[Federal Register: April 7, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 66)] [Notices] [Page 16913-16914] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr07ap99-38] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration Request for Comments on the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Electronic Commerce Steering Group Work Plan AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce. ACTION: Notice of request for public comment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce/International Trade Administration (DOC/ITA) seeks comment on the APEC Electronic Commerce Steering Group work program. DATES: Comments are due no later than April 21, 1999. [[Page 16914]] ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by e-mail to the following e-mail address . All e-mail submissions should include the following text in the subject line of the message: ``APEC Electronic Commerce Steering Group work plan--Comment.'' The body of the message should indicate the name and affiliation of the correspondent and the name and version of the word processing program used to create the document. Files compatible with the Windows versions of MS Word or WordPerfect word processing programs are preferred. Otherwise, please submit comments in ASCII text format. To enable prompt review and accessibility to the public, DOC/ITA prefers submission of comments in electronic form by e-mail. DOC/ITA will accept comments submitted on 3\1/2\ inch floppy disc. The disc label should include the name and affiliation of the correspondent and the name and version of the word processing program used to create the document. DOC/ITA will also accept comments submitted in hard copy. Individuals or organizations that submit comments in hard copy must provide twenty (20) copies. Discs and hard copy comments must be submitted to Sabrina Montes, Office of Trade and Economic Analysis, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, HCHB Stop 2815, 14th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230. Tel.: 202-482-5242. Fax: 202-482-4614. If the submission contains business confidential information, a justification as to why the information contained in the submission should be treated confidentially must be included in the submission. Submissions containing business confidential information must be clearly marked ``Confidential'' at the top and bottom of the cover page (or letter) and each page of the submission. A version that does not contain confidential information should also be submitted and clearly marked ``public version'' at the top and bottom of each page. Comments should clearly state the position taken and should describe the specific information supporting that position. Comments must be made in English. All submissions should include the name and affiliation of the correspondent. Written comments submitted in connection with this request, except for information that is business confidential, will be available for public inspection on the Internet at or in hard copy at the U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230. An appointment to review the file may be made by calling Sabrina Montes, Office of Trade and Economic Analysis, International Trade Administration, Tel.: 202-482-5242. Respondents that provide an e-mail address with their submission will be added to an e-mail list for future information. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan Menes, Director Office of Trade and Economic Analysis/Co-Chair APEC Electronic Commerce Steering Group (202-482-5145). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In Vancouver, November 1997, Leaders of APEC member economies brought the importance of electronic commerce to the fore by directing Ministers to undertake a work program on electronic commerce in the region, taking into account relevant activities of other international fora, and to report to us in Kuala Lumpur. This initiative should recognize the leading role of the business sector and promote a predictable and consistent legal and regulatory environment that enables all APEC economies to reap the benefits of electronic commerce. In November 1998, the APEC Ministers approved a Blueprint for Action on electronic commerce that sets out a framework for electronic commerce in APEC, outlines a work plan, and establishes a steering group to coordinate electronic commerce activities within APEC fora and to implement the Blueprint work program. The Steering Group membership consists of representatives from all APEC economies. The Steering Group will involve relevant APEC working groups and sub-fora, as well as business sector experts in accordance with APEC guidelines on business participation. DOC/ITA seeks comment on the APEC Electronic Commerce Steering Group work program, which is outlined in the Blueprint for Action on electronic commerce . The Blueprint for Action on electronic commerce advocates that APEC economies ``endeavor to work together to build trust and confidence; enhance government use [of electronic commerce]; intensify community outreach; promote technical cooperation and experience exchange; where appropriate, work toward eliminating impediments to its uptake; and develop seamless legal, technical, operating and trading environments to facilitate the growth and development of electronic commerce.'' Specific initiatives identified in the work program include: Developing measures and indicators of the uptake, use, and flows of e-commerce; Assessing impediments to economic commerce in APEC and reviewing the economic costs that inhibit electronic commerce, including those imposed by regulatory or market conditions; Working on the financial aspects of electronic commerce; Expanding a case history database to facilitate and support electronic commerce activities by small and medium enterprises (SMEs), government, and business/public sector partnerships; Exploring economic and technical cooperation to facilitate the uptake, use, and maximization of the benefits of electronic commerce in APEC member economies; Tasking authentication experts, including business sector experts, to study the range of business models for electronic authentication. This work should include examining the potential role of mechanisms, such as cross-certification and the use of a root certification authority, to promote inter-operability and trust and to facilitate cross-border electronic commerce; Working with UNCITRAL and other international fora to advance, where appropriate, the work on the legal foundations for a seamless system of cross-border electronic commerce; Establishing APEC electronic virtual commerce/multimedia resource network; and Developing paperless trading by 2005, if possible. Work in many of these areas is already underway in various APEC fora, including the Telecommunications Working Group, the Transportation Working Group, the Industrial Science and Technology Working Group, and the Committee on Trade and Investment and its subcommittee on Customs Procedures. Dated: March 29, 1999. Jonathan C. Menes, Director, Office of Trade and Economic Analysis, Co-Chair APEC Electronic Commerce Steering Group, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. [FR Doc. 99-8425 Filed 4-6-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P