[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 211 (Friday, October 31, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59015-59017]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-28933]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
North American Free Trade Agreement; Invitation for Applications
for Inclusion on the Chapter 19 Roster
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Invitation for applications.
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SUMMARY: Chapter 19 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
provides for the establishment of a roster of individuals to serve on
binational panels convened to review final determinations in
antidumping or countervailing duty (AD/CVD) proceedings and amendments
to AD/CVD statutes of a NAFTA Party. The United States annually renews
its selections for the Chapter 19 roster. Applications are invited from
eligible individuals wishing to be included on the roster for the
period April 1, 1998 through March 31, 1999.
DATES: Applications should be received no later than December 1, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Applications should be sent to Ms. Sybia Harrison, Attn:
Chapter 19 Roster Applications, Office of the United States Trade
Representative, 600 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20508.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: With regard to the form of the
application, Ms. Sybia Harrison, (202) 395-3419; with regard to
eligibility requirements, William L. Busis, Associate General Counsel,
(202) 395-3150.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Binational Panel Reviews Under NAFTA Chapter 19
Article 1904 of the NAFTA provides that a party involved in an AD/
CVD
[[Page 59016]]
proceeding may obtain review by a binational panel of a final AD/CVD
determination of one NAFTA Party with respect to the products of
another NAFTA Party. Binational panels decide whether such AD/CVD
determinations are in accordance with the domestic laws of the
importing NAFTA Party, and must use the standard of review that would
have been applied by a domestic court of the importing NAFTA Party. A
panel may uphold the AD/CVD determination, or may remand it to the
national administering authority for action not inconsistent with the
panel's decision. Panel decisions may be reviewed in specific
circumstances by a three-member extraordinary challenge committee,
selected from a separate roster composed of fifteen current or former
judges.
Article 1903 of the NAFTA provides that a NAFTA Party may refer an
amendment to the AD/CVD statutes of another NAFTA Party to a binational
panel for a declaratory opinion as to whether the amendment is
inconsistent with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT),
the GATT Antidumping or Subsidies Codes, successor agreements, or the
object and purpose of the NAFTA with regard to the establishment of
fair and predictable conditions for the liberalization of trade. If the
panel finds that the amendment is inconsistent, the two NAFTA Parties
shall consult and seek to achieve a mutually satisfactory solution.
Chapter 19 Roster and Composition of Binational Panels
Annex 1901.2 of the NAFTA provides for the maintenance of a roster
of at least 75 individuals for service on Chapter 19 binational panels,
with each NAFTA Party selecting at least 25 individuals. A separate
five-person panel is formed for each review of a final AD/CVD
determination or statutory amendment. To form a panel, the two NAFTA
Parties involved each appoints two panelists, normally by drawing upon
individuals from the roster. If the Parties cannot agree upon the fifth
panelist, one of the Parties, decided by lot, selects the fifth
panelist from the roster. The majority of individuals on each panel
must consist of lawyers in good standing, and the chair of the panel
must be a lawyer.
Upon each request for establishment of a panel, roster members from
the two involved NAFTA Parties will be requested to complete a
disclosure form, which will be used to identify possible conflicts of
interest or appearances thereof. The disclosure form requests
information regarding financial interests and affiliations, including
information regarding the identity of clients of the roster member and,
if applicable, clients of the roster member's firm.
Criteria for Eligibility for Inclusion on Chapter 19 Roster
Section 402 of the NAFTA Implementation Act (Pub. L. 103-182, as
amended (19 U.S.C. 3432)) (``Section 402'') provides that selections by
the United States of individuals for inclusion on the Chapter 19 roster
are to be based on the eligibility criteria set out in Annex 1901.2 of
the NAFTA, and without regard to political affiliation. Annex 1901.2
provides that Chapter 19 roster members must be citizens of a NAFTA
Party, must be of good character and of high standing and repute, and
are to be chosen strictly on the basis of their objectivity,
reliability, sound judgment and general familiarity with international
trade law. Aside from judges, roster members may not be affiliated with
any of the three NAFTA Parties. Section 402 also provides that, to the
fullest extent practicable, judges and former judges who meet the
eligibility requirements should be selected.
Procedures for Selection of Chapter 19 Roster Members
Section 402 establishes procedures for the selection by the United
States Trade Representative of the individuals chosen by the United
States for inclusion on the Chapter 19 roster. The roster is renewed
annually, and applies during the one-year period beginning April 1 of
each calendar year.
Under section 402, an interagency committee chaired by the United
States Trade Representative prepares a preliminary list of candidates
eligible for inclusion on the Chapter 19 Roster. After consultation
with the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Ways
and Means, the United States Trade Representative selects the final
list of individuals chosen by the United States for inclusion on the
Chapter 19 roster.
Remuneration
Roster members selected for service on a Chapter 19 binational
panel will be remunerated at the rate of 400 Canadian dollars per day.
Applications
Eligible individuals who wish to be included on the Chapter 19
roster for the period April 1, 1998 through March 31, 1999 are invited
to submit applications. Applicants should submit an original
application and 1 copy. Applications must be typewritten, and should be
headed ``Application for Inclusion on NAFTA Chapter 19 Roster.''
Applications should include the following information, and each section
of the application should be numbered as indicated:
1. Name of the applicant.
2. Business address, telephone and fax number.
3. Citizenship(s).
4. Current employment, including title, description of
responsibility, and name and address of employer.
5. Relevant education and professional training
6. Spanish language fluency, written and spoken.
7. Post-education employment history, including the dates and
address of each prior position and a summary of responsibilities.
8. Relevant professional affiliations and certifications,
including, if any, current bar memberships in good standing.
9. A list and copies of publications, testimony and speeches, if
any, concerning AD/CVD law. Judges or former judges should list
relevant judicial decisions. Only one copy of publications, testimony,
speeches and decisions need be submitted.
10. Summary of any current and past employment by, or consulting or
other work for, the United States, Canadian or Mexican Governments.
11. The names and nationalities of all foreign principals for whom
the applicant is currently or has previously been registered pursuant
to the Foreign Agents Registration Act, 22 U.S.C. 611 et seq., and the
dates of all registration periods.
12. List of proceedings brought under U.S., Canadian or Mexican AD/
CVD law regarding imports of U.S., Canadian or Mexican products in
which applicant advised or represented (for example, as consultant or
attorney) any U.S., Canadian or Mexican party to such proceeding and,
for each such proceeding listed, the name and country of incorporation
of such party.
13. A short statement of qualifications and availability for
service on Chapter 19 panels, including information relevant to the
applicant's familiarity with international trade law and willingness
and ability to make time commitments necessary for service on panels.
14. On a separate page, the names, addresses, telephone and fax
number of three individuals willing to provide information concerning
the applicant's qualifications for service, including the applicant's
familiarity with international trade laws, character, reputation,
reliability, and judgment.
[[Page 59017]]
Current Roster Members and Prior Applicants
Current members of the Chapter 19 roster who remain interested in
inclusion on the Chapter 19 roster are requested to submit updated
applications. Individuals who have previously applied but have not been
selected may reapply. If an applicant, including a current or former
roster member, has previously submitted materials referred to in item
9, such materials need not be resubmitted.
Public Disclosure
Applications normally will be subject to public disclosure. An
applicant who wishes to exempt information from public disclosure
should follow the procedures set forth in 15 CFR 2003.6.
False Statements
Pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the NAFTA Implementation Act,
false statements by applicants regarding their personal or professional
qualifications, or financial or other relevant interests, which bear on
the applicants' suitability for placement on the Chapter 19 roster or
for appointment to binational panels are subject to criminal sanctions
under 18 U.S.C. 1001.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This notice contains a collection of information provision subject
to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) which has been approved by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, no person is required to respond to nor shall a
person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection
of information subject to the requirements of the PRA unless that
collection of information displays a currently valid OMB number. This
notice's collection of information burden is only for those persons who
wish to voluntarily apply for nomination to the NAFTA Chapter 19
roster. It is expected that the collection of information burden will
be under 3 hours. This collection of information contains no annual
reporting or record keeping burden. This collection of information was
approved by OMB under OMB Control Number 0350-0007. Please send
comments regarding the collection of information burden or any other
aspect of the information collection to USTR at the address above.
Privacy Act
The following statements are made in accordance with the Privacy
Act of 1974, as amended (5 U.S.C. 552a). The authority for requesting
information to be furnished is section 402 of the NAFTA Implementation
Act. Provision of the information requested above is voluntary;
however, failure to provide the information will preclude your
consideration as a candidate for the NAFTA Chapter 19 roster. The
information provided is needed, and will be used by USTR, other Federal
Government trade policy officials concerned with NAFTA dispute
settlement, and officials of the other NAFTA Parties to select well-
qualified individuals for inclusion on the Chapter 19 roster and for
service on Chapter 19 binational panels.
Susan G. Esserman,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 97-28933 Filed 10-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-P