USTR Asks for Comment on Environmental Goods Agreement, Schedules Hearing
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is asking the public for comments on the new World Trade Organization (WTO) environmental goods agreement, in preparation for a June 5 hearing on the matter. USTR aims to launch negotiations on the agreement within months, after first announcing interest in June alongside 12 other nations and the European Union (see 14032415). The comments are due on May 5 and should include information on the following areas:
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Timely, relevant coverage of court proceedings and agency rulings involving tariffs, classification, valuation, origin and antidumping and countervailing duties. Each day, Trade Law Daily subscribers receive a daily headline email, in-depth PDF edition and access to all relevant documents via our trade law source document library and website.
- products the U.S. should try to include in the agreement, including a detailed description of the specific product, and as appropriate, the 6-digit, 8-digit or 10-digit Harmonized System tariff classification number
- environmental uses and benefits of the products being proposed for inclusion
- U.S. trading partners that are significant producers or consumers of environmental goods
- how best to ensure that such an agreement remains relevant into the future
USTR says it prefers the public comments through www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR--2014--0004. For further information contact USTR official Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395-3475. The hearing will be held on June 5 at USTR headquarters and those that wish to testify must provide written notification by May 5.
(Federal Register 03/28/14)