[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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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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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, (202) 720-6829 (telephone), (202) 720-8097
(FAX), or [email protected] (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
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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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