Notice2022-05044
Request for Comments on the Proposed Fair and Resilient Trade Pillar of an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
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Published
March 10, 2022
Issuing agencies
Trade Representative, Office of United States
Abstract
On October 27, 2021, President Biden announced that the United States would explore the development of an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) to deepen economic relations in the Indo-Pacific region and coordinate approaches to addressing global economic challenges. The Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative will co-chair the U.S. team leading the IPEF negotiations. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will lead the IPEF's pillar on Fair and Resilient Trade, and the Department of Commerce will lead the IPEF's pillars on: (1) Supply Chain Resiliency; (2) Clean Energy, Decarbonization, and Infrastructure; and (3) Taxation and Anti- Corruption. Accordingly, USTR is seeking public comments on matters relevant to the Fair and Resilient Trade pillar, including U.S. interests and priorities, in order to develop U.S. negotiating objectives and positions and identify potential partners.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 47 (Thursday, March 10, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 47 (Thursday, March 10, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13789-13790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05044]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
[Docket Number USTR-2022-0002]
Request for Comments on the Proposed Fair and Resilient Trade
Pillar of an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: On October 27, 2021, President Biden announced that the United
States would explore the development of an Indo-Pacific Economic
Framework (IPEF) to deepen economic relations in the Indo-Pacific
region and coordinate approaches to addressing global economic
challenges. The Secretary of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative
will co-chair the U.S. team leading the IPEF negotiations. The Office
of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will lead the IPEF's
pillar on Fair and Resilient Trade, and the Department of Commerce will
lead the IPEF's pillars on: (1) Supply Chain Resiliency; (2) Clean
Energy, Decarbonization, and Infrastructure; and (3) Taxation and Anti-
Corruption. Accordingly, USTR is seeking public comments on matters
relevant to the Fair and Resilient Trade pillar, including U.S.
interests and priorities, in order to develop U.S. negotiating
objectives and positions and identify potential partners.
DATES: The deadline for the submission of written comments is April 11,
2022.
ADDRESSES: You should submit written comment through the Federal
eRulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> (<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>).
Follow the instructions for submissions in parts II and III below. For
procedural questions concerning written comments, please contact
Spencer Smith at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8eddfeebe0edebfca0c2a0dde3e7fae6bccefbfdfafca0ebe1fea0e9e1f8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6e3d1e0b000d0b1c4022403d03071a065c2e1b1d1a1c400b011e40090118">[email protected]</span></a> or (202) 395-2974 in
advance of the deadline and before transmitting a comment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct all other questions to Colette
Morgan, Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c586aaa9a0b1b1a0eb88eb88aab7a2a4ab85b0b6b1b7eba0aab5eba2aab3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1754787b72636372395a395a786570767957626463653972786739707861">[email protected]</span></a> or (202) 395-9535.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
On October 27, 2021, President Biden announced that the United
States would explore the development of an IPEF that will contain
multiple pillars covering key areas of interest, including fair and
resilient trade. Negotiating an agreement under the Fair and Resilient
Trade pillar is an important step towards strengthening U.S. economic
engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and promoting durable, broad-
based economic growth. Under the Fair and Resilient Trade pillar, the
Administration aims to develop high-standard, worker-centered
commitments in the following areas:
<bullet> Labor
<bullet> Environment and climate
<bullet> Digital economy
<bullet> Agriculture
<bullet> Transparency and good regulatory practices
<bullet> Competition policy
<bullet> Trade facilitation
The United States will build upon high-standard trade commitments
and develop new approaches in trade policy to advance a broad set of
worker-centered priorities, and promote durable, broad-based economic
growth. At this time, the Administration is not seeking to address
tariff barriers.
II. Public Comment
The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) invites interested parties
to submit comments to assist USTR as it develops negotiating objectives
and positions for the IPEF trade pillar. In particular, the TPSC
invites interested parties to comment on issues that USTR should
address in the negotiations, including the following:
1. General negotiating objectives for the proposed agreement.
2. Labor-related matters.
3. Environment and climate-related matters.
4. Digital economy-related matters.
5. Agriculture-related matters.
6. Transparency and good regulatory practice issues.
7. Competition-related matters.
8. Customs and trade facilitation issues.
9. Issues of particular relevance to small and medium-sized
businesses that should be addressed in the negotiations.
10. Other measures or practices, including those of third-country
entities, which undermine fair market opportunities for U.S. workers,
farmers, ranchers, and businesses.
USTR requests small businesses (generally defined by the Small
Business Administration as firms with fewer than 500 employees) or
organizations representing small business members that submit comments
to self-identify as such, so that USTR is aware of issues of particular
interest to small businesses.
III. Requirements for Submissions
Persons submitting written comments must do so in English and must
identify on the first page of the submission `Comments Regarding Fair
and Resilient Trade Pillar'. The submission deadline is April 11, 2022.
USTR strongly encourages commenters to make online submissions,
using <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>. To submit comments via <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, enter
docket number USTR-2022-0002 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 and click
on the link entitled `Comment Now.' For further information on using
<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, please consult the resources provided on the website
by clicking on `How to Use This Site' on the left side of the home
page.
<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> allows users to submit comments by filling in a
`type comment' field, or by attaching a document using an `upload file'
field. USTR prefers that you provide comments in an attached document.
If you attach a document, please identify the name of the country to
which the submission pertains in the `type comment' field, e.g., see
attached comments with respect to (name of country). USTR prefers
submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If you
use an application other than those two, please indicate the name of
the application in the `type comment' field.
Filers submitting comments containing no business confidential
information (BCI) should name their file using the name of the person
or entity submitting the comments. For any comments submitted
electronically containing BCI, the file name of the business
confidential version should begin with the characters `BCI.' Clearly
mark any page containing BCI with `BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL' on the top of
that page. Filers of submissions containing BCI also must submit a
public version of their comments that USTR will place in the docket for
public inspection. The file name of the public version should begin
with the character `P.' Follow the `BCI' and `P' with 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
[[Page 13790]]
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.
As noted, USTR strongly urges that you file comments through
<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>. You must make any alternative arrangements with
Spencer Smith at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2f7c5f4a414c4a5d0163017c42465b471d6f5a5c5b5d014a405f01484059"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cf9cbfaaa1acaabde183e19ca2a6bba7fd8fbabcbbbde1aaa0bfe1a8a0b9">[email protected]</span></a> or (202) 395-2974 before
transmitting a comment and in advance of the deadline.
USTR will post comments in the docket for public inspection, except
properly designated BCI. You can view comments on the <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>
by entering docket number USTR-2022-0002 in the search field on the
home page. General information concerning USTR is available at <a href="https://www.ustr.gov">https://www.ustr.gov</a>.
William Shpiece,
Chair of the Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the United States
Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2022-05044 Filed 3-9-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F2-P
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