[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 167 (Monday, August 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47170-47171]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-22424]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Newly Established Industry Functional Advisory Committee; Request 
for Nominations

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Trade Development.

ACTION: Notice of Establishment of Industry Functional Advisory 
Committee on Electronic Commerce for Trade Policy Matters; Request for 
Nominations.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade 
Representative have jointly established an Industry Functional Advisory 
Committee on Electronic Commerce for Trade Policy Matters pursuant to 
section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974, and seek nominations for 
appointment to the Committee. Nominees must be U.S. citizens, 
representing U.S. manufacturing and service firms that trade 
internationally or provide services in direct support of the 
international trading activities of other entities. Priority will be 
given to a balanced representation in terms of point of view 
represented by various sectors, product lines, firm sizes and 
geographic areas.
    More detailed information is provided below and is also available 
on the International Trade Administration website at www.ita.doc.gov/
icp. Inquiries may be directed to Tamara Underwood, Director, Industry 
Consultations Program, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue NW, Room 2015-B, Washington, DC 20230, phone 202/
482-3268.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 135 of the Trade Act of 
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2155) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App), the Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary) and the United States 
Trade Representative (USTR) established the Industry Functional 
Advisory Committee on Electronic Commerce for Trade Policy Matters (the 
Committee) on August 17, 1999.
    Electronic Commerce is a driving force in U.S. economic growth and 
international trade. A primary thrust of U.S. policy on electronic 
commerce will be to avoid government actions that might impede its 
growth and development. The Department and the USTR must have regular 
advice from the U.S. private sector to effectively address these issues 
and identify new and emerging concerns. The Committee will advise the 
Secretary and the USTR on electronic commerce issues that could 
threaten or restrict trade, which encompass issues such as privacy, 
taxation, standards, consumer protection, authentication, and content, 
among others. The Committee's advice

[[Page 47171]]

will be used to develop USG positions and priorities on electronic 
commerce for international discussions in bilateral, regional and 
multilateral discussions, including the WTO, OECD, FTAA, TEP and 
others.

Background

    In section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 
2155), Congress established a private-sector advisory system to ensure 
that U.S. trade policy and trade negotiation objectives adequately 
reflect U.S. commercial and economic interests.
    Section 135 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 [title I of the 1974 Trade Act and section 
1102 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988];
    (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. * * *''
    The Secretary and the USTR have established seventeen Industry 
Sector Advisory Committees for Trade Policy Matters (ISACs) and four 
Industry Functional Advisory Committees for Trade Policy Matters 
(IFACs) pursuant to section 135. A complete list of these committees 
appears below:

Industry Sector Advisory Committees for Trade Policy Matters (ISAC) on:
    Aerospace Equipment (ISAC 1);
    Capital Goods (ISAC 2);
    Chemicals and Allied Products
    (ISAC 3);
    Consumer Goods (ISAC 4);
    Electronics and Instrumentation (ISAC 5);
    Energy (ISAC 6);
    Ferrous Ores and Metals (ISAC 7);
    Footwear, Leather, and Leather Products (ISAC 8);
    Building Products and Other Materials (ISAC 9);
    Lumber and Wood Products
    (ISAC 10);
    Nonferrous Ores and Metals
    (ISAC 11);
    Paper and Paper Products (ISAC 12);
    Services (ISAC 13);
    Small and Minority Business
    (ISAC 14);
    Textiles and Apparel (ISAC 15);
    Transportation, Construction, Mining, and Agricultural Equipment
    (ISAC 16);
    Wholesaling and Retailing (ISAC 17); and
Industry Functional Advisory Committees on Trade Policy Matters (IFAC) 
on:
    Customs (IFAC 1);
    Standards (IFAC 2);
    Intellectual Property Rights (IFAC 3).
    Electronic Commerce (IFAC 4).

Functions

    The duties of the ISACs and IFACs are to provide the Secretary and 
the USTR with advice on objectives and bargaining positions for 
multilateral trade negotiations, bilateral trade negotiations, and 
other trade-related matters. The committees provide nonpartisan 
industry input in the development of trade policy objectives. The 
committees' efforts result in strengthening the U.S. negotiating 
position by enabling the United States to display a united front when 
it negotiates trade agreements with other nations.
    The ISACs provide advice and information on issues that affect 
specific sectors of U.S. industry. The IFACs focus on cross-cutting 
issues that affect all industry sectors, such as customs matters, 
product standards, intellectual property rights and electronic 
commerce. Each ISAC may also select a member to serve on each IFAC so 
that a broad range of industry perspectives is represented.
    Committees meet an average of four times a year in Washington, DC. 
Members are responsible for all travel expenses incurred to attend the 
meetings.

Membership

    ISAC and IFAC members are appointed jointly by the Secretary of 
Commerce and the USTR. Appointments are made at the initial chartering 
of the Committee, at the rechartering of each committee and 
periodically throughout the two-year charter period. Members serve at 
the discretion of the Secretary and USTR. Appointments to an ISAC/IFAC 
expire at the end of the committee's charter. However, members may be 
reappointed for one or more additional terms should the committee's 
charter be renewed and if the member proves to work effectively with 
the committee and his/her expertise is still needed.
    The IFAC on Electronic Commerce is chartered for 40 members total, 
23 directly appointed members and 17 elected members to represent each 
of the ISACs. The committee's charter expires March 19, 2000.

Qualifications

    The Secretary and USTR invite nominations to the Committee of U.S. 
citizens who will represent U.S. manufacturing or service companies 
that trade internationally, or trade associations whose members are 
U.S. companies that trade internationally. Companies must be at least 
51 percent beneficially-owned by U.S. persons. U.S.-based subsidiaries 
of foreign companies in general do not qualify for representation on 
the committees.
    Nominees will be considered based upon their ability to carry out 
the goals of section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. 
Secondary criteria are ensuring that the committee is balanced in terms 
of points of view, demographics, geography and company size. By law, 
appointments are made without regard to political affiliation.

Application Procedures

    Requests for applications should be sent to the Director of the 
Industry Consultations Program, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 2015-B, Washington, DC 20230.
    This notice is issued under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App) and 21 CFR part 14 relating to advisory committees.

    Dated: July 30, 1999.
Michael J. Copps,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Trade Development.
[FR Doc. 99-22424 Filed 8-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-25-P