[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 16 (Thursday, January 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5238-5239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01497]
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TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Request for Comments on an International Services Agreement
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Request for comments and notice of public hearing.
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SUMMARY: On January 15, 2013, the United States Trade Representative
notified Congress of the Administration's intention to enter into
negotiations for an International Services Agreement (ISA) with an
initial group of 20 trading partners. The Office of the United States
Trade Representative (USTR) is seeking public comments regarding U.S.
interests and priorities with regard to this initiative. Comments may
be provided in writing and orally at a public hearing.
DATES: Persons wishing to testify orally at the hearing must provide
written notification of their intention, as well as their testimony, by
February 26, 2013. The hearing will be held in Washington, DC, on March
12, 2013. Written comments are due by noon, February 26, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Submissions via on-line: http://www.regulations.gov. For
alternatives to on-line submissions please contact Yvonne Jamison at
(202) 395-3475.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions concerning requirements
for written comments, please contact Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395-3475.
All other questions regarding this notice should be directed to Amanda
Horan at (202) 395-4510.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following twenty trading partners have
expressed their intention to participate in negotiations with the
United States to establish an ISA: Australia, Canada, Chile, Chinese
Taipei, Colombia, Costa Rica, European Union on behalf of its member
states, Hong Kong China, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New
Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Switzerland, and Turkey. This
group, which may expand as the negotiations proceed, includes a range
of developed and developing economies, representing nearly two-thirds
of global trade in services.
The agreement envisioned will place a high priority on enabling
U.S. service suppliers to compete on the basis of quality and
competence rather than nationality. The scope would be comprehensive,
permitting the coverage of all services. To remain relevant into the
future, the agreement would be flexible enough to address new issues
arising in the global marketplace and changes in the way services are
traded.
The Chair of the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC)
invites interested persons to provide written comments and/or oral
testimony at a public hearing that will assist USTR in assessing U.S.
objectives for the proposed agreement. The TPSC Chair invites comments
on all relevant matters, and, in particular, on the following:
(a) Economic costs and benefits to U.S. service suppliers and
consumers of eliminating barriers to services traded either on a cross-
border basis or through a foreign commercial presence; (b) existing
barriers to trade in services that should be addressed; (c) areas where
existing international rules governing services trade, such as those
found in the General Agreement on Trade in Services and U.S. free trade
agreements, could be strengthened or enhanced; (d) relevant issues
related to the supply of services through various modes of supply and
technologies.
[[Page 5239]]
Public Comment
Requirements for Submissions
A hearing will be held on March 12, 2013, in Rooms 1 and 2, 1724 F
Street NW., Washington, DC. Persons wishing to testify at the hearing
must provide written notification of their intention by February 26,
2013. The notification should include: (1) The name, address, and
telephone number of the person presenting the testimony; and (2) a
short (one or two paragraph) summary of the presentation, including the
subject matter and, as applicable, the service sector(s) or subjects to
be discussed. A copy of the testimony must accompany the notification.
Remarks at the hearing should be limited to no more than five minutes
to allow for possible questions from the TPSC. Persons with mobility
impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the
hearing should contact Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395-3475.
Persons submitting written comments must do so in English and must
identify (on the first page of the submission) ``International Services
Agreement.'' In order to be assured of consideration, comments should
be submitted by noon, February 26, 2013. In order to ensure the timely
receipt and consideration of comments, USTR strongly encourages
commenters to make on-line submissions, using the http://www.regulations.gov Web site. Comments should be submitted under the
following docket: USTR-2013-0001. To find the docket, enter the docket
number in the ``Enter Keyword or ID'' window at the http://www.regulations.gov 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 ``Comment Now!'' (For further information on using the
http://www.regulations.gov Web site, please consult the resources
provided on the Web site by clicking on the ``Help'' tab.)
The http://www.regulations.gov Web site provides the option of
making submissions by filling in a ``Type Comment'' field, or by
attaching a document using the ``Upload File'' field. USTR prefers
submissions to be provided in an attached document. If a document is
attached, it is sufficient to type ``See attached'' in the ``Type
Comment'' field. USTR also prefers submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc)
or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If the submission is in an application other
than those two, please indicate the name of the application in the
``Comments'' field. For any comments submitted electronically
containing business confidential information, 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. Filers of
submissions containing business confidential information must also
submit a public version of their 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 or reply comments. Filers submitting comments containing no
business confidential information should name their file using the
character ``P,'' followed by the name of the person or entity
submitting the comments. Please do not attach separate cover letters to
electronic submissions; rather, include any information that might
appear in a cover letter in the comments themselves. Similarly, to the
extent possible, please include any exhibits, annexes, or other
attachments in the same file as the submission itself, not as separate
files.
USTR strongly urges submitters to file comments through http://www.regulations.gov, if at all possible. Any alternative arrangements
must be made with Yvonne Jamison in advance of transmitting a comment.
Ms. Jamison should be contacted at (202) 395-3475. General information
concerning USTR is available at http://www.ustr.gov.
Public Inspection of Submissions
Comments will be placed in the docket and open to public
inspection, except business confidential information. Comments may be
viewed on the http:www.regulations.gov Web site by entering the
relevant docket number in the search field on the home page.
Douglas Bell,
Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 2013-01497 Filed 1-23-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F3-P