[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 12, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18575-18576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9006]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agriculture Service
Agricultural Policy Advisory Committees for Trade, et al.
AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.
ACTION: Reestablishment of Agricultural Advisory Committees for Trade.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Secretary of Agriculture,
after consultation with the United States Trade Representative, has
reestablished the following advisory committees: Agricultural Policy
Advisory Committee for Trade and five separate Agricultural Technical
Advisory Committees (ATAC) for Trade in: Fruits and Vegetables; Animals
and Animal Products; Grains, Feed, and Oilseeds; Tobacco, Cotton, and
Peanuts; Sweeteners. The purpose of these committees is to provide
advice to the Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative with respect
to the trade policy of the United States pursuant to section 135(c) of
the Trade Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-618) as amended. Meetings of these
committees will be open to the public, unless the Secretary or the
Trade Representative otherwise determine that the committees will be
discussing issues the disclosure of which justify closing such meetings
or portions thereof in accordance with matters listed in section 552(c)
of Title 5 of the United States Code.
The renewal of such committees is in the public interest in
connection with the duties of the Department imposed by the Trade Act
of 1974, as amended.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Comments regarding the reestablishment of these committees should be
addressed to John Winski or Denise Burgess, Foreign Agricultural
Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Room 5065-S,
Washington, DC 20250-1000.
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
reestablishing the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade and
the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade. 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 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 the respective agricultural
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. The APAC consists of 50 members. The
members elect a chairperson from the membership of the committee. The
Assistant to the Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and the
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Intergovernmental Affairs and
Public Liaison, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, are the
Committee's Joint Executive Secretaries. Each of the ATACs consist of
approximately 25 members. The members of each committee elect a
chairperson from the membership of the committee. A full-time Federal
Officer or employee of the Foreign Agricultural Service shall serve as
the Executive Secretary of each Technical Advisory Committee. Each
committee is chartered for a period of two years, at which time all
appointments expire. Reappointments are made at the discretion of the
Secretary and of the U.S.Trade Representative.
[[Page 18576]] Issued at Washington, DC this 31st day of March.
Wardell Townsend, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 95-9006 Filed 4-11-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M
