Notice2024-17229
Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning Russia's Implementation of Its WTO Commitments
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
August 5, 2024
Issuing agencies
Trade Representative, Office of United States
Abstract
The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is seeking public comments to assist the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in the preparation of its annual report to Congress on Russia's implementation of its obligations as a Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This notice includes the schedule for the submission of comments to the TPSC for the Russia report and a public hearing.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 150 (Monday, August 5, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 150 (Monday, August 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63463-63465]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17229]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
[Docket Number USTR-2024-0011]
Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning
Russia's Implementation of Its WTO Commitments
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Request for comments and notice of public hearing.
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SUMMARY: The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is seeking
public comments to assist the Office of the United States Trade
Representative (USTR) in the preparation of its annual report to
Congress on Russia's implementation of its obligations as a Member of
the World Trade Organization (WTO). This notice includes the schedule
for the submission of comments to the TPSC for the Russia report and a
public hearing.
DATES:
September 18, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EDT: Deadline for submission of
written comments, requests to testify, and written testimony, regarding
the Russia WTO implementation report.
October 10, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. EDT: The TPSC will convene a public
hearing to receive oral testimony related to the Russia WTO
implementation report.
ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through
the Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>
(<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>). Follow the instructions for submitting comments in
sections III and IV below, using docket number USTR-2024-0011. For
alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact Silvia Savich,
Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Russia and Eurasia, in
advance of the relevant deadline at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f3a09a9f859a92dda092859a909bb386808781dd969c83dd949c85"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c596aca9b3aca4eb96a4b3aca6ad85b0b6b1b7eba0aab5eba2aab3">[email protected]</span></a> or
202.395.2256.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Silvia Savich, Deputy Assistant U.S.
Trade Representative for Russia and Eurasia, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6a3903061c030b44390b1c0309022a1f191e18440f051a440d051c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="87d4eeebf1eee6a9d4e6f1eee4efc7f2f4f3f5a9e2e8f7a9e0e8f1">[email protected]</span></a> or 202.395.2256.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Russia became a Member of the WTO on August 22, 2012, and on
December 21, 2012, following termination of the application of the
Jackson-Vanik amendment to Russia and the extension of permanent normal
trade relations to the products of Russia, the United States and Russia
filed letters with the WTO withdrawing their notices of non-application
and consenting to have the WTO Agreement apply between them. In
accordance with Section 201(a) of the Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik
Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012
(Pub. L. 112-208), USTR is required to submit annually a report to
Congress on the extent to which Russia is implementing the WTO
Agreement, including the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures and the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of
Intellectual Property Rights. The report also must assess Russia's
progress on acceding to and implementing the Information Technology
Agreement (ITA) and the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). In
addition, to the extent that USTR finds that Russia is not implementing
fully any WTO agreement or is not making adequate progress in acceding
to the ITA or the GPA, USTR must describe in the report the actions it
plans to take to encourage Russia to improve its implementation and/or
increase its accession efforts. In accordance with Section 201(a), and
to assist it in preparing this year's report, the TPSC is soliciting
public comments. You can find last year's report on
[[Page 63464]]
USTR's website at: <a href="https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/2023%20Report%20on%20the%20Implementation%20and%20Enforcement%20of%20Russia">https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/2023%20Report%20on%20the%20Implementation%20and%20Enforcement%20of%20Russia</a>'s%20WTO%20Commitments.pdf.
The terms of Russia's accession to the WTO are contained in the
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization and the
Protocol on the Accession of the Russian Federation to the WTO
(including its annexes) (Protocol). The Report of the Working Party on
the Accession of the Russian Federation (Working Party Report) provides
detail and context to the commitments listed in the Protocol. You can
find the Protocol and Working Party Report on USTR's website at <a href="https://ustr.gov/node/5887">https://ustr.gov/node/5887</a> or on the WTO website at <a href="http://docsonline.wto.org">http://docsonline.wto.org</a>
(document symbols: WT/ACC/RUS/70, WT/MIN(11)/2, WT/MIN(11)/24, WT/L/
839, WT/ACC/RUS/70/Add.1, WT/MIN(11)/2/Add.1, WT/ACC/RUS/70/Add.2, and
WT/MIN(11)/2/Add.1.)
II. Hearing Participation
USTR will convene a public hearing on October 10, 2024 related to
Russia's implementation of its WTO commitments. Persons wishing to
observe the public hearing will find a link on USTR's web page for
Russia on the day of the hearing at <a href="https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/europe-middle-east/russia-and-eurasia/russia">https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/europe-middle-east/russia-and-eurasia/russia</a>. To ensure participation,
you must submit requests to present oral testimony at the hearing and
written testimony by midnight on September 19, 2024, via
<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, using Docket Number USTR-2024-0011. Instructions for
submission are in Sections III and IV below. Remarks at the hearing
will be limited to no more than five minutes to allow for possible
questions from the TPSC. Because it is a public the hearing, testimony
should not include any business confidential information (BCI). USTR
will provide a link in advance of the virtual hearing to persons
wishing to testify.
The TPSC requests small businesses or organizations representing
small business members that submit comments to self-identify as such,
so that we may be aware of issues of particular interest to small
businesses.
Written comments and/or oral testimony should address Russia's
implementation of the commitments made in connection with its accession
to the WTO, including, but not limited to, commitments in the following
areas:
a. Import regulation (e.g., tariffs, tariff-rate quotas, quotas,
import licenses).
b. Export regulation.
c. Subsidies.
d. Standards and technical regulations.
e. Sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
f. Trade-related investment measures (including local content
requirements).
g. Taxes and charges levied on imports and exports.
h. Other internal policies affecting trade.
i. Intellectual property rights (including intellectual property
rights enforcement).
j. Services.
k. Government procurement.
l. Rule of law issues (e.g., transparency, judicial review, uniform
administration of laws and regulations).
m. Trade facilitation.
n. Other WTO commitments.
III. Procedures for Written Submissions
To be assured of consideration, submit your written comments,
requests to testify, and written testimony by the September 18, 2024,
11:59 p.m. EDT deadline. All submissions must be in English. USTR
strongly encourages submissions via <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, using Docket
Number USTR-2024-0011.
To make a submission via <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, enter Docket Number USTR-
2024-0011 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.' <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> allows users to make submissions by
filling in a `type comment' field, or by attaching a document using the
`upload file' field. USTR prefers that you provide submissions in an
attached document and, in such cases, that you write `see attached' in
the `type comment' field. 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.
At the beginning of your submission or on the first page (if an
attachment), include the following text: (1) 2024 Russia WTO
Implementation Report; (2) your organization's name; and (3) whether
the submission is a comment, request to testify, or written testimony.
Submissions should not exceed 30 single-spaced, standard letter-size
pages in 12-point type, including attachments. Please do not attach
separate cover letters, exhibits, annexes, or other attachments to
electronic submissions; rather, include any in the same file as the
submission itself, not as separate files. 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 your
submission. Keep the confirmation for your records.
USTR is not able to provide technical assistance for
<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>. 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 <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>' on the bottom of the home page. USTR may
not consider submissions that you do not make in accordance with these
instructions.
If you are unable to provide submissions through <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>
after seeking assistance from the help desk, please contact Silvia
Savich, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Russia and
Eurasia, in advance of the deadline at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f9aa90958f9098d7aa988f909a91b98c8a8d8bd79c9689d79e968f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aefdc7c2d8c7cf80fdcfd8c7cdc6eedbdddadc80cbc1de80c9c1d8">[email protected]</span></a> or
202.395.2256, to arrange for an alternative method of transmission.
USTR will not accept hand-delivered submissions. USTR may not consider
submissions that you do not make in accordance with these instructions.
General information concerning USTR is available at <a href="http://www.ustr.gov">www.ustr.gov</a>.
IV. Business Confidential Information (BCI) Submissions
If you ask USTR to treat information you submit as BCI, you must
certify that the information is business confidential and you would not
customarily release it to the public. For any comments submitted
electronically containing BCI, the file name of the business
confidential version should begin with the characters `BCI.' You must
clearly mark any page containing BCI with `BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL' at
the top of that page. Filers of submissions containing BCI also must
submit a public version of their submission that will be placed 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 individual or organization submitting the comments.
V. Public Viewing of Review Submissions
USTR will post written submissions in the docket for public
inspection, except properly designated BCI. You can view submissions at
<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> by entering Docket
[[Page 63465]]
Number USTR-2024-0011 in the search field on the home page.
Laura Buffo,
Chair of the Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the United States
Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2024-17229 Filed 8-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3390-F4-P
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