Handel i polityka gospodarcza · 25/06/1999

Request for Public Comment Regarding the Economic and Environmental Effects of Tariff Elimination in the Forest Products Sector

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) are seeking public comment about the economic and environmental effects of the initiative to eliminate remaining tariffs on forest products. These comments are sought in the context of a written analysis which CEQ and USTR are undertaking of that initiative. The initiative, which is now the subject on negotiations within the World Trade Organization (WTO), is part of an eight sector accelerated tariff liberalization (ATL) proposal. The other ATL sectors are environmental goods and services, gems and jewelry, medical equipment and scientific instruments, chemicals, energy, fish and toys. The ATL proposal in forest products covers all of Chapters 44, 46, 47, 48, 49 on the HTS as well as portions of chapter 38 (certain wood chemicals), and 94 (furniture and prefabricated buildings.) The complete list of tariff lines included in the initiative can be found in the Federal Register notice announcing ITC Investigation No. 332-392, Advice Concerning APEC Sectoral Trade Liberalization, (Federal Register, April 1, 1998, Vol. 63, No. 62). The analysis will address the following broad sub