USTR Asks for Comments on Israeli, Turkish Entry Into Environmental Goods Pact

The Office of U.S. Trade Representative is asking for industry comments on bringing Israel and Turkey into negotiations on the World Trade Organization Environmental Goods Agreement (here). The U.S. is currently negotiating the terms of the tariff elimination agreement, including the specific goods subject to the deal, with Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, the European Union and Taiwan (see 14091812). The deal is expected to be based off an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation pact that is slashing duties on 54 "green" products (here). Both Israel and Turkey notified the EGA negotiating partners in recent months of their intent to enter the talks. Comments on the Israeli and Turkish entries are due by Jan. 12, 2015. USTR prefers comments are submitted through www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR–2014–0024.