[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 155 (Friday, August 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-19713]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: August 12, 1994]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Trade Policy Staff Committee; Generalized System of Preferences
(GSP); Review of GSP Benefits Lost by Thailand in 1989
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice and solicitation of public comment.
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SUMMARY: In 1989, Thailand lost some GSP benefits following a
determination that Thailand does not provide adequate and effective
intellectual property right protection. The purpose of this notice is:
(1) to announce the initiation of a review process to consider whether
any of the GSP benefits that were lost by Thailand should be restored;
and (2) to solicit public comments on the restoration of such benefits.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600
17th Street, NW., room 517, Washington, DC 20506. The telephone number
is (202) 395-6971.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
On January 19, 1989, President Reagan determined, pursuant to
sections 502 and 504 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C.
2462 and 2464), that Thailand does not fully provide adequate and
effective means to secure, exercise and enforce exclusive rights in
intellectual property (54 Federal Register 3573). Accordingly, the
President: (1) denied a competitive need limit waiver; (2) revoked four
competitive need limit waivers; (3) imposed reduced competitive need
limits to certain specified articles; and (4) established a policy that
future requests for competitive need limit waivers for Thai products
would not be considered until Thailand provides adequate and effective
intellectual property right (IPR) protection.
As a result of the 1989 determination, Thailand became ineligible
for GSP treatment on articles in the following subheadings of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS):
HTS subheading 0713.31.40 mung beans
HTS subheading 1102.30.00 rice flour
HTS subheading 1103.14.00 rice meal
HTS subheading 6702.90.65 artificial flowers
HTS subheading 6908.10.20 ceramic tile
HTS subheading 7113.11.20 jewelry
HTS subheading 7113.11.50 jewelry
HTS subheading 7113.19.50 jewelry
HTS subheading 7113.20.50 jewelry
HTS subheading 9401.40.00 seats
HTS subheading 9401.61.60 seats
HTS subheading 9401.69.80 seats
HTS subheading 9403.30.80 wooden office furniture
HTS subheading 9403.40.90 wooden kitchen furniture
HTS subheading 9403.50.90 wooden bedroom furniture
HTS subheading 9403.60.80 other wooden furniture
II. GSP Review for Thailand
On July 20, 1994, U.S. Trade Representative Kantor announced that
USTR would initiate a review process to determine whether any of the
GSP benefits that Thailand lost in 1989 should be restored because of
progress by the Government of Thailand on IPR protection. This notice
formally announces the initiation of a review process to determine
whether Thailand's eligibility for GSP treatment for the products in
these HTS subheadings should be restored. The decision on whether to
restore any GSP benefits to Thailand will be based on the requirements
of the GSP law, Title V of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C.
2461 et seq.), and on Thai progress on IPR protection, including the
final passage of a copyright act that is consistent with international
standards, the creation of an IPR court and the rapid implementation of
Thai obligations under the Uruguay Round intellectual property
agreements (TRIPs).
III. Public Comments
Interested parties are invited to submit comments regarding the
restoration of the GSP benefits for Thailand that are described above.
Comments must be submitted in 14 copies, in English, to the Chairman of
the GSP Subcommittee, Trade Policy Staff Committee, 600 17th Street,
NW., room 517, Washington, DC 20506. Comments must be received no later
than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 21, 1994. Information and comments
submitted regarding Thailand's lost GSP benefits 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 2007.7. If the document contains
business confidential information, 14 copies of a nonconfidential
version of the submission along with 14 copies of the confidential
version must be submitted. The confidential version of the submission
should be clearly marked ``Submitted in Confidence'' at the top and
bottom of each and every page of the document. A nonconfidential
summary of the confidential information must be included with the
confidential submission, along with a written explanation of why the
confidential material should be protected. The version which does not
contain business confidential information (the public version) should
also be clearly marked at the top and bottom of each and every page
(either ``public version'' or ``non-confidential'').
Frederick L. Montgomery,
Chairman, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 94-19713 Filed 8-11-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M