![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() |
[Federal Register: December 1, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 232)]
[Notices]
[Page 75334]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01de00-135]
=======================================================================
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Notice of Request for Public Comments on the Review and Renegotiation of the
United States-Israel Agreement on Trade in Agricultural
Products
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is soliciting written comments
on U.S. objectives for upcoming negotiations on the renewal of the United
States-Israel Agreement on Trade in Agricultural Products (ATAP).
Specifically, the TPSC is seeking comments on general negotiating objectives and
product-specific requests.
DATES: Public comments are due by noon December 29, 2000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For procedural questions concerning public
comments, contact Gloria Blue, Executive Secretary, TPSC, Office of the USTR,
600 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508 (202) 395-3475. All other questions
regarding the negotiations should be addressed to Ned Saums, Director for Middle
Eastern Affairs, Office of the USTR, (202) 395-3320.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 1985 Agreement on the Establishment of a Free
Trade Area between the Government of Israel and the Government
of the United States of America (FTAA) was intended to apply, in full, to trade
in all products between the two countries. However, the United States and Israel
held differing interpretations as to the meaning of certain rights and
obligations related to agricultural products under the FTAA. In the interest of
achieving practical improvements in agricultural trade between the two
countries, the United States and
Israel in November 1996 signed the Agreement on Trade in
Agricultural Products (ATAP). The ATAP, an adjunct to the FTAA, is a five-year
agreement, expiring on December 31, 2001.
According to the ATAP, U.S. agricultural products exported to
Israel are divided into three categories: (1) Products which
are exempt from tariffs, (2) products which are exempt from tariffs within
certain
quantities, (3) products which are imported at a preferential tariff rate.
Israeli agricultural products are treated differently under the ATAP. Following
the implementation of the 1985 FTAA, most Israeli
agricultural products exported to the U.S. had duty-free access to the U.S.
market. Therefore, duty-free quota allocations, in excess of U.S. WTO
commitments, are the principle concessions granted to Israeli products as a
result of the ATAP. Not later than January 31, 2001, The United States and Israel
have committed to initiate a review of the operation of the ATAP and to seek
further improvements. In preparation, USTR is soliciting detailed written
comments, including data and arguments, addressing:
(a) General and product-specific negotiating objectives for
the ATAP;
(b) Economic costs and benefits to U.S. producers and
exporters related to the reduction or removal of current restrictions to the
Israeli agricultural market;
(c) Product-specific export interests or barriers (described
by Harmonized Tariff System numbers);
(d) Detailed accounts of particular trade-restrictive
measures that should be addressed in the negotiations; and,
(e) Other relevant issues, including potential environmental
implications of the proposed agreement.
Written Comments
Persons submitting written comments should provide twenty
(20) copies no later than noon, December 29, 2000, to Gloria Blue at the address
listed above. Where possible, please supplement written comments with a computer
disk of the submission containing as much of the technical details as possible
either in spreadsheet or word processing table format, with each tariff
line/services sector in a separate cell. The disk should have a label
identifying the software used and the submitter.
Written comments submitted in connection with this request,
except for information granted ``business confidential'' status pursuant to 15
CFR 2003.6, will be available for public inspection in the USTR Reading Room
(Room 101) at the address noted above. An appointment to review the file may be
made by calling Brenda Webb at (202) 395-6186. The 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.
Business confidential information, including any information
submitted on disks, will be subject to the requirements of 15 CFR 2003.6. Any
business confidential material must be clearly marked as such on the cover
letter or page and each succeeding page, and must be accompanied by a
non-confidential summary thereof. If the submission contains business
confidential information, twenty copies of a public version that does not
contain confidential information, must be submitted. A justification as to why
the information contained in the submission should be treated confidentially
must be included in the
submission. In addition, any submissions containing business confidential
information must be clearly marked ``Confidential'' at the top and bottom of the
cover page (or letter) and each succeeding page of the submission. The version
that does not contain confidential information should also be clearly marked, at
the top and bottom of each page, ``public version'' or ``non-confidential.''
Carmen Suro-Bredie,
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Policy Coordination.
[FR Doc. 00-30648 Filed 11-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-P
![]() |
|