[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 152 (Monday, August 9, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47878-47879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19554]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA); Notice Regarding the 2010
Annual Review
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice and request for petitions.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the 2010 Annual Review of the Andean
Trade Preference Act (ATPA). Under this process, petitions may be filed
calling for the limitation, withdrawal or suspension of ATPA or ATPDEA
benefits by presenting evidence that the eligibility criteria of the
program are not being met. USTR will publish a list of petitions filed
in response to this announcement in the Federal Register.
DATES: The deadline for the submission of petitions for the 2010 Annual
ATPA Review is September 15, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Petitions should be submitted electronically via the
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2010-0018.
For alternatives to on-line submissions please contact Gloria Blue,
Executive Secretary, Trade Policy Staff Committee, at (202) 395-3475.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bennett M. Harman, Deputy Assistant
U.S. Trade Representative for Latin America, Office of the Americas,
Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th St., NW.,
Washington, DC 20508. The telephone number is (202) 395-9446 and the
facsimile number is (202) 395-9675.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ATPA (19 U.S.C. 3201-06), as renewed and
amended by the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA)
in the Trade Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-210) and extended by the Andean
Trade Preference Act (Pub. L. 110-436), provides for trade benefits for
eligible Andean countries. The current beneficiaries of the ATPA are
Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Consistent with Section 3103(d) of the
ATPDEA, USTR promulgated regulations (15 CFR part 2016) (68 FR 43922)
regarding the review of eligibility of articles and countries for the
benefits of the ATPA, as amended. The 2010 Annual ATPA Review is the
seventh such review to be conducted pursuant to the ATPA review
regulations. To qualify for the benefits of the ATPA and ATPDEA, each
country must meet several eligibility criteria, as set forth in
sections 203(c) and (d), and section 204(b)(6)(B) of the ATPA, as
amended (19 U.S.C. 3202(c), (d); 19 U.S.C. 3203(b)(6)(B)), and as
outlined in
[[Page 47879]]
the Federal Register notice USTR published to request public comments
regarding the designation of eligible countries as ATPDEA beneficiary
countries (67 FR 53379). Under section 203(e) of the ATPA, as amended
(19 U.S.C. 3202(e)), the President may withdraw or suspend the
designation of any country as an ATPA or ATPDEA beneficiary country,
and may also withdraw, suspend, or limit preferential treatment for any
product of any such beneficiary country, if the President determines
that, as a result of changed circumstances, the country is not meeting
the eligibility criteria.
The ATPA regulations provide the schedule of dates for conducting
an annual review, unless otherwise specified by Federal Register
notice. Notice is hereby given that, in order to be considered in the
2010 Annual ATPA Review, all petitions to withdraw or suspend the
designation of a country as an ATPA or ATPDEA beneficiary country, or
to withdraw, suspend, or limit application of preferential treatment to
any article of any ATPA beneficiary country under the ATPA, or to any
article of any ATPDEA beneficiary country under section 204(b)(1), (3),
or (4) (19 U.S.C. 3202(b)(1), (3), (4)) of the ATPA, must be received
by the Andean Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee no later
than 5 p.m. EDT on September 15, 2010. Petitioners should consult 15
CFR 2016.0 regarding the content of such petitions.
Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions: To ensure the most
timely and expeditious receipt and consideration of comments, USTR has
arranged to accept on-line submissions via http://www.regulations.gov.
To submit comments via http://www.regulations.gov, enter docket number
USTR-2010-0018 on the home page and click ``search''. The site will
provide a search-results page listing all documents associated with
this docket. Find a reference to this notice by selecting ``Notices''
under ``Document Type'' on the search-results page, and click on the
link entitled ``Submit a Comment.'' (For further information on using
the http://www.regulations.gov Web site, please consult the resources
provided on the Web site by clicking on ``How to Use This Site'' on the
left side of the home page.)
The http://www.regulations.gov Web site provides the option of
making submissions by filling in a ``Type Comment & Upload File''
field, or by attaching a document. We expect that most submissions will
be provided in an attached document. If a document is attached, it is
sufficient to type ``See attached'' in the ``Type Comment & Upload
File'' field.
Submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) are
preferred. If you use an application other than those two, please
identify the application in your submission.
Persons wishing to file comments containing business confidential
information must submit a business confidential version and a public
version. The file name of the business confidential version should
begin with the characters ``BC''. Any page containing business
confidential information must be clearly marked ``BUSINESS
CONFIDENTIAL'' on the top of that page. Persons wishing to file
comments containing business confidential information must also
provide, in a separate submission, a public version of the comments.
The file name of the public version should begin with the character
``P''. The ``BC'' and ``P'' should be followed by the name of the
person or entity submitting the comments. If you submit comments that
contain no business confidential information, the file name should
begin with the character ``P'', followed by the name of the person or
entity submitting the comments. Electronic submissions should not
attach separate cover letters; rather, information that might appear in
a cover letter should be included in the comments you submit.
Similarly, to the extent possible, please include any exhibits,
annexes, or other attachments to a submission in the same file as the
submission itself and not as separate files.
We strongly urge submitters to use electronic filing. If an on-line
submission is impossible, alternative arrangements must be made with
Ms. Blue prior to delivery for the receipt of such submissions. Ms.
Blue may be contacted at (202) 395-3475. General information concerning
the Office of the United States Trade Representative may be obtained by
accessing its Internet Web site (http://www.ustr.gov).
Carmen Suro-Bredie,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 2010-19554 Filed 8-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W0-P