USTR Asks for Comments on Telecommunications Provisions in International Agreements
The office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is requesting comments on the "operation, effectiveness, implementation of and compliance with" U.S. telecommunications product and services provisions in U.S. international trade agreements. USTR seeks input by Jan. 3, 2014 on the following specific areas:
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- Whether any World Trade Organization (WTO) member is acting in a manner that is inconsistent with its obligations under WTO agreements affecting market opportunities for telecommunications products or services, such as the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services, including the Agreement on Basic Telecommunications Services, the Annex on Telecommunications, and any scheduled commitments including the Reference Paper on Pro-Competitive Regulatory Principles; the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures; the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights; or the plurilateral WTO Agreement on Government Procurement.
- Whether Canada or Mexico has failed to comply with its telecommunications obligations under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
- Whether Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras or Nicaragua has failed to comply with its telecommunications obligations under the Dominican Republic--Central America--U.S. Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA--DR)
- Whether Australia, Bahrain, Chile, Colombia, Korea, Morocco, Oman, Panama, Peru, or Singapore has failed to comply with its telecommunications obligations under its free trade agreements (FTAs) with the U.S.
- Whether any country has failed to comply with its obligations under telecommunications trade agreements with the U.S. other than FTAs, such as Mutual Recognition Agreements for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment
- Whether any act, policy, or practice of a country cited in a previous section 1377 review remains unresolved
- Whether any measures or practices of a country that is a WTO member or for which an FTA or telecommunications trade agreement has entered into force with respect to the U.S. impede access to its telecommunications markets or otherwise deny market opportunities to telecommunications products and services of U.S. firms.
Those interested should submit comments via www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2013-0039, or contact USTR official Jonathan McHale, Office of Services and Investment, at (202) 395-9533 or Ashley Miller, Office of Market Access and Industrial Competitiveness, at (202) 395-9476.
(Federal Register 12/06/13)