[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 20, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12969-12970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6660]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Industry Sector and Functional Advisory Committees for Trade 
Policy Matters (ISACs and IFACs); Request for Nominations

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Trade Development.

ACTION: Notice of charter renewal and opportunity to nominate 
candidates for vacancies on the ISACs and IFACs.

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SUMMARY: On March 18, 2002, the Secretary of Commerce and the United 
States Trade Representative (USTR) renewed the charters of the 17 
Industry Sector and four Industry Functional Advisory Committees on 
Trade Policy Matters for a two-year term to expire March 18, 2004. The 
Industry Sector and Functional Advisory Committees (ISACs and IFACs) 
advise the United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of 
Commerce on trade matters. There are currently opportunities for 
membership on each of these Committees, including opportunities to 
serve as environmental representative on three of the Committees: ISAC 
3 (Chemicals and Allied Products), ISAC 10 (Lumber and Wood Products), 
and ISAC 12 (Paper and Paper Products). Nominations will be accepted 
for current vacancies and those that occur throughout the remainder of 
the charter term, which expires on March 18, 2004. In order to be 
considered for appointment to the ISACs and IFACs, a nominee must be a 
U.S. citizen who is not a full-time employee of a governmental entity, 
is not registered with the Department of Justice under the Foreign 
Agents Registration Act, and represents a U.S. entity that trades 
internationally or an association of such entities (an environmental 
nominee must represent a U.S. entity with an interest in environmental 
issues relevant to the work of these Committees). Priority will be 
given to manufacturing establishments and firms that are outside of the 
Washington, DC area. U.S.-based subsidiaries of foreign companies, non-
government organizations (except environmental organizations applying 
to ISAC 3, ISAC 10, and ISAC 12), and academic institutions do not 
qualify for representation on a Committee.
    Recruitment: Vacancies may occur throughout the charter period and 
new appointments are made on a rolling basis. Recruitment information 
is available on the International Trade Administration website at: 
www.ita.doc.gov/icp. Further inquiries may be directed to Ingrid V. 
Mitchem, Director, Industries Consultations Program, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Room 2015-B, Washington, 
DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. appendix 2), the Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary) 
and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) have renewed the 
charters of seventeen ISACs and four IFACs. The Secretary and USTR 
welcome nominations for the Industry Sector Advisory Committees for 
Trade Policy Matters (ISACs) and the Industry Functional Advisory 
Committees for Trade Policy Matters (IFACs) listed 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, Agricultural Equipment (ISAC 16);
Wholesaling and Retailing (ISAC 17); and

     Industry Functional Advisory Committees on Trade Policy 
Matters on:

Customs (IFAC 1);
Standards (IFAC 2);
Intellectual Property Rights (IFAC 3); and
Electronic Commerce (IFAC 4).

[[Page 12970]]

Background

    In section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974 (1974 Trade Act, 19 U.S.C. 
2155), as amended, 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(a)(1) 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 Trade Act of 
1974 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 * * *

    Section 135(c)(2) of the 1974 Trade Act provides that--

    (2) The President shall establish such sectoral or functional 
advisory committees as may be appropriate. Such committees shall, 
insofar as is practicable, be representative of all industry, labor, 
agricultural, or service interests (including small business 
interests) in the sector or functional areas concerned. In 
organizing such committees, the United States Trade Representative 
and the Secretaries of Commerce, Labor, Agriculture, the Treasury, 
or other executive departments, as appropriate, shall--
    (A) Consult with interested private organizations; and
    (B) Take into account such factors as--
    (i) patterns of actual and potential competition between United 
States industry and agriculture and foreign enterprise in 
international trade,
    (ii) the character of the non-tariff barriers and other 
distortions affecting such competition,
    (iii) the necessity for reasonable limits on the number of such 
advisory committees,
    (iv) the necessity that each committee be reasonably limited in 
size, and
    (v) in the case of each sectoral committee, that the product 
lines covered by each committee be reasonably related.

    Pursuant to this provision, Commerce and USTR have established and 
co-chair seventeen Industry Sector Advisory Committees (ISACs) and four 
Industry Functional Advisory Committees (IFACs). The Committees' 
efforts have resulted in strengthening U.S. negotiating positions by 
enabling the United States to display a united front when it negotiates 
trade agreements with other nations. Committees meet an average of four 
times a year in Washington, DC. Members serve without compensation and 
are responsible for all expenses incurred in attending Committee 
meetings.
    The Secretary of Commerce and the USTR co-chair the seventeen ISACs 
and IFACs.

Functions

    The duties of the ISACs and IFACs are to provide the President with 
advice on objectives and bargaining positions for multilateral trade 
negotiations, bilateral trade negotiations, and other trade-related 
matters. The Committees provide bipartisan, 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 ISACs address market-access 
problems; barriers to trade; tariff levels; discriminatory foreign 
procurement practices; information, marketing, and advocacy needs of 
their sector; and other important trade issues.
    The IFACs focus on cross-cutting issues that affect all industry 
sectors, such as customs matters, product standards, and intellectual 
property rights. Other functional issues, such as government 
procurement and subsidies, are handled in ad hoc meetings. 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 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 or IFAC expire at the end of the Committee's charter. 
However, members may be re-appointed, should the Committee's charter be 
renewed, if the member proves to work effectively with the committee 
and his/her participation is still needed.
    Each Committee is made up of approximately 30-50 members, based on 
the charter of each Committee. Each Committee elects a chairperson from 
the membership of the Committee.

Eligibility

    Eligibility for membership on any Committee is limited to U.S. 
citizens who are not full-time employees of a governmental entity, are 
not registered with the Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents 
Registration Act, and represent a U.S. entity that (a) is directly 
engaged in the import or export of goods or that sells its services 
abroad, (b) is an association of such entities, or (c) with respect to 
environmental representatives serving on ISACs 3, 10 or 12, has an 
interest in environmental issues relevant to the work of the Committee. 
For purposes of the preceding sentence, a ``U. S. entity'' is an 
organization incorporated in the United States (or if unincorporated, 
having its headquarters in the United States:
    (1) That is controlled by U.S. citizens or by another U.S. entity. 
An entity is not a U.S. entity if more than 50 percent of its Board of 
Directors or membership is made up of non-U.S. citizens. If the nominee 
is to represent an organization more than 10 percent of whose Board of 
Directors or membership is made up of non-U.S. citizens, or non-U.S. 
entities, the nominee must demonstrate at the time of nomination that 
this non-U.S. interest does not constitute control and will not 
adversely affect his or her ability to serve as a trade advisor to the 
United States; and
    (2) At least 50 percent of whose annual revenue is attributable to 
non-governmental, U.S. sources.
    Nominees are 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 Committees are balanced in terms of 
points of view, demographics, geography, and company size. Appointments 
to all ISACs and IFACs 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. 2) and 21 CFR part 14 relating to advisory committees.

    Dated: March 13, 2002.
Linda M. Conlin,
Assistant Secretary for Trade Development.
[FR Doc. 02-6660 Filed 3-19-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P