Request for Nominations for the Industry Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs), 24584-24586 [2010-10495]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
24584
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 86 / Wednesday, May 5, 2010 / Notices
regulations, including Section 400.28,
and to the Board’s standard 2,000–acre
activation limit for the overall general–
purpose zone project, to sunset
provisions that would terminate
authority on April 30, 2013, for existing
Sites 1–15 and 24 and on April 30,
2015, for Sites 16, 17, 18, 21 and 23
where no activity has occurred under
FTZ procedures before those dates, and
to a five-year time limit (to April 30,
2015) for Site 22 (subject to extension
upon review).
Signed at Washington, DC, this 1st day
of April 2010.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Deputy Assistant Secretaryfor Import
Administration Alternate ChairmanForeign–
Trade Zones Board.
ATTEST:
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010–10618 Filed 5–4–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Request for Nominations for the
Industry Trade Advisory Committees
(ITACs)
sroberts on DSKD5P82C1PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY: International Trade
Administration, Manufacturing and
Services.
ACTION: Request for nominations.
SUMMARY: On February 17, 2010, the
Secretary of Commerce and the United
States Trade Representative (the USTR)
renewed the charters of the 16 Industry
Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs)
and the Committee of Chairs of the
ITACs for a four-year term to expire on
February 17, 2014. The ITACs provide
detailed policy and technical advice,
information, and recommendations to
the Secretary and the USTR regarding
trade barriers, negotiation of trade
agreements, and implementation of
existing trade agreements affecting
industry sectors; and perform other
advisory functions relevant to U.S. trade
policy matters as may be requested by
the Secretary and the USTR or their
designees. There are currently
opportunities for membership on each
ITAC. Nominations will be accepted for
current vacancies and those that occur
throughout the remainder of the charter
term, which expires on February 17,
2014.
DATES: Appointments will be made on
a rolling basis. For that reason,
nominations will be accepted through
February 17, 2014.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:02 May 04, 2010
Jkt 220001
Submit nominations to
Ingrid V. Mitchem, Director, Industry
Trade Advisory Center, U.S. Department
of Commerce, 14th and Constitution
Avenue, NW., Room 4043, Washington,
DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ingrid V. Mitchem, Director, Industry
Trade Advisory Center, (202) 482–3268.
Recruitment information also is
available on the International Trade
Administration Web site at: https://
www.trade.gov/itac.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to the Federal Advisory Committee Act,
as amended (5 U.S.C. App.) and section
135 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended (19 U.S.C. 2155), the Secretary
of Commerce (the Secretary) and the
United States Trade Representative
(USTR) have renewed the charters of 16
Industry Trade Advisory Committees
(ITACs) and the Committee of Chairs of
the ITACs. The Secretary and the USTR
welcome nominations for the ITACs
listed below:
Industry Trade Advisory Committees
on:
(ITAC 1) Aerospace Equipment
(ITAC 2) Automotive Equipment and
Capital Goods
(ITAC 3) Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals,
Health/Science Products and
Services
(ITAC 4) Consumer Goods
(ITAC 5) Distribution Services
(ITAC 6) Energy and Energy Services
(ITAC 7) Forest Products
(ITAC 8) Information and
Communications Technologies,
Services, and Electronic Commerce
(ITAC 9) Nonferrous Metals and
Building Materials
(ITAC 10) Services and Finance
Industries
(ITAC 11) Small and Minority Business
(ITAC 12) Steel
(ITAC 13) Textiles and Clothing
(ITAC 14) Customs Matters and Trade
Facilitation
(ITAC 15) Intellectual Property Rights
(ITAC 16) Standards and Technical
Trade Barriers
ADDRESSES:
Background
Section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974,
as amended (19 U.S.C. 2155), directed
the establishment of a private-sector
trade advisory system to ensure that
U.S. trade policy and trade negotiation
objectives adequately reflect U.S.
commercial and economic interests.
Section 135(a)(1) directs the President
to:
Seek information and advice from
representative elements of the private sector
and the non-Federal governmental sector
with respect to—
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(A) Negotiating objectives and bargaining
positions before entering into a trade
agreement under [Subchapter I of the Trade
Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2111–2241) and
section 2103 of the Bipartisan Trade
Promotion Authority Act of 2002 (19 U.S.C.
3803)];
(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 * * *
Section 135(c)(2) of the 1974 Trade Act
provides that:
(2) The President shall establish such
sectoral or functional advisory committees as
may be appropriate. Such committees shall,
insofar as is practicable, be representative of
all industry, labor, agricultural, or service
interests (including small business interests)
in the sector or functional areas concerned.
In organizing such committees, the United
States Trade Representative and the
Secretaries of Commerce, Labor, Agriculture,
the Treasury, or other executive departments,
as appropriate, shall—
(A) Consult with interested private
organizations; and
(B) Take into account such factors as—
(i) Patterns of actual and potential
competition between United States industry
and agriculture and foreign enterprise in
international trade,
(ii) The character of the nontariff barriers
and other distortions affecting such
competition,
(iii) The necessity for reasonable limits on
the number of such advisory committees,
(iv) The necessity that each committee be
reasonably limited in size, and
(v) In the case of each sectoral committee,
that the product lines covered by each
committee be reasonably related.
Pursuant to this provision, the
Department of Commerce (Commerce)
and the Office of the USTR (USTR) have
established and co-administer 16 ITACs,
the Committee of Chairs of the ITACs,
and the Industry Trade Advisory Center.
Functions
The duties of the ITACs are to provide
the President, through the Secretary and
the USTR, with detailed policy and
technical advice, information, and
recommendations regarding trade
barriers, negotiation of trade
agreements, and implementation of
existing trade agreements affecting
industry sectors; and perform other
advisory functions relevant to U.S. trade
policy matters as may be requested by
the Secretary and the USTR or their
designees. The ITACs provide
nonpartisan, industry input in the
development of trade policy objectives.
The ITACs’ efforts have assisted the
United States in putting forward unified
positions when it negotiates trade
agreements.
E:\FR\FM\05MYN1.SGM
05MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 86 / Wednesday, May 5, 2010 / Notices
The ITACs address market-access
problems; barriers to trade; tariff levels;
discriminatory foreign procurement
practices; and information, marketing,
and advocacy needs of their industry
sector. Thirteen ITACs provide advice
and information on issues that affect
specific sectors of U.S. industry. Three
ITACs focus on cross-cutting, functional
issues that affect all industry sectors:
customs matters and trade facilitation
(ITAC 14); intellectual property rights
(ITAC 15); and standards and technical
trade barriers (ITAC 16). In addition to
members appointed exclusively to these
three ITACs, ITACs 1–13 each may
select a member to represent their ITAC
on each of these three cross-cutting
ITACs so that a broad range of industry
perspectives is represented. Other trade
policy issues, e.g., government
procurement, subsidies, etc., may be
addressed in ad hoc working groups
created by the ITACs.
Each ITAC meets an average of six
times a year in Washington, DC. Some
ITACS meet more often depending on
the work of a particular committee.
The members, all of whom come from
the private sector, serve in a
representative capacity presenting the
views and interests of a U.S. entity or
U.S. organization and its subsector in
their respective industry sectors; they
are, therefore, not Special Government
Employees. Members serve at the
discretion of the Secretary and the
USTR.
Members serve without compensation
and are responsible for all expenses
incurred to attend the meetings. ITAC
members are appointed jointly by the
Secretary and the USTR. Each ITAC
elects a chairperson from the
membership of the ITAC, and that
chairperson serves on the Committee of
Chairs of the ITACs.
Appointments are made following the
re-chartering of each ITAC and
periodically throughout the four-year
charter term. Appointments expire at
the end of the ITACs’ charter terms, in
this case, February 17, 2014.
Appointments to all ITACs are made
without regard to political affiliation.
sroberts on DSKD5P82C1PROD with NOTICES
Eligibility and Application Process
[Note: USTR and Commerce are currently
reviewing the composition of the ITACs.
USTR and Commerce issued a Federal
Register notice on April 27, 2010 (75 FR
22121) requesting public comments as part of
this review. USTR and Commerce may issue
a supplemental Federal Register notice
seeking additional nominations to the ITACs
following the conclusion of this review
process.]
The following eligibility requirements
must be met:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:02 May 04, 2010
Jkt 220001
1. The applicant must be a U.S.
citizen;
2. The applicant must not be a fulltime employee of a U.S. governmental
entity;
3. The applicant must not be a
federally-registered lobbyist;
4. The applicant must not be
registered with the Department of
Justice under the Foreign Agents
Registration Act;
5. The applicant must be able to
obtain and maintain a security
clearance; and
6. The applicant must represent
either:
a. A U.S. entity that is directly
engaged in the import or export of goods
or services or that provides services in
direct support of the international
trading activities of other entities; or
b. A U.S. organization that: Trades
internationally; represents members
who trade internationally; consistent
with the needs of a Committee; or
represents members who have a
demonstrated interest in international
trade.
For eligibility purposes, a ‘‘U.S.
entity’’ is a for-profit firm engaged in
commercial, industrial, or professional
activities that is incorporated in the
United States (or an unincorporated
U.S. firm with its principal place of
business in the United States) that is
controlled by U.S. citizens or by other
U.S. entities. An entity is not a U.S.
entity if 50 percent plus one share of its
stock (if a corporation, or a similar
ownership interest of an unincorporated
entity) is known to be controlled,
directly or indirectly, by non-U.S.
citizens or non-U.S. entities.
For eligibility purposes, a ‘‘U.S.
organization’’ is an organization,
including trade associations and
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs),
established under the laws of the United
States, that is controlled by U.S.
citizens, by another U.S. organization
(or organizations), or by a U.S. entity (or
entities), as determined based on its
board of directors (or comparable
governing body), membership, and
funding sources, as applicable. To
qualify as a U.S. organization, more than
50 percent of the board of directors (or
comparable governing body) and more
than 50 percent of the membership of
the organization to be represented must
be U.S. citizens, U.S. organizations, or
U.S. entities. Additionally, in order for
NGOs to qualify as U.S. organizations, at
least 50 percent of the NGO’s annual
revenue must be attributable to
nongovernmental U.S. sources.
If a nominee is to represent an entity
or organization with 10 percent or
greater non-U.S. ownership of its shares
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
24585
or equity, non-U.S. board members,
non-U.S. membership, or non-U.S.
funding sources, as applicable, the
nominee must certify in its statement
affirming its eligibility that this nonU.S. interest does not constitute control
and will not adversely affect his or her
ability to serve as a trade advisor to the
United States.
In order to be considered for ITAC
membership, a nominee should submit:
(1) Name, title, and relevant contact
information of the individual requesting
consideration;
(2) The ITAC for which the individual
is applying for appointment;
(3) A sponsor letter on the entity’s or
organization’s letterhead containing a
brief description of why the applicant
should be considered for membership
on the ITAC;
(4) The applicant’s personal resume
demonstrating knowledge of
international trade issues;
(5) An affirmative statement that the
applicant meets all ITAC eligibility
requirements;
(6) An affirmative statement that the
applicant is not a federally registered
lobbyist, and that the applicant
understands that if appointed, the
applicant will not be allowed to
continue to serve as an ITAC member if
the applicant becomes a federally
registered lobbyist; and
(7) Information regarding the
sponsoring entity, including the control
of the entity or organization to be
represented and the entity’s or
organization’s size and ownership,
product or service line, and trade
activities.
Submit applications to Ingrid V.
Mitchem, Director, Industry Trade
Advisory Center, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th and Constitution
Avenue, NW., Room 4043, Washington,
DC 20230.
Additional requirements exist for
nominations of consultants and legal
advisors. The specific requirements will
vary depending on the nature of the
entity or organization and interests to be
represented. Interested consultants and
legal advisors should contact the
Industry Trade Advisory Center or
consult the ITAC Web Site for
additional information on the
submission requirements.
Applicants that meet the eligibility
criteria will be considered for
membership based on the following
criteria: Ability to represent the
sponsoring U.S. entity’s or U.S.
organization’s and its subsector’s
interests on trade matters; ability to
carry out the objectives of the particular
ITAC (including knowledge of and
experience in their industry and trade
E:\FR\FM\05MYN1.SGM
05MYN1
24586
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 86 / Wednesday, May 5, 2010 / Notices
matters relevant to the work of the
ITAC); and ensuring that the ITAC is
balanced in terms of points of view,
demographics, geography, and entity or
organization size.
This notice is issued pursuant to the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5
U.S.C., app. 2), 19 U.S.C. 2155, and 41
CFR part 102–3 relating to advisory
committees.
Dated: April 28, 2010.
Nicole Y. Lamb-Hale,
Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and
Services.
[FR Doc. 2010–10495 Filed 5–4–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING
COMMISSION
Order Finding That the San Juan
Financial Basis Contract Traded on the
IntercontinentalExchange, Inc., Does
Not Perform a Significant Price
Discovery Function
sroberts on DSKD5P82C1PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY: Commodity Futures Trading
Commission.
ACTION: Final order.
SUMMARY: On October 9, 2009, the
Commodity Futures Trading
Commission (‘‘CFTC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’)
published for comment in the Federal
Register 1 a notice of its intent to
undertake a determination whether the
San Juan Financial Basis (‘‘SNJ’’)
contract traded on the
IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. (‘‘ICE’’),
an exempt commercial market (‘‘ECM’’)
under sections 2(h)(3)–(5) of the
Commodity Exchange Act (‘‘CEA’’ or the
‘‘Act’’), performs a significant price
discovery function pursuant to section
2(h)(7) of the CEA. The Commission
undertook this review based upon an
initial evaluation of information and
data provided by ICE as well as other
available information. The Commission
has reviewed the entire record in this
matter, including all comments
received, and has determined to issue
an order finding that the SNJ contract
does not perform a significant price
discovery function. Authority for this
action is found in section 2(h)(7) of the
CEA and Commission rule 36.3(c)
promulgated thereunder.
DATES: Effective Date: April 28, 2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gregory K. Price, Industry Economist,
Division of Market Oversight,
Commodity Futures Trading
Commission, Three Lafayette Centre,
1155 21st Street, NW., Washington, DC
1 74
FR 52188 (October 9, 2009).
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:02 May 04, 2010
Jkt 220001
20581. Telephone: (202) 418–5515. Email: gprice@cftc.gov; or Susan Nathan,
Senior Special Counsel, Division of
Market Oversight, same address.
Telephone: (202) 418–5133. E-mail:
snathan@cftc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
The CFTC Reauthorization Act of
2008 (‘‘Reauthorization Act’’) 2
significantly broadened the CFTC’s
regulatory authority with respect to
ECMs by creating, in section 2(h)(7) of
the CEA, a new regulatory category—
ECMs on which significant price
discovery contracts (‘‘SPDCs’’) are
traded—and treating ECMs in that
category as registered entities under the
CEA.3 The legislation authorizes the
CFTC to designate an agreement,
contract or transaction as a SPDC if the
Commission determines, under criteria
established in section 2(h)(7), that it
performs a significant price discovery
function. When the Commission makes
such a determination, the ECM on
which the SPDC is traded must assume,
with respect to that contract, all the
responsibilities and obligations of a
registered entity under the Act and
Commission regulations, and must
comply with nine core principles
established by new section 2(h)(7)(C).
On March 16, 2009, the CFTC
promulgated final rules implementing
the provisions of the Reauthorization
Act.4 As relevant here, rule 36.3
imposes increased information reporting
requirements on ECMs to assist the
Commission in making prompt
assessments whether particular ECM
contracts may be SPDCs. In addition to
filing quarterly reports of its contracts,
an ECM must notify the Commission
promptly concerning any contract
traded in reliance on the exemption in
section 2(h)(3) of the CEA that averaged
five trades per day or more over the
most recent calendar quarter, and for
which the exchange sells its price
information regarding the contract to
market participants or industry
publications, or whose daily closing or
settlement prices on 95 percent or more
of the days in the most recent quarter
were within 2.5 percent of the
contemporaneously determined closing,
settlement or other daily price of
another contract.
Commission rule 36.3(c)(3)
established the procedures by which the
2 Incorporated as Title XIII of the Food,
Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, Public Law
No. 110–246, 122 Stat. 1624 (June 18, 2008).
3 7 U.S.C. 1a(29).
4 74 FR 12178 (Mar. 23, 2009); these rules became
effective on April 22, 2009.
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Commission makes and announces its
determination whether a particular ECM
contract serves a significant price
discovery function. Under those
procedures, the Commission will
publish notice in the Federal Register
that it intends to undertake a
determination whether the specified
agreement, contract or transaction
performs a significant price discovery
function and to receive written views,
data and arguments relevant to its
determination from the ECM and other
interested persons. Upon the close of
the comment period, the Commission
will consider, among other things, all
relevant information regarding the
subject contract and issue an order
announcing and explaining its
determination whether or not the
contract is a SPDC. The issuance of an
affirmative order signals the
effectiveness of the Commission’s
regulatory authorities over an ECM with
respect to a SPDC; at that time such an
ECM becomes subject to all provisions
of the CEA applicable to registered
entities.5 The issuance of such an order
also triggers the obligations,
requirements and timetables prescribed
in Commission rule 36.3(c)(4).6
II. Notice of Intent To Undertake SPDC
Determination
On October 9, 2009, the Commission
published in the Federal Register notice
of its intent to undertake a
determination whether the SNJ contract
performs a significant price discovery
function and requested comment from
interested parties.7 Comments were
received from Industrial Energy
Consumers of America (‘‘IECA’’),
Working Group of Commercial Energy
Firms (‘‘WGCEF’’), Platts, ICE,
Economists Incorporated (‘‘EI’’), Natural
Gas Supply Association (‘‘NGSA’’),
5 Public Law 110–246 at 13203; Joint Explanatory
Statement of the Committee of Conference, H.R.
Rep. No. 110–627, 110 Cong., 2d Sess. 978, 986
(Conference Committee Report). See also 73 FR
75888, 75894 (Dec. 12, 2008).
6 For an initial SPDC, ECMs have a grace period
of 90 calendar days from the issuance of a SPDC
determination order to submit a written
demonstration of compliance with the applicable
core principles. For subsequent SPDCs, ECMs have
a grace period of 30 calendar days to demonstrate
core principle compliance.
7 The Commission’s Part 36 rules establish,
among other things, procedures by which the
Commission makes and announces its
determination whether a specific ECM contract
serves a significant price discovery function. Under
those procedures, the Commission publishes a
notice in the Federal Register that it intends to
undertake a determination whether a specified
agreement, contract or transaction performs a
significant price discovery function and to receive
written data, views and arguments relevant to its
determination from the ECM and other interested
persons.
E:\FR\FM\05MYN1.SGM
05MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24584-24586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10495]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Request for Nominations for the Industry Trade Advisory
Committees (ITACs)
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Manufacturing and Services.
ACTION: Request for nominations.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On February 17, 2010, the Secretary of Commerce and the United
States Trade Representative (the USTR) renewed the charters of the 16
Industry Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs) and the Committee of Chairs
of the ITACs for a four-year term to expire on February 17, 2014. The
ITACs provide detailed policy and technical advice, information, and
recommendations to the Secretary and the USTR regarding trade barriers,
negotiation of trade agreements, and implementation of existing trade
agreements affecting industry sectors; and perform other advisory
functions relevant to U.S. trade policy matters as may be requested by
the Secretary and the USTR or their designees. There are currently
opportunities for membership on each ITAC. Nominations will be accepted
for current vacancies and those that occur throughout the remainder of
the charter term, which expires on February 17, 2014.
DATES: Appointments will be made on a rolling basis. For that reason,
nominations will be accepted through February 17, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Submit nominations to Ingrid V. Mitchem, Director, Industry
Trade Advisory Center, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 4043, Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ingrid V. Mitchem, Director, Industry
Trade Advisory Center, (202) 482-3268.
Recruitment information also is available on the International
Trade Administration Web site at: https://www.trade.gov/itac.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee
Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.) and section 135 of the Trade Act of
1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2155), the Secretary of Commerce (the
Secretary) and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) have
renewed the charters of 16 Industry Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs)
and the Committee of Chairs of the ITACs. The Secretary and the USTR
welcome nominations for the ITACs listed below:
Industry Trade Advisory Committees on:
(ITAC 1) Aerospace Equipment
(ITAC 2) Automotive Equipment and Capital Goods
(ITAC 3) Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Health/Science Products and
Services
(ITAC 4) Consumer Goods
(ITAC 5) Distribution Services
(ITAC 6) Energy and Energy Services
(ITAC 7) Forest Products
(ITAC 8) Information and Communications Technologies, Services, and
Electronic Commerce
(ITAC 9) Nonferrous Metals and Building Materials
(ITAC 10) Services and Finance Industries
(ITAC 11) Small and Minority Business
(ITAC 12) Steel
(ITAC 13) Textiles and Clothing
(ITAC 14) Customs Matters and Trade Facilitation
(ITAC 15) Intellectual Property Rights
(ITAC 16) Standards and Technical Trade Barriers
Background
Section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2155),
directed the establishment of a private-sector trade advisory system to
ensure that U.S. trade policy and trade negotiation objectives
adequately reflect U.S. commercial and economic interests. Section
135(a)(1) 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 [Subchapter I of the Trade Act
of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2111-2241) and section 2103 of the Bipartisan
Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2002 (19 U.S.C. 3803)];
(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 * * *
Section 135(c)(2) of the 1974 Trade Act provides that:
(2) The President shall establish such sectoral or functional
advisory committees as may be appropriate. Such committees shall,
insofar as is practicable, be representative of all industry, labor,
agricultural, or service interests (including small business
interests) in the sector or functional areas concerned. In
organizing such committees, the United States Trade Representative
and the Secretaries of Commerce, Labor, Agriculture, the Treasury,
or other executive departments, as appropriate, shall--
(A) Consult with interested private organizations; and
(B) Take into account such factors as--
(i) Patterns of actual and potential competition between United
States industry and agriculture and foreign enterprise in
international trade,
(ii) The character of the nontariff barriers and other
distortions affecting such competition,
(iii) The necessity for reasonable limits on the number of such
advisory committees,
(iv) The necessity that each committee be reasonably limited in
size, and
(v) In the case of each sectoral committee, that the product
lines covered by each committee be reasonably related.
Pursuant to this provision, the Department of Commerce (Commerce)
and the Office of the USTR (USTR) have established and co-administer 16
ITACs, the Committee of Chairs of the ITACs, and the Industry Trade
Advisory Center.
Functions
The duties of the ITACs are to provide the President, through the
Secretary and the USTR, with detailed policy and technical advice,
information, and recommendations regarding trade barriers, negotiation
of trade agreements, and implementation of existing trade agreements
affecting industry sectors; and perform other advisory functions
relevant to U.S. trade policy matters as may be requested by the
Secretary and the USTR or their designees. The ITACs provide
nonpartisan, industry input in the development of trade policy
objectives. The ITACs' efforts have assisted the United States in
putting forward unified positions when it negotiates trade agreements.
[[Page 24585]]
The ITACs address market-access problems; barriers to trade; tariff
levels; discriminatory foreign procurement practices; and information,
marketing, and advocacy needs of their industry sector. Thirteen ITACs
provide advice and information on issues that affect specific sectors
of U.S. industry. Three ITACs focus on cross-cutting, functional issues
that affect all industry sectors: customs matters and trade
facilitation (ITAC 14); intellectual property rights (ITAC 15); and
standards and technical trade barriers (ITAC 16). In addition to
members appointed exclusively to these three ITACs, ITACs 1-13 each may
select a member to represent their ITAC on each of these three cross-
cutting ITACs so that a broad range of industry perspectives is
represented. Other trade policy issues, e.g., government procurement,
subsidies, etc., may be addressed in ad hoc working groups created by
the ITACs.
Each ITAC meets an average of six times a year in Washington, DC.
Some ITACS meet more often depending on the work of a particular
committee.
The members, all of whom come from the private sector, serve in a
representative capacity presenting the views and interests of a U.S.
entity or U.S. organization and its subsector in their respective
industry sectors; they are, therefore, not Special Government
Employees. Members serve at the discretion of the Secretary and the
USTR.
Members serve without compensation and are responsible for all
expenses incurred to attend the meetings. ITAC members are appointed
jointly by the Secretary and the USTR. Each ITAC elects a chairperson
from the membership of the ITAC, and that chairperson serves on the
Committee of Chairs of the ITACs.
Appointments are made following the re-chartering of each ITAC and
periodically throughout the four-year charter term. Appointments expire
at the end of the ITACs' charter terms, in this case, February 17,
2014.
Appointments to all ITACs are made without regard to political
affiliation.
Eligibility and Application Process
[Note: USTR and Commerce are currently reviewing the composition
of the ITACs. USTR and Commerce issued a Federal Register notice on
April 27, 2010 (75 FR 22121) requesting public comments as part of
this review. USTR and Commerce may issue a supplemental Federal
Register notice seeking additional nominations to the ITACs
following the conclusion of this review process.]
The following eligibility requirements must be met:
1. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen;
2. The applicant must not be a full-time employee of a U.S.
governmental entity;
3. The applicant must not be a federally-registered lobbyist;
4. The applicant must not be registered with the Department of
Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act;
5. The applicant must be able to obtain and maintain a security
clearance; and
6. The applicant must represent either:
a. A U.S. entity that is directly engaged in the import or export
of goods or services or that provides services in direct support of the
international trading activities of other entities; or
b. A U.S. organization that: Trades internationally; represents
members who trade internationally; consistent with the needs of a
Committee; or represents members who have a demonstrated interest in
international trade.
For eligibility purposes, a ``U.S. entity'' is a for-profit firm
engaged in commercial, industrial, or professional activities that is
incorporated in the United States (or an unincorporated U.S. firm with
its principal place of business in the United States) that is
controlled by U.S. citizens or by other U.S. entities. An entity is not
a U.S. entity if 50 percent plus one share of its stock (if a
corporation, or a similar ownership interest of an unincorporated
entity) is known to be controlled, directly or indirectly, by non-U.S.
citizens or non-U.S. entities.
For eligibility purposes, a ``U.S. organization'' is an
organization, including trade associations and nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs), established under the laws of the United States,
that is controlled by U.S. citizens, by another U.S. organization (or
organizations), or by a U.S. entity (or entities), as determined based
on its board of directors (or comparable governing body), membership,
and funding sources, as applicable. To qualify as a U.S. organization,
more than 50 percent of the board of directors (or comparable governing
body) and more than 50 percent of the membership of the organization to
be represented must be U.S. citizens, U.S. organizations, or U.S.
entities. Additionally, in order for NGOs to qualify as U.S.
organizations, at least 50 percent of the NGO's annual revenue must be
attributable to nongovernmental U.S. sources.
If a nominee is to represent an entity or organization with 10
percent or greater non-U.S. ownership of its shares or equity, non-U.S.
board members, non-U.S. membership, or non-U.S. funding sources, as
applicable, the nominee must certify in its statement affirming its
eligibility that this non-U.S. interest does not constitute control and
will not adversely affect his or her ability to serve as a trade
advisor to the United States.
In order to be considered for ITAC membership, a nominee should
submit:
(1) Name, title, and relevant contact information of the individual
requesting consideration;
(2) The ITAC for which the individual is applying for appointment;
(3) A sponsor letter on the entity's or organization's letterhead
containing a brief description of why the applicant should be
considered for membership on the ITAC;
(4) The applicant's personal resume demonstrating knowledge of
international trade issues;
(5) An affirmative statement that the applicant meets all ITAC
eligibility requirements;
(6) An affirmative statement that the applicant is not a federally
registered lobbyist, and that the applicant understands that if
appointed, the applicant will not be allowed to continue to serve as an
ITAC member if the applicant becomes a federally registered lobbyist;
and
(7) Information regarding the sponsoring entity, including the
control of the entity or organization to be represented and the
entity's or organization's size and ownership, product or service line,
and trade activities.
Submit applications to Ingrid V. Mitchem, Director, Industry Trade
Advisory Center, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution
Avenue, NW., Room 4043, Washington, DC 20230.
Additional requirements exist for nominations of consultants and
legal advisors. The specific requirements will vary depending on the
nature of the entity or organization and interests to be represented.
Interested consultants and legal advisors should contact the Industry
Trade Advisory Center or consult the ITAC Web Site for additional
information on the submission requirements.
Applicants that meet the eligibility criteria will be considered
for membership based on the following criteria: Ability to represent
the sponsoring U.S. entity's or U.S. organization's and its subsector's
interests on trade matters; ability to carry out the objectives of the
particular ITAC (including knowledge of and experience in their
industry and trade
[[Page 24586]]
matters relevant to the work of the ITAC); and ensuring that the ITAC
is balanced in terms of points of view, demographics, geography, and
entity or organization size.
This notice is issued pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee
Act (5 U.S.C., app. 2), 19 U.S.C. 2155, and 41 CFR part 102-3 relating
to advisory committees.
Dated: April 28, 2010.
Nicole Y. Lamb-Hale,
Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services.
[FR Doc. 2010-10495 Filed 5-4-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
