Notice of Re-Chartering and Continuation of Requests for Nominations for the Agricultural Trade Advisory Committees, 27231-27232 [2019-12382]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Foreign Agricultural Service

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 113 (Wednesday, June 12, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27231-27232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-12382]


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Notices
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 113 / Wednesday, June 12, 2019 / 
Notices

[[Page 27231]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of Re-Chartering and Continuation of Requests for 
Nominations for the Agricultural Trade Advisory Committees

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, United States Department of 
Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of re-chartering and continuation of requests for 
nominations.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Trade Act of 1974 and the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, as amended, notice is hereby given that the Secretary of 
Agriculture (Secretary), in coordination with the United States Trade 
Representative (Trade Representative), intends to renew the charters 
for the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) and the related 
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees (ATACs) for Trade to provide 
detailed policy and technical advice, information, and recommendations 
regarding trade barriers, negotiation of trade agreements, and 
implementation of existing trade agreements affecting food and 
agricultural products, including the performance of other advisory 
functions relevant to U.S. agricultural trade policy matters. In 
addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign 
Agricultural Service (FAS) continues to welcome nominations for persons 
to serve on these committees.

DATES: FAS will accept nominations for membership on the APAC and six 
ATACs throughout the four-year charter term of the committees (June 
2019 through June 2023). New applicants are considered approximately 
every 12-18 months.

ADDRESSES: All nomination materials should be mailed in a single, 
complete package to: Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Room 200A Jamie L. Whitten 
Building, Washington, DC 20250-1001, Attention: APAC/ATACs. Courtesy 
electronic copies of the nomination materials should also be sent to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: JonAnn Flemings, Group Federal 
Officer, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture 
at 202-720-1277; or by email at [email protected]. You can find additional 
information about the APAC and ATACs on the Foreign Agricultural 
Service website at www.fas.usda.gov/atacs.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Re-Chartering Of Existing Committees: Pursuant to Section 135 of 
the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C 2155(c)) and the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix), FAS gives notice that 
the Secretary and Trade Representative have renewed 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
 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:
     The President's Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and 
Negotiations;
     Five general policy advisory committees, including the 
APAC; and
     Several technical advisory committees, including the 
ATACs.
    The establishment and renewal of such committees is in the public 
interest in connection with the duties of USDA imposed by the Trade Act 
of 1974, as amended.

Background

    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. As provided 
for in the law and their charters, the APAC has the following 
responsibilities:
    (A) The Committee will advise, consult with, and make 
recommendations to the Secretary and Trade Representative 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; and (C) The Committee will 
furnish such other advisory opinions and reports as the Secretary and 
Trade Representative deem necessary;

and the ATACs have similar responsibilities:

    (A) The Committees will advise, consult with, and make 
recommendations to the Secretary and Trade Representative on matters 
that are of mutual concern to the United States and its consumers, 
producer, processors, and traders of the relevant commodities; (B) The 
Committees will provide information and advice regarding trade issues 
that affect both domestic and foreign production and trade concerning 
the relevant commodities; and (C) The Committees will furnish such 
other advisory opinions and reports as the Secretary and Trade 
Representative deem necessary.

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 Office of the 
U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) determines that a committee will be 
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

[[Page 27232]]

committees are required to provide a report on each agreement to the 
President, Congress, USTR, and USDA.

Committee Membership Information

    All committee members are appointed by and serve at the discretion 
of the Secretary and Trade Representative. Committee appointments are 
typically for a period of 4 years but may be renewed for an additional 
term. Each committee member 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

    Eligibility: 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 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, including disclosure 
of financial interests, 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 USDA 
AD-755 (Advisory Committee Membership Background Information, OMB 
Number 0505-0001), available on the internet at: https://www.fas.usda.gov/trade-advisorycommittees-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, and 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, the application 
should include a sponsor letter on the non-Federal governmental 
entity's letterhead containing 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) 720-1277.
    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. OMB's revised 
guidance clarifies 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: June 5, 2019.
Ken Isley,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-12382 Filed 6-11-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-10-P