[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 55 (Monday, March 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13347-13349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6267]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Opportunity To Apply for Membership on the 2004 U.S.-Japan 
Private Sector/Government Commission

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).

ACTION: Notice of membership opportunity.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Government is seeking letters of interest for private 
sector membership on the U.S. side of the U.S.-Japan Private Sector/
Government Commission (Commission) for 2004. President Bush and 
Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi launched the Commission in June 2001 as 
part of the U.S.-Japan Economic Partnership for Growth (Partnership). 
It is expected the 2004 Commission meeting will be held in mid-2004 on 
the topic of ``Advancing U.S.-Japan Economic Cooperation.''

DATES: In order to receive full consideration, letters of interest must 
be received by the U.S. Government Secretariat no later than April 27, 
2004.

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ADDRESSES: Please send requests for consideration by facsimile or 
express mail to only the U.S. Government Secretariat for the U.S.-Japan 
Private Sector/Government Commission in care of Karin Ryerson, Office 
of Japan, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 2320, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230, facsimile (202) 482-
0469. Requests sent by e-mail will not be considered. Candidates chosen 
for membership will be notified in writing.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    The U.S. Government seeks letters of interest for private sector 
membership on the U.S. side of the 2004 U.S.-Japan Private Sector/
Government Commission. President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister 
Koizumi launched the Commission in June 2001 as part of the 
Partnership. The Commission is made up of U.S. and Japanese Government 
and private sector representatives. It aims to integrate the U.S. and 
Japanese private sectors more fully into the economic work of the two 
Governments. The Commission enables U.S. and Japanese private sector 
representatives to present input--including expertise, observations, 
and recommendations--on an agenda topic agreed to in advance by the two 
Governments. For a description of the goals and structure of the 
Commission and the Partnership, see the Annex to the Joint Statement by 
President Bush and Prime Minister Koizumi on June 30, 2001, on the 
Department of Commerce Web site at: http://www.mac.doc.gov/japan/source/menu/partnership/partnership2.html.

Topic

    The Commission topic is selected annually. This year's topic is 
``Advancing U.S.-Japan Economic Cooperation.'' It focuses on how the 
United States and Japan can most effectively work together to meet the 
emerging challenges facing the global economy. Discussions would center 
on greater cooperation in key areas that would include: Developing 
methods to ensure that goods and services can flow across borders as 
smoothly and securely as possible; fostering economic growth through 
new technologies; identifying structural and regulatory reforms that 
would expand business opportunities, increase market access, and 
promote a more entrepreneurial business climate; and achieving stronger 
intellectual property protection.

Duties and Responsibilities of Private Sector Members

    Private sector individuals chosen for the Commission will be 
expected to be fully involved in all necessary preparatory meetings and 
attend the Commission's annual 2004 meeting. That meeting is expected 
to be held in mid-2004 in conjunction with a Subcabinet meeting of U.S. 
and Japanese Government officials at the Deputy/Vice-Ministerial level 
from key economic agencies and ministries and other agencies and 
ministries appropriate to the Commission's topic. The number of private 
sector Commission members will be limited and will be determined in 
coordination with the Japanese Government. Members of the private 
sector delegation from the United States will serve for one term. 
Members who wish to serve additional terms must apply under the same 
rules as other future prospective members.
    Private sector members are fully responsible for travel, lodging 
and personal expenses associated with their participation in the 
Commission. They will receive no compensation. The private sector 
members will serve in a representative capacity, presenting the views 
and interests of the particular business sector in which they operate; 
private sector members are not special government employees. Candidates 
will be vetted for pending business before USTR and the Department of 
Commerce. Members from the private sector will be chosen based on 
criteria set forth in this Notice. Substitutions will not be permitted 
if a successful candidate is unable to fulfill his or her Commission 
duties.

Candidate Eligibility and Selection Procedures

    The process for recruiting and selecting Commission members from 
the U.S. private sector is based on objective, written criteria 
developed in accordance with the Annex to the Joint Statement by 
President Bush and Prime Minister Koizumi. To be eligible for 
consideration, each candidate must be a U.S. citizen, be employed by a 
U.S. company,\1\ and not be a registered foreign agent under the 
Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938.
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    \1\ A U.S. company is defined in the Procedures and Rules for 
Industry Sector Advisory Committees as a firm incorporated in the 
United States (or an unincorporated U.S. firm with its principal 
places of business in the United States) that is controlled by U.S. 
citizens or by another U.S. entity. An entity is not a U.S. company 
if 50 percent plus one share of its stock (if a corporation, or a 
similar ownership interest of an unincorporated entity) is 
controlled, directly or indirectly, by non-U.S. citizens or non-U.S. 
entities. If the candidate is to represent an entity or corporation 
with 10 percent or greater non-U.S. ownership, the candidate must 
demonstrate at the time of selection that this ownership interest 
does not constitute control and will not adversely affect his or her 
ability to serve on the Commission.
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    All requests for consideration will be reviewed by the U.S. 
Government Secretariat (Secretariat) for the Commission, which is 
composed of officials from USTR and the Department of Commerce. Members 
of the Secretariat will evaluate each submission based on the 
evaluation criteria provided below and recommend a roster of candidates 
to the Assistant USTR for North Asian Affairs and the Department of 
Commerce's Assistant Secretary for Market Access and Compliance 
(Selecting Officials). These Selecting Officials will review the 
Secretariat's recommendations and make the final determination on which 
candidates will be selected for the 2004 Commission.

Submission Procedures and Evaluation Criteria

    To be considered for Commission membership, prospective candidates 
must submit a personal resume and a letter of interest on company 
letterhead that provides the information and responds directly to the 
criteria outlined below. Please limit submissions to these materials, 
which must be submitted by individual candidates and not by proxy. 
Referrals from political organizations and any references to political 
contributions or other partisan political activities will not be 
considered in the selection process. The following criteria will be 
considered:

 Stated reasons the candidate wishes to be considered 
for the Commission;
 Experience in executive-level positions, such as CEO 
of U.S. companies;
 Experience doing business with or in Japan;
 Expertise in the topic to be considered by the 2004 
Commission;
 Commitment to undertake any necessary preparatory 
work and to participate in any preparatory meetings and the annual 
Commission meeting;
 Commitment to assume the costs of travel, lodging 
and other personal expenses related to Commission participation;
 Contributions to Commission membership diversity 
based on company size, type, and location; and
 Other considerations relevant to the Commission as 
described in the Annex to the Joint Statement by President Bush and 
Prime Minister Koizumi.


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    Other required information that must be included in the application 
materials by candidates are:

 Name and title of the individual requesting 
consideration;
 Name and address of the company where the candidate 
is employed;
 The particular business sector the candidate would 
represent;
 Company's product or service line;
 Company size (market capitalization, annual 
revenues, number of employees); and
 Company's experience in Japan (exports, sales, 
employees, years in Japan).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karin Ryerson, Office of Japan, 
Department of Commerce, Room 2320, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, 
NW., Washington, DC 20230, facsimile (202) 482-0469; or John Neuffer, 
Office of North Asian Affairs, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, 
600 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508, facsimile (202) 395-3597.

    Dated: March 16, 2004.
Wendy Cutler,
Assistant United States Trade Representative for North Asian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 04-6267 Filed 3-19-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W3-P