[Federal Register: December 23, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 246)] [Notices] [Page 72136-72138] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr23de99-126] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Generalized System of Preferences (GSP); Notice Regarding the 1999 Product Review AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice announces the petitions that were accepted for the 1999 GSP Annual Review for modifications of GSP product eligibility; lists the schedule for the public hearing on these petitions, for requesting participation in the hearing, and for submitting pre-hearing and post-hearing briefs. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW, Room 518, Washington, DC 20508. The telephone number is (202) 395-6971. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The GSP program grants duty-free treatment to designated eligible articles that are imported from designated beneficiary developing countries. The GSP program is authorized by Title V the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (``Trade Act'') (19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.), and administered in accordance with GSP regulations (15 CFR Part 2007) which provide for a GSP annual review. In a notice dated April 23, 1999, USTR initiated the 1999 GSP Annual Review and announced a deadline of June 16, 1999 for the filing of petitions (63 FR 18963). The product petitions that we received requested changes in the eligibility of products by adding or removing products, or the waiver of ``competitive need limitations'' (CNLs) for eligible articles. Authorization for granting CNL waivers is set forth in section 503(d) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2464(d)). The GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC has reviewed the 28 product petitions that were received and has decided that 9 of these petitions involving 7 products should be accepted for consideration in the 1999 GSP Annual Review. The annex to this notice sets forth the case number, product identification, the change requested and the petitioner for each product included in the 1999 GSP Annual Review. Opportunities for Public Comment and Inspection of Comments The GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC invites comments in support of, or in opposition to, any petition which is the subject of this notice. Submissions should comply with 15 CFR Part 2007, including sections 2007.0, and 2007.1. All submissions should identify the subject article(s) in terms of the current Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (``HTS'') nomenclature. Comments should be submitted in fourteen (14) copies, in English, to the Chairman of the GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee, 600 17th Street, NW, Room 518, Washington, DC 20508. Information submitted will be subject to public inspection by appointment with the staff of the USTR public reading room, except for information granted ``business confidential'' status pursuant to 15 CFR 2003.6 and other qualifying information submitted in confidence pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.7. If the document contains confidential information, an original and fourteen (14) copies of a nonconfidential version of the submission along with an original and fourteen (14) copies of the confidential version must be submitted. In addition, any document containing confidential information should be clearly marked ``confidential'' at the top and bottom of each page of the document. The version that does not contain confidential information (the public version) should also be clearly marked at the top and bottom of every page (either ``public version'' or ``nonconfidential''). Comments should be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on January 14, 2000. Notice of Public Hearings Hearings will be held on February 1, 2000 beginning at 10 a.m. at the Office of the United States Trade Representative, 1724 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20508. The hearings will be open to the public and a transcript of the hearings will be made available for public inspection or can be purchased from the reporting company. No electronic media coverage will be allowed. All interested parties wishing to present oral testimony at the hearings must submit the name, address, and telephone number of the witnesses representing their organization to the Chairman of the GSP Subcommittee. Such requests to present oral testimony at the public hearings should be accompanied by fourteen (14) copies, in English, of a written brief or statement, and should be received by 5 p.m. on January 14, 2000. Oral testimony before the GSP Subcommittee will be limited to five minute presentations that summarize or supplement information contained in the briefs or statements submitted for the record. Post-hearing and rebuttal briefs or statements should conform to the regulations cited above and be submitted in fourteen (14) copies, in English, no later than 5 p.m. February 24, 2000. Interested persons not wishing to appear at the public hearings may also submit pre-hearing written briefs or statements by 5 p.m. on January 14, 2000, and post-hearing and rebuttal written briefs or statements by February 24, 2000. Comments by interested persons on the USITC Report prepared as part of the product review should be submitted in fourteen (14) copies, in English, by 5 p.m. April 14, 2000. Frederick L. Montgomery, Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee. BILLING CODE 3901-01-M [[Page 72137]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN23DE99.001 [[Page 72138]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN23DE99.002 [FR Doc. 99-32220 Filed 12-22-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3901-01-C