[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 184 (Thursday, September 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 58856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24313]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Determination Regarding Waiver of Discriminatory Purchasing 
Requirements With Respect to Goods and Services of Armenia

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Determination Regarding Waiver of Discriminatory Purchasing 
Requirements under the Trade Agreements Act of 1979.

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DATES: Effective Date: September 15, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Heilman Grier, Senior Procurement 
Negotiator, Office of the United States Trade Representative, (202) 
395-9476.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 7, 2010, the WTO Committee on 
Government Procurement approved the accession of Armenia to the World 
Trade Organization (``WTO'') Agreement on Government Procurement 
(``GPA''). Armenia submitted its instrument of accession to the 
Secretary-General of the WTO on August 16, 2011. The GPA will enter 
into force for Armenia on September 15, 2011. The United States, which 
is also a party to the GPA, has agreed to waive discriminatory 
purchasing requirements for eligible products and suppliers of Armenia 
beginning on September 15, 2011.
    Section 1-201 of Executive Order 12260 of December 31, 1980 
delegated the functions of the President under sections 301 and 302 of 
the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (``the Trade Agreements Act'') (19 
U.S.C. 2511, 2512) to the United States Trade Representative.
    Determination: In conformity with sections 301 and 302 of the Trade 
Agreements Act, and in order to carry out U.S. obligations under the 
GPA, I hereby determine that:
    1. Armenia has become a party to the GPA and will provide 
appropriate reciprocal competitive government procurement opportunities 
to United States products and services and suppliers of such products 
and services. In accordance with section 301(b)(1) of the Trade 
Agreements Act, Armenia is so designated for purposes of section 301(a) 
of the Trade Agreements Act.
    2. Accordingly, beginning on September 15, 2011, with respect to 
eligible products (namely, those goods and services covered under the 
GPA for procurement by the United States) of Armenia and suppliers of 
such products, the application of any law, regulation, procedure, or 
practice regarding government procurement that would, if applied to 
such products and suppliers, result in treatment less favorable than 
that accorded--
    (A) To United States products and suppliers of such products, or
    (B) To eligible products of another foreign country or 
instrumentality which is a party to the GPA and suppliers of such 
products,

shall be waived. This waiver shall be applied by all entities listed in 
United States Annexes 1 and 3 of GPA Appendix 1.
    3. The Trade Representative may modify or withdraw the designation 
in paragraph 1 and the waiver in paragraph 2.

Ronald Kirk,
United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2011-24313 Filed 9-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W1-P