China; shipping restrictions, requirements, and practices; comment request,

[Federal Register: October 6, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 193)]

[Notices]

[Page 53671]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr06oc98-72]

FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION

[Docket No. 98-14]

Shipping Restrictions, Requirements and Practices of the People's Republic of China

AGENCY: Federal Maritime Commission.

ACTION: Notice of Inquiry; extension of comment period.

SUMMARY: The time for comments in response to the Notice of Inquiry in this matter is extended.

DATES: Comments due on or before October 23, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments (original and twenty copies) to: Joseph C. Polking, Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., Washington, D.C. 20573-0001, (202) 523-5725.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Panebianco, General Counsel, Federal Maritime Commission, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., Washington, D.C. 20573-0001, (202) 523-5740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission on August 18, 1998, (63 FR 44259) published a Notice of Inquiry to obtain information from shippers, transportation intermediaries, vessel operators and other interested parties about issues and restrictions they face in China, and the effects of those restrictions on their business practices. Simultaneously, Information Demand Orders were served on China Ocean Shipping (Group) Co., China National Foreign Trade Transportation (Group) Corp. (``Sinotrans''), American President Lines, Ltd. (``APL''), and Sea-land Service, Inc. (``Sea-Land''). Those Information Demand Orders required submission of information about a variety of matters affecting the U.S. oceanborne trade with China.

Sinotrans has requested enlargement of time to respond to Information Demand Order. APL and Sea-Land oppose Sinotrans' request, but ask that, should any extension be granted, the same extension be granted for APL and Sea-Land to respond to the Information Demand Order, and for comments in response to the Notice of Inquiry. Sinotrans requests a 45-day enlargement, citing time-consuming internal communication and consultation procedures, resulting in only recent appointment of counsel, and the subsequent difficulty of establishing reliable communications procedures between U.S. Counsel and responsible representatives of Sinotrans. Sinotrans has been granted a 21-day extension, as have APL and Sea-Land. Likewise, the time for submitting comments to this Notice of Inquiry is extended 21 days. Joseph C. Polking, Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98-26758Filed10-5-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6730-01-M