    (4) With respect to the articles listed in Part C of the 
attached annex, advice as to the probable economic effect on U.S. 
industries producing like or directly competitive articles and on 
consumers of the removal of the country specified with respect to 
the articles in Part C from eligibility for duty-free treatment 
under the GSP for such article;
    (5) In accordance with section 503(d)(1)(A) of the 1974 Act, 
advice as to whether any industry in the United States is likely to 
be adversely affected by a waiver of the competitive need limits 
specified in section 503 (2)(A) of the 1974 Act for the 
country specified with respect to the articles in Part D of the 
attached annex, and with respect to Cote d'Ivoire in case 95-1 (HTS 
subheading 0802.90.9090 (pt)).

    In providing its advice under (1), the Commission will assume, as 
requested by USTR, that the benefits of the GSP would not apply to 
imports that would be excluded from receiving such benefits by virtue 
of the competitive need limits specified in section 503 
(2)(A) of the 1974 Act (except for Cote d'Ivoire in case 95-1 (HTS 
subheading 0802.90.9090 pt.). With respect to the competitive need 
limit in section 503(c)(2)(A)(I)(I) of the 1974 Act, the Commission, as 
requested, will use the dollar value limit of $122,141,016.
    As requested by USTR, the Commission will seek to provide its 
advice not later than December 2, 1996.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 9, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    (1) Agricultural and forest products, Lowell Grant (202-205-3312).
    (2) Energy, chemicals, and textiles, Robert Randall (202-205-3366).
    (3) Minerals, metals, machinery, and miscellaneous manufactures, 
Charles Yost (202-205-3432).
    (4) Services, electronics, and transportation, John Davitt (202-
205-3407).
    All of the above are in the Commission's Office of Industries. For 
information on legal aspects of the investigation contact William 
Gearhart of the Commission's Office of the General Counsel at 202-205-
3091.

Background

    The USTR letter noted that the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) 
announced on July 28, 1995 in the Federal Register the acceptance of 
product petitions for modification of the Generalized System of 
Preferences (GSP) received as part of the 1995 annual review. The 
letter stated that modifications to the GSP which may result from this 
review will be announced in the spring of 1997, and become effective in 
the summer of 1997.
    The 1995 annual review was not conducted because the authority for 
the GSP program terminated on July 31, 1995. Legislation amending the 
GSP provisions and extending the program was signed by the President on 
August 20, 1996 (Public Law 104-188, 110 Stat. 1755) (Small Business 
Job Protection Act of 1996--for the GSP related provisions, see 
subtitle J of title I of the Act). The amendments apply to articles 
entered on or after October 1, 1996.

Public Hearing

    A public hearing in connection with this investigation is scheduled 
to begin at 9:30 a.m. on October 9, 1996, at the U.S. International 
Trade Commission Building, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, D.C. The 
hearing may, if necessary, continue on October 10 and 11. All persons 
have the right to appear by counsel or in person, to present 
information, and to be heard. Persons wishing to appear at the public 
hearing should file a letter asking to testify with the Secretary, U.S. 
International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20436, not later than the close of business (5:15 p.m.) on September 
20, 1996. In addition, persons testifying should file prehearing briefs 
(original and 14 copies) with the Secretary by the close of business on 
September 25, 1996. Posthearing briefs should be filed with the 
Secretary by close of business on October 18, 1996. In the event that 
no requests to appear at the hearing are received by the close of 
business on September 20, 1996, the hearing will be canceled. Any 
person interested in attending the hearing as an observer or non-
participant may call the Secretary to the Commission (202-205-1816) 
after September 30, 1996 to determine whether the hearing will be held.

Written Submissions

    In lieu of or in addition to appearing at the public hearing, 
interested persons are invited to submit written statements concerning 
the investigation. Written statements should be received by the close 
of business on October 18, 1996. Commercial or financial information 
which a submitter desires the Commission to treat as confidential must 
be submitted on separate sheets of paper, each clearly marked 
``Confidential Business Information'' at the top. All submissions 
requesting confidential treatment must conform with the requirements of 
section 201.6 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 
CFR 201.6). All written submissions, except for confidential business 
information, will be made available for inspection by interested 
persons. All submissions should be addressed to the Secretary at the 
Commission's office in Washington, D.C.
    Hearing-impaired individuals are advised that information on this 
matter can be obtained by contacting our TDD terminal on (202) 205-
1810.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: September 10, 1996.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
Annex I (HTS Subheadings) \1\
    \1\ See USTR Federal Register notice of July 28, 1995, (60 F.R. 
38856) for article description.
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    A. Petition to add products to the list of eligible articles for 
the Generalized System of Preference (GSP).

0802.90.9090(pt)
2901.29.50
2921.51.50(pt)
2934.20.80(pt)
5701.10.40(pt)
6901.00.00
8527.29.80
8607.19.03

    B. Petitions to remove a product from the list of eligible articles 
for the GSP.

9609.10.00

    C. Petitions to remove duty-free status from beneficiary countries 
for products on the list of eligible articles for the GSP.2

    \2\ While the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) review will 
focus on the designated country(ies), the TSPC reserves the right to 
address removal of GSP status for countries other than those 
specified as well as GSP status for the entire article.

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[[Page 48971]]

2001.90.39(pt) (Chile)
2005.90.5510 (Chile)
2820.10.00 (South Africa)
7006.00.40 (Indonesia)

    D. Petitions for waiver of competitive need limit for products on 
the list of eligible products for the specified country.

0802.90.9090 (Cote d'Ivoire)
1604.16.10 (Morocco)
1604.16.30 (Morocco)
2905.11.20 (Venezuela)
2909.19.1010 (Venezuela)
2917.37.00 (Romania)
2933.39.25 (Brazil)
2933.40.30 (Brazil)
4104.39.20 (Thailand)
4107.90.60 (South Africa)
4203.21.20 (Indonesia)
6905.10.00 (Venezuela)
7614.90.20 (Venezuela)
8414.30.40 (Brazil)
8469.12.00 (Indonesia)
8471.49.26 (Thailand)
8471.60.35 (Thailand)
8517.19.40 (Thailand)
8517.19.80 (Thailand)
8517.21.00 (Thailand)
8521.10.60 (Thailand)
8527.21.10 (Brazil)
8527.31.40 (Indonesia)
8527.90.90 (Philippines)
8544.30.00 (Thailand)
9009.12.00 (Thailand)
9032.89.60 (Philippines)

[FR Doc. 96-23679 Filed 9-16-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P