[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8059-8060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02721]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Request for Applicants for Appointment to the United States
Section of the United States-Turkey Business Council; Amendment
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Amended notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice amends the Department of Commerce, International
Trade Administration Notice of Request for Applicants for Appointment
to the United States Section of the United States-Turkey Business
Council (Council) of February 2, 2015 (80 FR 5511) to revise the
eligibility criteria to permit federally-registered lobbyists to apply
for appointment to the Council. The Department of Commerce recently
revised its policy regarding appointment of federally-registered
lobbyists to Department advisory committees and related entities
following a policy clarification by the Office of Management and Budget
that the eligibility restriction does not apply to persons serving on
advisory committees, boards, or commissions if they are specifically
appointed to represent the interests of a nongovernmental entity, a
recognizable group of persons or nongovernmental entities (an industry
sector, labor unions, environmental groups, etc.), or state or local
governments (see 79 FR 47482). The Under Secretary for International
Trade will now consider applications of federally-registered lobbyists
for appointment on the Council. This notice also extends the deadline
for submitting applications to March 6, 2015. All other eligibility
criteria continue to apply.
In December 2009, the Governments of the United States and Turkey
agreed to establish a U.S.-Turkey Business Council. This notice
announces membership opportunities for appointment as American
representatives to the U.S. Section of the Council. The current U.S.
Section term expired on November 5, 2014.
DATES: Applications should be received no later than March 6, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Please send applications to Ryan Barnes, Senior
International Trade Specialist, and Chase Miller, International Trade
Specialist, Office of Europe, U.S. Department of Commerce, either by
email at [email protected] and [email protected], or by mail
to U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Room
3319, Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Barnes, Senior International
Trade Specialist, and Chase Miller, International Trade Specialist,
Office of Europe, U.S. Department of Commerce, telephone: 202-482-4915.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Under Secretary for International Trade
of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Ministry of Economy of
Turkey co-chair the U.S.-Turkey Business Council, pursuant to the Terms
of Reference
[[Page 8060]]
signed on May 25, 2010, by the U.S. and Turkish Governments, which set
forth the objectives and structure of the Council. The Terms of
Reference may be viewed at: http://www.trade.gov/mac/terms-of-reference-us-turkey-business-council.asp.
The Council is intended to facilitate the exchange of information
and encourage bilateral discussions of business and economic issues,
including promoting bilateral trade and investment and improving the
business climate in each country. The Council brings together the
respective business communities of the United States and Turkey to
discuss such issues of mutual interest and to communicate their joint
recommendations to the U.S. and Turkish Governments. The Council
consists of the U.S. and Turkish co-chairs and a Committee comprised of
private sector members. The Committee is composed of two Sections of
private sector members, a U.S. Section and a Turkish Section, each
consisting of approximately ten to twelve members, representing the
views and interests of their respective private sector business
communities. Each government will appoint the members to its respective
Section. The Committee will provide joint recommendations to the two
governments that reflect private sector views, needs, and concerns
regarding creation of an environment in which the private sectors of
both countries can partner, thrive, and enhance bilateral commercial
ties that could form the basis for expanded trade and investment
between the United States and Turkey.
The Department of Commerce is currently seeking applicants for
membership on the U.S. Section of the Committee. Each applicant must be
a senior-level executive of a U.S.-owned or controlled company that is
incorporated in and has its main headquarters located in the United
States and that is currently doing business in Turkey. Each applicant
also must be a U.S. citizen, or otherwise legally authorized to work in
the United States, and be able to travel to Turkey and locations in the
United States to attend official Council meetings, as well as U.S.
Section and Committee meetings. In addition, the applicant may not be a
registered foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of
1938, as amended.
Evaluation of applications for membership in the U.S. Section by
eligible individuals will be based on the following criteria:
--A demonstrated commitment by the applicant's company to the Turkish
market either through exports or investment.
--A demonstrated strong interest by the applicant's company in Turkey
and its economic development.
--The ability by the applicant to offer a broad perspective on the
business environment in Turkey, including cross-cutting issues that
affect the entire business community.
--The ability by the applicant to initiate and be responsible for
activities in which the Council will be active.
Members will be selected on the basis of who will best carry out
the objectives of the Council as stated in the Terms of Reference
establishing the U.S.-Turkey Business Council. In selecting members of
the U.S. Section, the Department of Commerce will also seek to ensure
that the Section represents a diversity of business sectors and
geographical locations, as well as a cross-section of small, medium,
and large-sized firms.
U.S. members will receive no compensation for their participation
in Council-related activities. They shall not be considered as special
government employees. Individual private sector members will be
responsible for all travel and related expenses associated with their
participation in the Council, including attendance at Committee and
Section meetings. Only appointed members may participate in official
Council meetings; substitutes and alternates may not be designated.
Members will normally serve for two-year terms, but may be reappointed.
To apply for membership, please submit the following information as
instructed in the ADDRESSES and DATES captions above:
1. Name(s) and title(s) of the applicant(s);
2. Name and address of the headquarters of the applicant's company;
3. Location of incorporation of the applicant's company;
4. Percentage share of U.S. citizen ownership in the company;
5. Size of the company in terms of number of employees;
6. Dollar amount of the company's export trade to Turkey;
7. Dollar amount of the company's investments in Turkey;
8. Nature of the company's investments, operations or interest in
Turkey;
9. An affirmative statement that the applicant is a U.S. citizen or
otherwise legally authorized to work in the United States;
10. An affirmative statement that the applicant is neither
registered nor required to register as a foreign agent under the
Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended;
11. An affirmative statement that the applicant meets all other
eligibility requirements;
12. A brief statement of why the applicant should be considered;
13. A brief statement of how the applicant meets the four listed
criteria, including information about the candidate's ability to
initiate and be responsible for activities in which the Council will be
active. Applications will be considered as they are received.
All candidates will be notified of whether they have been selected.
Dated: February 4, 2015.
Jay A. Burgess,
Director of the Office of European Country Affairs (OECA).
[FR Doc. 2015-02721 Filed 2-12-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DA-P