[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 170 (Friday, September 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45695-45696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21697]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration


U.S.-Argentina Business Development Council and U.S.-Brazil 
Business Development Council--Standards Working Groups

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, DOC.

ACTION: Notice of Open Discussion Roundtable and Standards Seminar 
Organized by the U.S.-Argentina Business Development Council Standards 
Working Group and the U.S.-Brazil Business Development Council 
Standards Working Group.

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SUMMARY: On January 25, 1995, Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown and 
Argentine Minister of Economy and Public Works and Services Domingo 
Cavallo signed the Terms of Reference to create the U.S.-Argentina 
Business Development Council (A-BDC). On March 23, 1995, Secretary of 
Commerce Ronald H. Brown and Brazilian Minister of External Relations 
Luiz Felipe Lampreia signed the Terms of Reference to create the U.S.-
Brazil Business Development Council (B-BDC). The purpose of the BDCs, 
which are bilateral, public-private sector councils, is to provide a 
forum for cooperation through which U.S. and respectively, Argentine 
and Brazilian (Argentine/Brazilian) representatives can exchange 
information on commercial matters and encourage discussion on various 
themes related to bilateral business development and trade promotion.
    The BDCs are comprised of U.S. and Argentine/Brazilian sections. 
The U.S. sections are comprised of U.S. Government officials and senior 
level representatives of U.S. companies with commercial interest and 
experience in Argentina/Brazil. The activities of the BDCs may include, 
but are not limited to. the following: identifying commercial 
opportunities, impediments and issues of concern to the U.S. and 
Argentine/Brazilian business communities; improving dissemination of 
information on U.S.-Argentine/Brazilian market opportunities; 
developing sectoral or project oriented approaches to expanding 
bilateral business opportunities; implementing bilateral trade and 
business development programs; and other appropriate steps to foster 
bilateral commercial relations.
    To implement these activities, the BDCs have formed various working 
groups, including Standards Working Groups (``Standards Groups'') in 
each BDC. The two Standards Groups intend to implement a program to 
encourage use of internationally accepted standards and conformity 
assessment practices and to enhance the efficiency of U.S.-Argentine/
Brazilian commerce by identifying possible solutions to standards-
related impediments.

DATES: The standards discussion roundtable will be held on Tuesday, 
September 19, 1995 at 1:30 P.M. The standards seminar is scheduled for 
Tuesday, November 28, 1995.

ADDRESSES: The standards discussion roundtable will be held at the U.S. 
Department of Commerce, Herbert C. Hoover Building, Auditorium, 14th 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230. The standards 
seminar will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
(1) Regarding the A-BDC generally--Carrie B. Clark, Argentina Desk, 
(202) 482-0477;
(2) Regarding the B-BDC generally--Laura Zeiger-Hatfield, Brazil Desk, 
(202) 482-0428;
(3) Regarding both BDC Standards Groups and the Discussion Roundtable--
Dr. Stanley I. Warshaw, Senior Policy Advisor for Standards and 
Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, HCHB Room 3527, Washington, DC 20230, (202) 482-5620 or 
5853, Fax: (202) 482-5444, Internet: W[email protected];
(4) Regarding the Standards Seminar--Mr. John L. Donaldson, Chief, 
Standards Code and Information Program, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, TB 417, Room 109, 
Gaithersburg MD 20899, (301)975-4030, Fax: (301)963-2871, Internet: 
D[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Open Standards Discussion Roundtable Organized by the A-BDC and B-BDC 
Standards Groups

    The U.S. sections of the BDC Standards Groups will host a 
roundtable to generate a broad private sector discussion of standards-
related issues that may be considered by the A-BDC and B-BDC Standards 
Groups in preparation for future bilateral meetings scheduled to take 
place, respectively in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. The standards 
seminar will be open to all interested participants.

Open Standards Seminar

    The BDCs will organize a standards seminar. In accordance with the 
public--private sector partnership embodied in the BDCs, the seminar is 
being organized and cosponsored by the International Trade 
Administration and the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Argentina's National Institute of 
Industrial Technology, Brazil's National Institute of Metrology, 
Standardization and Industrial Quality, and the A-BDC and B-BDC 
Standards Groups. The standards seminar will be open to all interested 
participants.

Contact Information

    Those interested in attending the standards roundtable discussion 
or in submitting written comments on standards issues relevant to U.S.-
Argentine/Brazilian commerce and/or in participating in the standards 
seminar in Buenos Aires should contact the relevant persons listed 
above.

    Authority: Act of February 14, 1903, c. 552, as amended, 15 
U.S.C. Sec. 1501 et seq., 32 Stat. 825.


[[Page 45696]]

    Dated: August 25, 1995.
Walter M. Bastian, III,
Director, Office of Latin America and the Caribbean.
[FR Doc. 95-21697 Filed 8-31-95; 8:45 am]
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