[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 167 (Monday, August 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47170-47171]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22424]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Newly Established Industry Functional Advisory Committee; Request
for Nominations
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Trade Development.
ACTION: Notice of Establishment of Industry Functional Advisory
Committee on Electronic Commerce for Trade Policy Matters; Request for
Nominations.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade
Representative have jointly established an Industry Functional Advisory
Committee on Electronic Commerce for Trade Policy Matters pursuant to
section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974, and seek nominations for
appointment to the Committee. Nominees must be U.S. citizens,
representing U.S. manufacturing and service firms that trade
internationally or provide services in direct support of the
international trading activities of other entities. Priority will be
given to a balanced representation in terms of point of view
represented by various sectors, product lines, firm sizes and
geographic areas.
More detailed information is provided below and is also available
on the International Trade Administration website at www.ita.doc.gov/
icp. Inquiries may be directed to Tamara Underwood, Director, Industry
Consultations Program, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and
Constitution Avenue NW, Room 2015-B, Washington, DC 20230, phone 202/
482-3268.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 135 of the Trade Act of
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2155) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.
App), the Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary) and the United States
Trade Representative (USTR) established the Industry Functional
Advisory Committee on Electronic Commerce for Trade Policy Matters (the
Committee) on August 17, 1999.
Electronic Commerce is a driving force in U.S. economic growth and
international trade. A primary thrust of U.S. policy on electronic
commerce will be to avoid government actions that might impede its
growth and development. The Department and the USTR must have regular
advice from the U.S. private sector to effectively address these issues
and identify new and emerging concerns. The Committee will advise the
Secretary and the USTR on electronic commerce issues that could
threaten or restrict trade, which encompass issues such as privacy,
taxation, standards, consumer protection, authentication, and content,
among others. The Committee's advice
[[Page 47171]]
will be used to develop USG positions and priorities on electronic
commerce for international discussions in bilateral, regional and
multilateral discussions, including the WTO, OECD, FTAA, TEP and
others.
Background
In section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C.
2155), Congress established a private-sector advisory system to ensure
that U.S. trade policy and trade negotiation objectives adequately
reflect U.S. commercial and economic interests.
Section 135 directs the President to--
``seek information and advice from representative elements of the
private sector and the non-Federal governmental sector with respect
to--
(A) Negotiating objectives and bargaining positions before entering
into a trade agreement under [title I of the 1974 Trade Act and section
1102 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988];
(B) The operation of any trade agreement once entered into;
including preparation for dispute settlement panel proceedings to which
the United States is a party; and
(C) Other matters arising in connection with the development,
implementation, and administration of the trade policy of the United
States. * * *''
The Secretary and the USTR have established seventeen Industry
Sector Advisory Committees for Trade Policy Matters (ISACs) and four
Industry Functional Advisory Committees for Trade Policy Matters
(IFACs) pursuant to section 135. A complete list of these committees
appears below:
Industry Sector Advisory Committees for Trade Policy Matters (ISAC) on:
Aerospace Equipment (ISAC 1);
Capital Goods (ISAC 2);
Chemicals and Allied Products
(ISAC 3);
Consumer Goods (ISAC 4);
Electronics and Instrumentation (ISAC 5);
Energy (ISAC 6);
Ferrous Ores and Metals (ISAC 7);
Footwear, Leather, and Leather Products (ISAC 8);
Building Products and Other Materials (ISAC 9);
Lumber and Wood Products
(ISAC 10);
Nonferrous Ores and Metals
(ISAC 11);
Paper and Paper Products (ISAC 12);
Services (ISAC 13);
Small and Minority Business
(ISAC 14);
Textiles and Apparel (ISAC 15);
Transportation, Construction, Mining, and Agricultural Equipment
(ISAC 16);
Wholesaling and Retailing (ISAC 17); and
Industry Functional Advisory Committees on Trade Policy Matters (IFAC)
on:
Customs (IFAC 1);
Standards (IFAC 2);
Intellectual Property Rights (IFAC 3).
Electronic Commerce (IFAC 4).
Functions
The duties of the ISACs and IFACs are to provide the Secretary and
the USTR with advice on objectives and bargaining positions for
multilateral trade negotiations, bilateral trade negotiations, and
other trade-related matters. The committees provide nonpartisan
industry input in the development of trade policy objectives. The
committees' efforts result in strengthening the U.S. negotiating
position by enabling the United States to display a united front when
it negotiates trade agreements with other nations.
The ISACs provide advice and information on issues that affect
specific sectors of U.S. industry. The IFACs focus on cross-cutting
issues that affect all industry sectors, such as customs matters,
product standards, intellectual property rights and electronic
commerce. Each ISAC may also select a member to serve on each IFAC so
that a broad range of industry perspectives is represented.
Committees meet an average of four times a year in Washington, DC.
Members are responsible for all travel expenses incurred to attend the
meetings.
Membership
ISAC and IFAC members are appointed jointly by the Secretary of
Commerce and the USTR. Appointments are made at the initial chartering
of the Committee, at the rechartering of each committee and
periodically throughout the two-year charter period. Members serve at
the discretion of the Secretary and USTR. Appointments to an ISAC/IFAC
expire at the end of the committee's charter. However, members may be
reappointed for one or more additional terms should the committee's
charter be renewed and if the member proves to work effectively with
the committee and his/her expertise is still needed.
The IFAC on Electronic Commerce is chartered for 40 members total,
23 directly appointed members and 17 elected members to represent each
of the ISACs. The committee's charter expires March 19, 2000.
Qualifications
The Secretary and USTR invite nominations to the Committee of U.S.
citizens who will represent U.S. manufacturing or service companies
that trade internationally, or trade associations whose members are
U.S. companies that trade internationally. Companies must be at least
51 percent beneficially-owned by U.S. persons. U.S.-based subsidiaries
of foreign companies in general do not qualify for representation on
the committees.
Nominees will be considered based upon their ability to carry out
the goals of section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended.
Secondary criteria are ensuring that the committee is balanced in terms
of points of view, demographics, geography and company size. By law,
appointments are made without regard to political affiliation.
Application Procedures
Requests for applications should be sent to the Director of the
Industry Consultations Program, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and
Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 2015-B, Washington, DC 20230.
This notice is issued under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5
U.S.C. App) and 21 CFR part 14 relating to advisory committees.
Dated: July 30, 1999.
Michael J. Copps,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Trade Development.
[FR Doc. 99-22424 Filed 8-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-25-P
