[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 112 (Monday, June 11, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27068-27069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12446]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
[Docket Number USTR-2018-0013]
Dispute Number WT/DS545; WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding:
United States--Safeguard Measure on Imports of Crystalline Silicon
Photovoltaic Products
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice with request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is
providing notice that on May 14, 2018, the Government of the Republic
of Korea requested consultations with the United States under the
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization
concerning a safeguard measure the United States implemented on imports
of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not partially or
fully assembled into other products (solar products). That request is
available at www.wto.org in a document designated as WT/DS545/1. USTR
invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised
in this dispute.
DATES: Although USTR will accept any comments during the course of the
dispute settlement proceedings, you should submit your comment on or
before July 11, 2018, to be assured of timely consideration by USTR.
ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through
the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
[[Page 27069]]
www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments in
section III below. The docket number is USTR-2018-0013. For
alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact Sandy McKinzy at
(202) 395-9483.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Assistant General Counsel Dax Terrill
at (202) 395-4739.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
USTR is providing notice that consultations have been requested
pursuant to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Understanding on Rules
and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU). If these
consultations do not resolve the matter, Korea could request that the
WTO establish a dispute settlement panel pursuant to the DSU, which
would hold its meetings in Geneva Switzerland, and issue a report on
its findings.
II. Major Issues Raised by Korea
On May 14, 2018, Korea requested consultations concerning a
safeguard measure the United States implemented on solar products under
section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2251 et seq.) following
a determination of the U.S. International Trade Commission that solar
products are being imported into the United States in such increased
quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury to the
domestic industry producing an article like or directly competitive
with the imported article.
Korea alleges that United States has implemented a safeguard
measure that does not comply with Articles 1, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2,
5.1, 5.2, 7.1, 7.4, 8.1, 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3 of the Agreement on
Safeguards and Articles X, XIII, and XIX of the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade 1994.
III. Public Comments: Requirements for Submissions
USTR invites written comments concerning the issues raised in this
dispute. All submissions must be in English and sent electronically via
www.regulations.gov. To submit comments via www.regulations.gov, enter
docket number USTR-2018-0013 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 ``notice'' under ``document type'' on the left side of the
search-results page, and click on the link entitled ``comment now!''
For further information on using the www.regulations.gov website,
please consult the resources provided on the website by clicking on
``How to Use Regulations.gov'' on the bottom of the home page.
The www.regulations.gov website allows users to provide comments by
filling in a ``type comment'' field, or by attaching a document using
an ``upload file'' field. USTR prefers that comments be provided in an
attached document. If a document is attached, it is sufficient to type
``see attached'' in the ``type comment'' field. USTR 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 ``type comment'' 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 and the submission should
clearly indicate, via brackets, highlighting, or other means, the
specific information that is business confidential. If you request
business confidential treatment, you must certify in writing that
disclosure of the information would endanger trade secrets or
profitability, and that the information would not customarily be
released to the public. Filers of submissions containing business
confidential information also must 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. If these procedures are
not sufficient to protect business confidential information or
otherwise protect business interests, please contact Sandy McKinzy at
(202) 395-9483 to discuss whether alternative arrangements are
possible.
USTR may determine that information or advice contained in a
comment, other than business confidential information, is confidential
in accordance with section 135(g)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
U.S.C. 2155(g)(2)). If a submitter believes that information or advice
is confidential, s/he must clearly designate the information or advice
as confidential and mark it as ``SUBMITTED IN CONFIDENCE'' at the top
and bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page, and provide a
non-confidential summary of the information or advice.
Pursuant to section 127(e) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19
U.S.C. 3537(e)), USTR will maintain a docket on this dispute settlement
proceeding, docket number USTR-2018-0013, accessible to the public at
www.regulations.gov. The public file will include non-confidential
public comments USTR receives regarding the dispute. If a dispute
settlement panel is convened, or in the event of an appeal from a
panel, USTR will make the following documents publicly available at
www.ustr.gov: The U.S. submissions and any non-confidential summaries
of submissions received from other participants in the dispute. If a
dispute settlement panel is convened, or in the event of an appeal from
a panel, the report of the panel, and, if applicable, the report of the
Appellate Body, will also be available on the website of the World
Trade Organization, at www.wto.org.
Juan Millan,
Assistant United States Trade Representative for Monitoring and
Enforcement, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2018-12446 Filed 6-8-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F8-P