[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32928-32929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15558]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Foreign Agricultural Service

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade and the 
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade; 2-week extension 
of nomination deadline

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture and the United States Trade 
Representative are extending the nomination deadline by 2 weeks for the 
Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade (APAC) and the 
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade (ATACs). The 
extension is to ensure that every effort has been made to solicit the 
broadest possible representation on the APAC and the 5 ATAC Committees.

DATES: Written nominations must be received by the Foreign Agricultural 
Service before close of business June 29, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send all nominating materials to Ms. Sharon McClure, Foreign 
Agricultural Service, USDA, Room 5065-S, STOP 1001, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1001. The information may also be 
submitted by fax to (202) 720-8097.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons interested in serving on the 
APAC or an ATAC, must submit: (1) Completed Form AD-755, (2) completed 
Form AD-1086, (3) resume, and (4) specify the committee. The 
information should be submitted by mail (Ms. Sharon McClure, Foreign 
Agricultural Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 5065-S, 
Stop 1001, Washington, DC 20250-1001, or fax (202-710-8097). These 
forms are also available on the Internet at the FAS homepage. For Form 
AD-755, go to http://www.fas.usda.gov/ad 755.pdf. For Form AD-1086, go 
to http://www.fas.usda.gov/admin/ad 1086. For questions or further 
information, contact Sharon McClure at 202-720-6829 or electronically 
([email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee 
for Trade (APAC) and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for 
Trade (ATACs) are authorized by sections 135(c)(1) and (2) of the Trade 
Act of 1974, as amended (Pub. L. No. 93-618, 19 U.S.C. 2155). The 
purpose of the committees is to provide advice to the Secretary and the 
U.S. Trade Representative concerning agricultural trade policy and are 
intended to ensure that representative elements of the private sector 
have an opportunity to make known their views to the U.S. Government.
    In 1974, Congress established a private sector advisory committee 
system to ensure that U.S. trade policy and negotiation objectives 
adequately reflect U.S. commercial and economic interests. The private 
sector advisory system now consists of almost 40 committees, arranged 
in three tiers:
     The President's Advisory Committee on Trade and Policy 
Negotiations (ACTPN);
     Seven advisory committees, including the APAC, and;
     Over 30 technical advisory committees, including the 
ATACs.
    The renewal of such committees is in the public interest in 
connection with the duties of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
imposed by the Trade Act of 1974, as amended.
    General Committee Information: All APAC and ATAC committee members 
are appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade 
Representative (USTR), and serve at the discretion of the Secretary and 
the USTR. To serve and attend committee meetings, members must be U.S. 
citizens, and have successfully completed a confidential security 
clearance. Committee members serve without compensation; they are not 
reimbursed for their travel expense.
    Committee meetings will be open to the public, unless the U.S. 
Trade Representative determines that the committees will be discussing 
issues the

[[Page 32929]]

disclosure of which justify closing a meeting or portions of the 
meeting, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552b(c).
    All committee appointments expire on May 1, 2003; but the Secretary 
and USTR may renew an appointment for one or more additional terms.
    Each committee has a chairperson, who is elected from the 
membership of that committee. In addition to their individual 
responsibilities, all committees are required to meet at the conclusion 
of negotiations for each trade agreement, and to provide a report on 
each agreement to the President, Congress, and to the U.S. Trade 
Representative. [All meetings will be held in Washington, D.C.]
    Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade (APAC): The APAC 
has approximately 50 members, and is composed of a broad spectrum of 
agricultural interests. It provides advice concerning:
     Negotiating objectives and bargaining positions before the 
United States enters into a trade agreement;
     The operation of various U.S. trade agreements; and
     Other matters arising from the administration of U.S. 
trade policy.
    Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade (ATACs): The 
ATACs provide advice and information regarding trade issues which 
affect both domestic and foreign production in their commodities, 
drawing upon the technical competence and experience of its members. 
There are five ATACs, one for each of the following sectors:
     Grains, Feed, and Oilseeds;
     Animals and Animal Products;
     Fruits and Vegetables;
     Sweeteners and Sweetener Products; and
     Tobacco, Cotton, and Peanuts.
    Each ATAC has approximately 25 members, for a total of 
approximately 125 members.
    Nominations and Selection of Members: Nominations are open to all 
individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national 
origin, age, mental or physical handicap, marital status or sexual 
orientation. To ensure that the recommendations of the committees take 
into account the needs of the diverse groups served by the Department, 
membership shall include, to the extent practicable, individuals with 
demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with 
disabilities.
    Members are selected primarily for their expertise and knowledge of 
agriculture trade as it relates to policy and commodity specific 
products. No person, company, producer, farm organization, trade 
association, or other entity has a right to representation on a 
committee. All members serve at the discretion of the Secretary of 
Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative. In making selections, 
every effort will be made to maintain balanced representation on the 
committees: representation from producers, farm and commodity 
organizations, processors, traders, consumers, as well as geographical 
balance.

    Issued at Washington, D.C. this 15th day of June, 2001.
John Surina,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-15558 Filed 6-18-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P