80 FR 18352 - Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee; and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade; Renewal and Nominations

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 65 (April 6, 2015)

Pursuant to Section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C 2155(c)(1)) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice is hereby given that the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary), in coordination with the United States Trade Representative (USTR), intends to renew the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) for Trade and the six Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees (ATACs) for Trade. In addition, the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is requesting nominations for persons to serve on these seven committees for a term of 4 years. The APAC provides advice on the operation of various existing U.S. trade agreements and on negotiating objectives for new trade agreements, as well as other matters arising from the administration of U.S. trade policy. The ATACs provide advice and information regarding trade issues that affect both domestic and foreign production in the commodities of the respective sector, drawing upon the technical competence and experience of the members.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 65 (Monday, April 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18352-18353]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07499]


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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 65 / Monday, April 6, 2015 / 
Notices

[[Page 18352]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee; and the Agricultural 
Technical Advisory Committees for Trade; Renewal and Nominations

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C 
2155(c)(1)) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 
U.S.C. Appendix 2), notice is hereby given that the Secretary of 
Agriculture (Secretary), in coordination with the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR), intends to renew the Agricultural Policy 
Advisory Committee (APAC) for Trade and the six Agricultural Technical 
Advisory Committees (ATACs) for Trade. In addition, the Foreign 
Agricultural Service (FAS) is requesting nominations for persons to 
serve on these seven committees for a term of 4 years. The APAC 
provides advice on the operation of various existing U.S. trade 
agreements and on negotiating objectives for new trade agreements, as 
well as other matters arising from the administration of U.S. trade 
policy. The ATACs provide advice and information regarding trade issues 
that affect both domestic and foreign production in the commodities of 
the respective sector, drawing upon the technical competence and 
experience of the members.

DATES: Written nominations for this round of appointments must be 
received no later than April 30, 2015. Any applications received after 
April 30, 2015 will be considered for future appointments (i.e., CY 
2016), as appropriate to maintain staggered terms.

ADDRESSES: All nomination materials should be mailed (e.g., FedEx, DHL, 
UPS, USPS) in a single, complete package to Thomas Vilsack, Secretary, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1001, Attn: APAC/ATACs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Inquiries may be directed to JonAnn 
Flemings or Steffon Brown by telephone at (202) 720-4934; by fax to 
(202) 720-6103; or by Email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    The APAC and the ATACs are authorized by sections 135(c)(1) and (2) 
of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (Pub. L. 93-618, 19 U.S.C. 2155). 
The purpose of these committees is to advise the Secretary and the USTR 
concerning agricultural trade issues and policy. The committees are 
intended to ensure that representative elements of the private sector 
have an opportunity to express their views to the U.S. Government.

Re-Chartering of Existing Committees

    Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. II), 
FAS gives notice that the Secretary and USTR intend to renew the APAC 
and the following six ATACs:
     Animals and Animal Products;
     Fruits and Vegetables;
     Grains, Feed, Oilseeds and Planting Seeds;
     Processed Foods;
     Sweeteners and Sweetener Products; and,
     Tobacco, Cotton and Peanuts.
    In 1974, Congress established a private sector advisory committee 
system to ensure that U.S. trade policy and negotiation objectives 
adequately reflect U.S. commercial and economic interests. The private 
sector advisory committee system currently consists of three tiers:Show 
citation box
     The President's Advisory Committee on Trade and Policy 
Negotiations;
     Five general policy advisory committees, including the 
APAC; and,
     Twenty-two technical advisory committees, including the 
ATACs.
    The establishment and renewal of such committees is in the public 
interest in connection with the duties of the USDA imposed by the Trade 
Act of 1974, as amended.

Background

    1974, Congress established a private sector advisory committee 
system to ensure that U.S. trade policy and negotiation objectives 
adequately reflect U.S. commercial and economic interests.
    As provided for in the law and the USDA charter, the APAC has the 
following responsibilities: (A) The Committee will advise, consult 
with, and make recommendations to the Secretary and USTR concerning the 
trade policy of the United States and the matters arising in the 
administration of such policy; (B) The Committee will provide 
information and advice regarding the following: negotiating objectives 
and bargaining positions of the United States before the United States 
enters into trade agreements, the operation of any trade agreement once 
entered into, and matters arising in connection with the administration 
of the trade policy of the United States. It will keep abreast of the 
ongoing work of the technical-level committees (ATACs); (C) The 
Committee will furnish such other advisory opinions and reports as the 
Secretary and USTR deem necessary.
    As provided for in the law and the USDA charters, the ATACs have 
the following responsibilities: (A) The Committees will advise, consult 
with, and make recommendations to the Secretary and USTR on matters 
that are of mutual concern to the United States and to its consumers, 
producers, processors, and traders of commodities of their respective 
sectors in connection with the trade policy activities undertaken by 
the United States. (B) The Committees will provide advice and 
information regarding trade issues that affect both domestic and 
foreign production and trade concerning commodities in their respective 
sectors. The Committees will furnish advisory opinions and reports 
regarding trade policy as requested by the Secretary and USTR, or their 
designees.

General Committee Information

    Each committee has a chairperson, who is elected from the 
membership of that committee. Committees meet as needed, and all 
committee meetings are typically held in Washington, DC or by telephone 
conference. Committee meetings may be closed if USTR determines that a 
committee will be

[[Page 18353]]

discussing issues that justify closing a meeting or portions of a 
meeting, in accordance with 19 U.S.C. 2155(f). Throughout the year, 
members are requested to review sensitive trade policy information and 
provide comments regarding trade negotiations. In addition to their 
other advisory responsibilities, at the conclusion of negotiations of 
any trade agreement, all committees are required to provide a report on 
each agreement to the President, Congress, and USTR.

Committee Membership Information

    All committee members are appointed by, and serve at the discretion 
of the Secretary and the USTR. Committee appointments are typically for 
a period of approximately 4 years, but the Secretary and USTR may renew 
an appointment for an additional term or appoint a member to fill out 
the remainder of someone's term. All committee members must be a U.S. 
citizen and must represent a U.S. entity with an interest in 
agricultural trade, and must not be registered with the Department of 
Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. To attend most 
meetings, committee members must have a current security clearance. New 
members will be guided in how to apply for a security clearance and 
their appointment will be contingent on successful completion of the 
investigation. Committee members serve without compensation and are not 
reimbursed for their travel expenses. No person may serve on more than 
one USDA advisory committee at the same time unless a specific 
exception is granted by the USDA Committee Management Officer. No 
entity may have more than one representative on any single trade 
advisory committee.

Nominations and Appointments of Members

    Nominations for APAC and ATAC membership are open to individuals 
representing U.S. entities with an interest in agricultural trade 
without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, 
mental or physical handicap, marital status, or sexual orientation. 
Equal opportunity practices in accordance with the U.S. Government 
policies will be followed in all appointments to the Committee. To 
ensure that the recommendations of the Committee have taken into 
account the needs of the diverse groups served by USDA, membership 
shall include to the extent possible, individuals with demonstrated 
ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. 
Members should have expertise and knowledge of agricultural trade as it 
relates to policy and commodity specific issues. Members will normally 
come from an entity with an interest in agriculture, and will serve as 
a Representative, presenting the views and interests of a particular 
U.S. entity that has an interest in the subject matter of the 
committee.
    However, should a member be appointed primarily for his or her 
expertise, and not as a representative of an interest group, he or she 
shall be designated as a Special Government Employee (SGE). SGEs are 
subject to specific provisions of the ethics laws if they are appointed 
because of their personal knowledge, background, or expertise. USDA 
will assist SGEs in disclosing their financial interest and will 
provide ethics training on an annual basis. Appointments are made of 
individuals only and are not transferrable. No person, company, 
producer, farm organization, trade association, or other entity has a 
right to membership on a committee. In making appointments, every 
effort will be made to maintain balanced representation on the 
committees with representation from producers, farm and commodity 
organizations, processors, traders, and consumers. Geographical 
diversity on each committee will also be sought.
    Nominations: Nominating a person to serve on any of the committees 
requires submission of a current resume for the nominee and the 
following form: AD-755 (Advisory Committee Membership Background 
Information, OMB Number 0505-0001), available on the Internet at: 
http://www.fas.usda.gov/trade-advisory-committees-applying-membership. 
A cover letter should also be submitted indicating the specific 
committee for which the individual is being nominated, why the nominee 
wants to be a committee member, his or her qualifications for 
membership, and how the submitter learned about this call for 
nominations. The cover letter should also include the statements 
required below related to Federally Registered Lobbyists and Foreign 
Firms. If applicable, a sponsor letter on the non-Federal governmental 
entity's letterhead that contains a brief description of the manner in 
which international trade affects the entity and why the applicant 
should be considered for membership. Forms may also be requested by 
sending an email to [email protected], or by phone at (202) 720-4934.
    Federally Registered Lobbyists: All nominees must provide a 
statement confirming their lobbyist status. Pursuant to the Revised 
Guidance on the Appointment of Lobbyists to Federal Advisory 
Committees, Boards and Commissions, published by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) on August 13, 2014, federally-registered 
lobbyists are no longer prohibited from serving on the advisory 
committees in a representative capacity. In light of OMB's recent 
policy clarification that the eligibility restriction does not apply to 
advisory committee members who 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. The 
lobbyist prohibition continues to apply to persons serving on advisory 
committees in their individual capacity (e.g., SGEs).
    Foreign Firms: If the nominee is to represent an entity or 
corporation with ten percent or greater non-U.S. ownership, the nominee 
must state the extent to which the organization or interest to be 
represented by the nominee is owned by non-U.S. citizens, 
organizations, or interests and demonstrate at the time of nomination 
that this ownership interest does not constitute control and will not 
adversely affect his or her ability to serve as an advisor on the U.S. 
agriculture advisory committee for trade.

    Dated: March 24, 2015.
Suzanne Palmieri,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-07499 Filed 4-3-15; 8:45 am]
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