USTR Accepting Comments on ATPA/ATPDEA Beneficiary Eligibility

April 22, 2010

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) recently published a notice requesting comments on the Andean Trade Preference Act/Andean Trade Promotion Drug Eradication Act (ATPA/ATPDEA) beneficiaries’ compliance with the programs’ eligibility criteria. Current beneficiaries include Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Bolivia’s status was suspended in 2008 by President Bush.

USTR is requesting comments to assist in its preparation of its report on the operation of the ATPA/ATPDEA. As USTR anticipates including a section on Bolivia in its report, it will be requesting comments on all five beneficiaries.

Some of the eligibility criteria on which USTR will be accepting comments on, include (partial list):

• The extent to which the country has assured the U.S. it will provide equitable and reasonable access to the markets and basic commodity resources of such country;
• The extent to which the country has taken steps to support the efforts to combat terrorism and narcotics trafficking.

Comments are due by May 12, 2010. For more on how to submit comments, please contact a Barnes/Richardson attorney.