[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 144 (Thursday, July 27, 1995)] [Notices] [Page 38605] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-18477] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE NAFTA Dispute Settlement Proceeding Concerning Canadian Tariffs on Certain U.S. Agricultural Products AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Notice; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is providing notice that the Free Trade Commission of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), at the request of the United States, has established an arbitral panel to examine Canadian tariffs on several U.S. agricultural products, specifically poultry, eggs, and barley, products made from them and U.S. dairy products. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in the dispute. DATES: Although USTR will accept any comments received during the course of the dispute settlement proceedings, comments should be submitted on or before August 16, 1995, in order to be assured of timely consideration by USTR in preparing its first written submission to the panel. ADDRESS: Comments may be submitted to the Office of the General Counsel, Attn: Canadian Tariffs Dispute, Room 223, USTR, 600 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Brinza, Senior Advisor and Special Counsel for Natural Resources, Office of the General Counsel, USTR, 600 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20508, (202) 395-7305. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, the Government of Canada committed to convert to ``tariff-rate quotas'' (TRQs) the quotas and other non-tariff barriers that it maintained on imports of certain agricultural goods. These tariff-rate quotas result in significant increases in the duty rates Canada applies to these agricultural goods. Canada is, or will be, applying these higher tariffs to imports of several U.S. agricultural products, specifically poultry, eggs, and barley, on products made from them, and on U.S. dairy products. The United States has asked for the establishment of an arbitral panel under the NAFTA to review whether Canada may apply these higher tariff rates consistent with Canada's NAFTA obligations. NAFTA Article 302 requires Canada to apply tariff rates that are lower than those that Canada is applying or will apply through the application of tariff-rate quotas to these goods. Members of the panel are currently being selected, and the panel is expected to meet as necessary in Ottawa, Canada to examine the dispute. The panel is expected to issue its final report detailing its findings and recommendations within five months after the last panelist is selected. Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions Interested persons are invited to submit written comments concerning the issues raised in the dispute. The provisions of 15 CFR 2006.13 (a) and (c) (providing that comments received will be open to public inspection) and 2006.15 will apply to comments received. Comments must be in English and provided in fifteen copies. Pursuant to 15 CFR 2006.15, confidential business information must be clearly marked ``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL'' in a contrasting color ink at the top of each page. USTR will maintain a public file on this dispute settlement proceeding, which will include a list of comments received, in the USTR Reading Room: Room 101, Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW., Washington DC. An appointment to review the docket (Docket NAFTA/ D-1, ``Canada--Agricultural Tariffs''), may be made by calling Brenda Webb, (202) 395-6186. The USTR Reading Room is open to the public by appointment only from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Jennifer Hillman, General Counsel. [FR Doc. 95-18477 Filed 7-26-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3190-01-M