Federal Acquisition Regulation; Treatment of Caribbean Basin Country End Products

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

48 CFR Part 25

[FAC 97-04; FAR Case 97-039; Item X]

RIN 9000-AH93

Federal Acquisition Regulation; Treatment of Caribbean Basin

Country End Products

AGENCIES: Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration

(GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense

Acquisition Regulations Council have agreed on a final rule amending

the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to extend the time period for

treatment of Caribbean Basin country end products as eligible products

under the Trade Agreements Act. This regulatory action was not subject

to Office of Management and Budget review under Executive Order 12866,

dated September 30, 1993, and is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 23, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The FAR Secretariat, Room 4035, GS

Building, Washington, DC 20405 (202) 501-4755 for information

pertaining to status or publication schedules. For clarification of

content, contact Mr. Paul Linfield, Procurement Analyst, at (202) 501-

1757. Please cite FAC 97-04, FAR case 97-039.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 9060]]

A. Background

This final rule revises FAR 25.402(b) to extend the time period for

treatment of Caribbean Basin country end products as eligible products

under the Trade Agreements Act. The United States Trade Representative

has directed that such treatment continue through September 30, 1998

(62 FR 59014, October 31, 1997).

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The final rule does not constitute a significant FAR revision

within the meaning of FAR 1.501 and Public Law 98-577, and publication

for public comments is not required. However, comments from small

entities concerning the affected FAR subpart will be considered in

accordance with 5 U.S.C. 610. Such comments must be submitted

separately and should cite 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. (FAC 97-04, FAR case

97-039), in correspondence.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to

the FAR do not impose recordkeeping or information collection

requirements, or collections of information from offerors, contractors,

or members of the public which require the approval of the Office of

Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.

List of Subjects in 48 CFR Part 25

Government procurement.

Dated: February 13, 1998.

Edward C. Loeb,

Director, Federal Acquisition Policy Division.

Therefore, 48 CFR Part 25 is amended as set forth below:

PART 25--FOREIGN ACQUISITION

1. The authority citation for 48 CFR Part 25 continues to read as

follows:

Authority: 40 U.S.C. 486(c); 10 U.S.C. chapter 137; and 42

U.S.C. 2473(c).

2. Section 25.402 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as

follows:

25.402 Policy.

* * * * *

(b) The U.S. Trade Representative has determined that, in order to

promote further economic recovery of the Caribbean Basin countries (as

defined in 25.401), products originating in those countries that are

eligible for duty-free treatment under the Caribbean Basin Economic

Recovery Act shall be treated as eligible products for the purposes of

this subpart. This determination is effective until September 30, 1998.

This date may be extended by the U.S. Trade Representative by means of

a notice in the Federal Register.

* * * * *

[FR Doc. 98-4301 Filed 2-20-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6820-EP-P