International Trade Administration August 29, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice amends the Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration Request for Nominations for the Industry Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs) of February 24, 2014 (79 FR 10099) to revise the eligibility criteria to permit federally-registered lobbyists to apply for membership on the ITACs. The Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative no longer maintain an eligibility restriction prohibiting federally-registered lobbyists from applying for appointment on the ITACs in light of a recent policy clarification that the eligibility restriction does not apply to advisory committee members who serve in a representative capacity. The Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary) and the United States Trade Representative (the USTR) will now consider nominations of federally-registered lobbyists for appointment on the 16 ITACs. All other eligibility criteria continue to apply. The full notice is republished in its entirety below for convenience. In February 2014, the Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary) 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 14, 2018. 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 14, 2018.