97-3485. Agricultural Policy and Technical Advisory Committees for Trade; Nominations

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6510-6514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3485]


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Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 29 / Wednesday, February 12, 1997 / 
Notices

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agriculture Service


Agricultural Policy and Technical Advisory Committees for Trade; 
Nominations

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service.

ACTION: Notice: Request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture and the United States Trade 
Representative are seeking nominations for appointment to the following 
advisory committees for trade:

Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and 
Animal Products
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Fruits and 
Vegetables
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Grains, Feed, 
and Oilseeds
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Sweeteners and 
Sweetener Products
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Tobacco, Cotton, 
and Peanuts

    The Advisory Committees for Trade were established to ensure that 
U.S. trade policy and trade negotiation objectives adequately reflect 
U.S. commercial and economic interests by providing the Secretary and 
the Trade Representative with advice concerning negotiating objectives 
and bargaining positions before entering into a trade agreement; the 
operation of an agreement once entered into; and other matters arising 
in connection with the administration of the trade policy of the United 
States.

DATES: Written nominations must be received on or before March 14, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Please send all nominating materials to Mr. John B. Winski, 
Executive Secretary, Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade, 
Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA, room 5065--STOP 1001, 1400 
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-1000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To receive a copy of the Advisory 
Committee Membership Background Information form which must be 
completed by each nominee, or for additional information, please 
contact Mr. John B. Winski or Ms. Denise Burgess, Foreign Agricultural 
Service, USDA, room 5065--STOP 1001, 14th & Independence Avenues, S.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20250-1000, [phone] (telephone), [phone] 
(FAX), or [e-mail] (e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. appendix), notice is hereby given that the Secretary of 
Agriculture and the United States Trade Representative are seeking 
nominations for the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade 
(APAC) and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade 
(ATACs) listed below:

Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and 
Animal Products
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Fruits and 
Vegetables
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Grains, Feed, 
and Oilseeds
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Sweeteners and 
Sweetener Products
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Tobacco, Cotton, 
and Peanuts

Background

    In 1974, Congress established a private sector advisory committee 
system to ensure that U.S. trade policy and trade negotiation 
objectives adequately reflect U.S. commercial and economic interests. 
Congress expanded and enhanced the role of this system in three 
subsequent trade acts.
    The private sector advisory system now consists of almost 40 
committees, arranged in three tiers; The President's Advisory Committee 
on Trade and Policy Negotiations (ACTPN); seven policy advisory 
committees, including the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for 
Trade (APAC); and more than 30 technical advisory committees including 
the five Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade (ATACs).
    The duties of the APAC are to provide the Secretary and the Trade 
Representative with advice concerning: negotiating objectives and 
bargaining positions before entering into a trade agreement; the 
operation of an agreement once entered into; and other matters arising 
in connection with the administration of the trade policy of the United 
States. The duties of the ATACs are to provide advice and information 
regarding trade issues which affect both domestic and foreign 
production and trade concerning their respective commodities, drawing 
upon the technical competence and experience of its members. Each 
committee is required to meet at the conclusion of negotiations for 
each trade agreement entered into under the Act to provide a report on 
such agreement to the President, to Congress, and to the U.S. Trade 
Representative.

Membership

    Members are appointed jointly by the Secretary of Agriculture and 
the U.S. Trade Representative. Appointments are made upon the 
rechartering of each committee and periodically throughout the duration 
of the Committee charter. The APAC and the ATACs are expected to be 
rechartered in April 1997, for a period of two years. Members serve at 
the discretion of the Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative. 
Appointments to a Committee expire at the end of the Committee's 
charter, but members may be reappointed for one or more additional 
terms should the charter of the Committee be renewed.
    Approximately 50 private sector representatives are appointed to 
the APAC and approximately 25 private sector representatives are 
appointed to each ATAC.
    A chairperson is selected for each committee from the membership of 
the committee. The Assistant to the Administrator, Foreign Agricultural 
Service, and the Assistant United States Trade Representative, Office 
of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison, Office of the U.S. 
Trade Representative, are the joint Executive Secretaries of the APAC. 
A full-time

[[Page 6511]]

Federal Officer or employee of the Foreign Agricultural Service shall 
serve as the Executive Secretary of each ATAC.

Nominations

    The Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative 
invite those individuals, organizations, and interest groups affiliated 
with foreign trade and agriculture, to nominate individuals for 
membership to any of the committees. The Secretary and the U.S. Trade 
Representative seek a diverse group of members representing a broad 
spectrum of persons interested in the United States agricultural trade 
policy, from every region of the country. To ensure that there is 
balanced representation on each committee, the Secretary and the U.S. 
Trade Representative may seek additional nominations from the private 
sector as necessary.
    The term ``balanced representation'' includes balance among the 
various agricultural interests such as farmers, farm and commodity 
organizations, processors, traders, and consumers, as well as 
geographical balance. No company, producer or farm organization, trade 
association, or other entity has a right to representation on a 
Committee. Members are selected primarily for their expertise and 
knowledge of agriculture or specific agricultural products and of trade 
matters and are expected to provide advice to the Government as general 
representatives of those interests. In making selections, every effort 
shall be made to maintain balanced representation on each committee.
    Equal opportunity practices will be followed in all appointments to 
the committees. To ensure that the recommendations of the committees 
have taken into account the needs of the diverse groups served by the 
USDA and the USTR, membership should include, to the extent 
practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent 
minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.
    Nominations should describe and document the proposed member's 
qualifications for membership to the committee. Nominations must 
include a completed AD-755 Advisory Committee Membership Background 
Information form and supplemental form which are reproduced below.
    Appointments are made subject to a confidential security clearance. 
All nominees must be U.S. citizens.
Wardell C. Townsend, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary for Administration.

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[FR Doc. 97-3485 Filed 2-11-97; 8:45 am]
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