Unfair trade practices, petitions, etc.: Canada; tourism and sport fishing,

FR, May 26, 1999 › Notices › Trade Representative, Office of United States

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Federal Register: May 26, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 101)NoticesPage 28545From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr26my99-166

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

Docket No. 301-119Initiation of Section 302 Investigation and Request for Public Comment: Practices of the Government of Canada and of the Province of Ontario Regarding Measures Affecting Tourism and Sport Fishing

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of initiation of investigation; request for written comments.

SUMMARY: The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has initiated an investigation under section 302(a) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the Trade Act) (19 U.S.C. 2412(a)), with respect to certain acts, policies and practices of the Government of Canada and of the Province of Ontario that may discriminate against U.S. providers of tourism services. USTR invites written comments from the public on the matters being investigated and the determinations to be made under section 304 of the Trade Act.

DATES: This investigation was initiated on April 29, 1999. Written comments from the public are due on or before noon on June 25, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20508.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Ryckman, Director for Canadian Affairs, (202) 395-3412, or Steven F. Fabry, Assistant General Counsel, (202) 395-3582.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 15, 1999, the Border Waters Coalition Against Discrimination in Services Trade fileda petition pursuant to section 302(a) of the Trade Act alleging that certain acts, policies and practices of the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario are actionable under section 301.

In particular, the petition alleges that Ontario impairs the ability of Minnesota tourist establishments (fishing resorts, fishing guides, outfitters, and others) to compete against their Canadian counterparts by prohibiting U.S. recreational fishermen from keeping the fish that they catch if the fishermen lodge on the Minnesota side of certain lakes that straddle the U.S.-Canadian border. U.S. fishermen who lodge instead in Ontario tourist establishments are permitted to keep their catch. The petition alleges that, as a result, U.S. resorts, fishing guides, and other businesses tied to sport fishing suffer discrimination. The petition further alleges that Canadian immigration officials require U.S. fishing guides to obtain Canadian work authorizations to guide fishing trips into Canada. The petition also alleges that these acts, policies or practices have caused a sharp fall-off in the tourism industry, which directly or indirectly generates over $700 million in revenues per year in the Minnesota counties bordering Ontario.

Investigation and Consultations

On April 29, 1999, the USTR determined that an investigation should be initiated to determine whether certain acts, policies and practices of the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario regarding sport fishing and tourism are actionable under section 301.

Pursuant to section 303(b) of the Trade Act, the USTR has postponed its request for consultations with the Government of Canada for the purpose of verifying or improving the petition to ensure an adequate basis for consultation.

Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions

Interested persons are invited to submit written comments concerning the acts, policies and practices of Canada which are the subject of this investigation, the amount of burden or restriction on U.S. commerce caused by these acts, policies and practices, and the determinations required under section 304 of the Trade Act. Comments must be filedin accordance with the requirements set forth in 15 CFR 2006.8(b) and must be filedon or before noon on June 25, 1999. Comments must be in English and provided in twenty copies to: Sybia Harrison, Staff Assistant to the Section 301 Committee, Room 100, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20508.

Comments will be placed in a file (Docket 301-119) open to public inspection pursuant to 15 CFR 2006.13, except confidential business information exempt from public inspection in accordance with 15 CFR 2006.15. Confidential business information submitted in accordance with 15 CFR 2006.15 must be clearly marked ``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL'' in a contrasting color ink at the top of each page on each of 20 copies, and must be accompanied by a nonconfidential summary of the confidential information. The nonconfidential summary shall be placed in the file that is open to public inspection. Copies of the public version of the petition and other relevant documents are available for public inspection in the USTR Reading Room. An appointment to review the docket may be made by calling Brenda Webb at (202) 395-6186. The USTR Reading Room is open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and is located in Room 101. William L. Busis, Chairman, Section 301 Committee.

FR Doc. 99-13417Filed5-25-99; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 3190-01-M