USTR Seeks Comments on Proposed UAE and Oman FTAs
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a request for comments concerning the U.S.' intention to initiate free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman.
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(See ITT's Online Archives or 11/18/04 news, 04111899 1, for BP summary of the USTR's announcement of its intent to negotiate FTAs with these two countries.)
TPSC Seeks Public Comments, Will Convene Hearings on Negotiation Objectives
According to the USTR's notices, the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) will convene public hearings and seek public comment to assist the USTR in amplifying and clarifying negotiating objectives for the proposed agreements and to provide advice on how specific goods, services, and other matters should be treated under the proposed agreements. The USTR states that the TPSC's public hearings will be held on January 12, 2005 (UAE) and January 14, 2005 (Oman) in Washington.
The USTR states that written comments and oral testimony may address the reduction or elimination of tariffs or non-tariff barriers on any articles provided for in the HTS that are products of the UAE or Oman, any concession which should be sought by the U.S., or any other matter relevant to the proposed agreement(s). The USTR notes that the TPSC invites comments and testimony on all of these matters and, in particular, seeks comments and testimony addressing (partial list):
general and commodity-specific negotiating objectives for the proposed agreement(s);
economic costs and benefits to U.S. producers and consumers of removal of tariffs and non-tariff barriers to U.S.-UAE or U.S.-Oman trade;
existing UAE or Omani sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, and barriers to trade in services;
- written comments are due by noon on January 25, 2005.
USTR Contacts - Gloria Blue (202) 395-3475 (procedural questions)
Douglas Bell (202) 395-4620 (all other questions - UAE)
Jason Buntin (202) 395-3320 (all other questions - Oman)
USTR Notices (FR Pub 12/06/04) available at UAE: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-26677.pdf
Oman: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-26676.pdf