USTR Seeks Input on Compliance With Telecom Trade Agreements
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative wants input on the operation, effectiveness and implementation of, and compliance with, the following agreements regarding telecommunications products and services of the U.S.: The World Trade Organization General Agreement on Trade in Services; North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA); U.S. free trade agreements with Australia, Bahrain, Chile, Colombia, Korea, Morocco, Oman, Panama, Peru and Singapore; Dominican Republic-Central America-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA); and any other telecom trade agreements, such as mutual recognition agreements for conformity assessment of telecommunications equipment.
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Section 1377 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 requires the USTR to review annually how all U.S. trade agreements regarding telecom products and services are operating and whether they're effective. The purpose of the review is to determine whether any act, policy or practice of a country that has a trade agreement with the U.S. is inconsistent with the terms of the pact or denies U.S. firms mutually advantageous market opportunities for telecom services and products.
The USTR seeks feedback on: (1) Whether any WTO member is acting in a way that is inconsistent with its obligations, affecting market opportunities for such products and services; (2) Whether Canada or Mexico has failed to comply with its telecom obligations under NAFTA; (3) Whether Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras or Nicaragua has failed to comply with its obligations under the CAFTA-DR; (4) Whether Australia, Bahrain, Chile, Colombia, Korea, Morocco, Oman, Panama, Peru or Singapore has failed to comply with its telecom obligations under its FTA with the U.S; (5) Whether any country hasn't complied with its obligations under trade agreements other than free trade agreements; (6) Whether any country's law, policy or practice cited in a previous Section 1377 review remains unresolved; (7) Whether any measures or practices of a country that is a WTO member or for which an FTA or telecom trade agreement has entered into force with respect to the U.S. hamper access to its telecom markets or otherwise deny market opportunities to U.S. firms.
Comments should be submitted by Dec. 17 at http://www.regulations.gov. Further information: Yvonne Jamison, 202-395-3475.