[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 44 (Monday, March 6, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11831-11833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5361]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY


Treasury Advisory Committee on International Child Labor 
Enforcement

AGENCY: Department Offices, Treasury.

ACTION: Renewal of the Treasury Advisory Committee on International 
Child Labor Enforcement (``the Committee'') and solicitation of 
applications for membership.

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SUMMARY: The Treasury Department has determined that it is in the 
public interest to renew the Advisory Committee on International Child 
Labor Enforcement. The Department proposes to file a charter for an 
additional two-

[[Page 11832]]

year term for the Advisory Committee by the expiration date of the 
current charter (June 22, 2000.) This notice establishes criteria and 
procedures for the selection of members for the next two-year term.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis M. O'Connell, Director, Office 
of Tariff and Trade Affairs ((202) 622-0220), or Mary Dinh, Research 
Assistant, Office of Tariff and Trade Affairs ((202) 622-9062), Office 
of the Under Secretary (Enforcement). Pursuant to the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. I (1962), the Under Secretary 
(Enforcement) renews the following advisory committee.
    Title: The Treasury Advisory Committee on International Child Labor 
Enforcement.
    Purpose: The purpose of the Committee is to present advice and 
recommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury regarding the 
enforcement of restrictions on the importation of merchandise 
manufactured in foreign countries using forced or indentured child 
labor.
    Statement of Public Interest: It is in the public to renew, under 
the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Advisory 
Committee on International Child Labor Enforcement for an additional 
two-year term. The Committee provides a critical forum for 
distinguished representatives of non-governmental organizations, 
private businesses, trade associations, academia, and the public to 
present their views on enforcement of the import restrictions on 
merchandise manufactured overseas with forced or indentured child 
labor. These views are offered directly to senior Treasury and Customs 
officials on a regular basis in a candid atmosphere. There exists no 
other single body that could serve a comparable function.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1307) prohibits 
the importation of ``goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, 
produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in any foreign country by 
convict labor or/and forced labor or/and indentured labor under penal 
sanctions * * *.'' The prohibition is enforced by the United States 
Customs Service in accordance with the Customs Regulations, 19 CFR 
12.42-12.48. A general provision in the Fiscal Year 1998 Treasury 
Appropriations Act made explicit that merchandise manufactured with 
``forced or indentured child labor'' falls within the prohibition of 
Section 307, and also mandated that Customs not use any of the 
appropriation to permit the importation into the United States of such 
merchandise. The provision has been renewed annually.
    In the last three State of the Union addresses, President Clinton 
pledged to fight abusive child labor. The Advisory Committee 
constitutes a partnership between Executive agencies, labor and human 
rights advocacy groups, industry representatives, and the public to 
promote effective enforcement of the law and to further the President's 
commitment to combat abusive child labor.

Objective, Scope and Description of the Committee

    The Committee advises the U.S. Treasury Department, the U.S. 
Customs Service, and other Executive agencies, on measures to enhance 
the effectiveness of enforcement of the import prohibition on 
merchandise manufactured in foreign countries with forced or indentured 
child labor. Among other matters, the Committee assists in identifying 
specific information resources regarding, and avenues of productive 
inquiry into, prohibited child labor operations overseas. A major 
objective of the Committee is to share the expertise of private sector, 
specialists regarding methods of operation employed, and international 
trade channels used, by manufacturers and distributors of merchandise 
produced with forced or indentured child labor. The ultimate purpose of 
this combined effort is to support a vigorous laws enforcement 
initiative to stop illegal shipments of products of forced or 
indentured child labor and to punish violators.
    Among other things, the Committee makes recommendations in the 
following areas. The Committee may consider additional governmental and 
non-governmental measures to prevent child labor imports. The Committee 
may recommend measures and furnish information that will assist the 
Executive agencies in establishing a vigorous outreach and educational 
program calling upon industries and individuals in the private sector 
to promote voluntary compliance with the child labor prohibition. 
During its first term, the Committee established a Subcommittee on 
Business Outreach for this purpose. The Committee may explore avenues 
for encouraging the cooperation of both foreign governments and foreign 
non-governmental organizations in nations where child labor is widely 
perceived to be a serious problem in order to enlarge the reach and 
effectiveness of U.S. enforcement efforts and resources.
    Private sector members will be selected by the Secretary of the 
Treasury from persons with expertise in the subject of the use of child 
labor in foreign countries, particularly in the production of 
merchandise for international trade and/or who have commercial 
interests that may be affected by governmental enforcement measures. 
Members will be drawn from such organizations as labor rights, human 
rights, and child welfare groups; labor unions; affected private firms 
and trade associations; academic experts and others who possess 
relevant expertise and/or who represent affected constituencies. 
Appointments will be made with the objective of creating a diverse and 
balanced body with a variety of interests, backgrounds, and viewpoints 
represented. In general, there will be at least twelves private sector 
members and not more than twenty. The Committee has seventeen private 
sector members during its first term. Members currently serving on the 
Committee are eligible to apply for appointment. The Committee also 
will continue to include ex officio members from relevant government 
agencies and entities.
    The Committee will be chaired by the Assistant Secretary of the 
Treasury for Enforcement who may designate another official to serve in 
his or her absence as Acting Chairperson for purposes of presiding over 
a meeting of the Committee or performing any other duty of the 
Chairperson. The Committee will function for a two-year period before 
renewal or termination. It will meet periodically, but generally not 
more than four times per year, at the Treasury Department in 
Washington. The Committee may elect to hold a meeting(s) at another 
location if there is a consensus that this would further the objectives 
of the Committee.
    The meetings are open to public observers, including the press, 
unless special procedures have been followed to close a meeting. 
However, participation in the meetings is limited to members unless the 
Committee elects to hold a hearing or to hear presentations from 
nonmembers.
    No person who is required to register under the Foreign Agents 
Registration Act as an agent or representative of a foreign principal 
may serve on an advisory committee. Members shall not be paid 
compensation nor shall they be considered Federal Government employees 
for any purpose. No per diem, transportation, or other expenses are 
reimbursed for the cost of attending Committee meetings at any 
location.

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    Membership on the Committee is personal to the appointee. Regular 
attendance is essential to the effective operation of the Committee. 
However, in the event of an unavoidable absence, a member may designate 
an alternate to represent him or her at a meeting.

Application for Advisory Committee Appointment

    Any interested person wishing to serve on the Treasury Advisory 
Committee on International Child Labor Enforcement must provide the 
following:

--Statement of interest and reasons for application;
--Complete professional biography or resume.

    In addition, applicants must state in their applications that they 
agree to submit to pre-appointment security and tax checks. There is no 
prescribed format for the application. Applicants may send a cover 
letter describing their interest and qualifications and enclosed a 
resume.
    The application period for interested candidates will extend to 
April 7, 2000. Applications should be submitted in sufficient time to 
be received by the close of business on the closing date and be 
addressed to Dennis M. O'Connell, Director, Office of Tariff and Trade 
Affairs, Office of the Under Secretary (Enforcement), Room 4004, 
Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, 
DC 20220, Attention: CHILD 2000.

    Dated: February 29, 2000.
John P. Simpson,
Deputy Assistant Secretary (Regional, Tariff and Trade Enforcement).
[FR Doc. 00-5361 Filed 3-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-25-M