[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 13 (Friday, January 19, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 1413-1414] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-531] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Identification of Priority Foreign Countries: Request for Public Comment
Agency
Office of the United States Trade Representative.
Action
Request for written submissions from the public concerning acts, policies, and practices to be considered with respect to identification of countries under section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (Trade Act).
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Summary
Section 182 of the Trade Act requires the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to identify countries that deny adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights or deny fair and equitable market access to U.S. persons who rely on intellectual property protection. 19 U.S.C. 2242. In addition, the USTR is required to determine which of the countries identified should be designated as priority foreign countries. Priority foreign countries typically are subject to a ``special'' 301
investigation of the acts, policies or practices which led to their designation. USTR requests written submissions from the public concerning foreign countries' acts, policies, and practices that are relevant to the decision whether particular trading partners should be identified under section 182 of the Trade Act.
Dates
Submissions must be received on or before 12:00 noon on Tuesday, February 20, 1996.
For Further Information Contact
Joseph Papovich, Deputy Assistant USTR for Intellectual property (202) 395-6864; JoEllen Urban, Director for Intellectual Property (202) 395-6864; or Thomas Robertson, Assistant General Counsel (202) 395-6800, Office of the United States Trade Representative.
Supplementary Information
Pursuant to section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, the USTR must identify those countries that deny adequate and effective protection for intellectual property rights or deny fair and equitable market access to U.S. persons who rely on intellectual property protection. Those countries that have the most onerous or egregious acts, policies, or practices and whose acts, policies or practices have the greatest adverse impact (actual or potential) on relevant U.S. products are to be identified as priority foreign countries.
USTR may not identify a country as a priority foreign country if it is entering into good faith negotiations, or making significant progress in bilateral or multilateral negotiations, to provide adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights. USTR must decide whether to identify countries as priority foreign countries each year and issue a decision within 30 days after publication of the National Trade Estimate (NTE) report, i.e., no later than April 30, 1996. Priority foreign countries typically are subject to a ``special'' 301 investigation of the acts, policies or practices which led to their designation.
Requirements for Submissions
Submissions should include a description of the problems experienced and the effect of the acts, policies, and practices on U.S. industry. Submissions should be as detailed as possible and should provide all necessary information for assessing the effect of the acts, policies and practices. Any submissions that include quantitative loss claims should be accompanied by the methodology used in calculating such estimated losses. Comments must be filed in accordance with the requirements set forth in 15 CFR Sec. 2006.8(b) (55 FR 20593) and must be sent to Sybia Harrison, Special Assistant to the Section 301 Committee, Room 223, 600 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20506, no later than 12 noon on Tuesday, February 20, 1996. Because submissions will be placed in a file open to public inspection at USTR, business- confidential information should be submitted.
Public Inspection of Submissions
Within one business day of receipt, submissions will be placed in a public file, open for inspection at the USTR Reading Room, in Room 101, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street NW., Washington, DC. An appointment to review the file may be made by calling Brenda Webb, (202) 395-6186. The USTR Reading Room is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Donald Abelson, Assistant USTR for Services, Investment and Intellectual Property. [FR Doc. 96-531 Filed 1-18-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3190-01-M