Notice2022-14355
Request for Comments: Trade Strategy to Combat Forced Labor
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 6, 2022
Issuing agencies
Trade Representative, Office of United States
Abstract
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is coordinating with all relevant United States federal agencies to develop a focused trade strategy to combat forced labor. The strategy will identify priorities and establish an action plan for utilizing existing and potential new trade tools to combat forced labor in traded goods and services. USTR invites public comments to inform the development of the strategy.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 128 (Wednesday, July 6, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40332-40333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14355]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Request for Comments: Trade Strategy to Combat Forced Labor
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is
coordinating with all relevant United States federal agencies to
develop a focused trade strategy to combat forced labor. The strategy
will identify priorities and establish an action plan for utilizing
existing and potential new trade tools to combat forced labor in traded
goods and services. USTR invites public comments to inform the
development of the strategy.
DATES: The deadline for the submission of written comments is August 5,
2022.
ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through
the Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>
(<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>), using Docket Number USTR-2022-0006. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments in `Requirements for Submissions'
below. For alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact Jennifer
Oetken, Director for Labor Affairs, in advance of the deadline at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fdb7989393949b988fd3b1d3b29889969893bd888e898fd398928dd39a928b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="58123d3636313e3d2a761476173d2c333d36182d2b2c2a763d3728763f372e">[email protected]</span></a> or (202) 395-2870.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Oetken, Director for Labor
Affairs, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ffb59a919196999a8dd1b3d1b09a8b949a91bf8a8c8b8dd19a908fd1989089"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="175d7279797e717265395b395872637c727957626463653972786739707861">[email protected]</span></a> or (202) 395-2870.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 40333]]
I. Background
On January 25, 2022, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai
announced that USTR would develop the first-ever trade strategy to
combat forced labor. In developing the strategy, USTR is conducting an
interagency review across the U.S. Government through the Trade Policy
Staff Committee's (TPSC) Subcommittee on Trade, Forced Labor, and Child
Labor of existing trade policies and tools used to combat forced labor,
including forced child labor, to determine areas that may need
strengthening and gaps that may need to be filled. USTR will use this
analysis to establish objectives, priorities, new tools, and key action
items to advance development of the strategy. The process is inclusive
to maximize input from stakeholders, including labor organizations,
civil society, survivors, and the private sector.
II. Public Comment
USTR invites interested parties to submit comments to assist in the
development of the forced labor trade strategy. In submitting comments,
parties are invited to consider the following questions.
<bullet> What actions could the U.S. Government pursue with like-
minded trade partners and allies to combat forced labor as an unfair
trade practice?
<bullet> How can the U.S. Government bolster the forced labor
components of trade agreements and trade preference programs to have
greater effect?
<bullet> What new and innovative trade tools can the U.S.
Government develop and utilize to advance efforts to combat forced
labor in traded goods and services?
<bullet> How can the U.S. Government make the development of trade
policy on forced labor a more inclusive process?
<bullet> Do you have additional recommendations for monitoring,
tracing, or eliminating forced labor in traded goods and services in
supply chains?
USTR must receive written comments no later than August 5, 2022.
USTR requests that small businesses (generally defined by the Small
Business Administration as firms with fewer than 500 employees), or
organizations representing small business members, self-identify in
their comment, so USTR will be aware of issues of particular interest
to small businesses.
III. Requirements for Submissions
You must submit comments by the August 5, 2022 deadline. You must
make all submissions in English via <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, using Docket
Number USTR-2022-0006. 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. USTR will not accept hand-delivered
submissions.
To make a submission using <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, enter Docket Number
USTR-2022-0006 in the `search for' field 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' in the `refine documents
results' section on the left side of the screen and click on the link
entitled `comment.' The <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> website offers the option of
providing comments by filling in a `comment' field or by attaching a
document using the `attach files' field. USTR prefers that you provide
submissions in an attached document and note `see attached' in the
`comment' field on the online submission form. At the beginning of the
submission, or on the first page (if an attachment) include the
following: `Trade Strategy to Combat Forced Labor.' Include any cover
letters, exhibits, annexes, or other attachments to the submission in
the same file as the submission itself, and not as separate files.
For any comments submitted electronically that contain business
confidential information (BCI), the file name of the business
confidential version should begin with the characters `BCI.' Clearly
mark any page containing BCI `BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL' on the top of that
page. Filers of submissions containing BCI also must submit a public
version of their comments. 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. Filers submitting
comments containing no BCI should name their file using the name of the
person or entity submitting the comments.
You will receive a tracking number upon completion of the
submission procedure at <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>. The tracking number is
confirmation that <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> received the submission. Keep the
confirmation for your records. USTR is not able to provide technical
assistance for <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>. USTR may not consider documents that
you do not submit in accordance with these instructions.
If you are unable to provide submissions as requested, Jennifer
Oetken, Director for Labor Affairs, in advance of the deadline at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#541e313a3a3d3231267a187a1b31203f313a14212720267a313b247a333b22"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6c26090202050a091e4220422309180709022c191f181e4209031c420b031a">[email protected]</span></a> or (202) 395-2870. to arrange for an
alternative method of transmission.
USTR will place comments in the docket for public inspection,
except BCI. General information concerning USTR is available at
<a href="http://www.ustr.gov">www.ustr.gov</a>.
Joshua Kagan,
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Labor Affairs, Office of the
United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2022-14355 Filed 7-5-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F2-P
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