[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 20, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13078-13079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1339]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 53 / Tuesday, March 20, 2007 / 
Notices  

[[Page 13078]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade and the 
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade; Reestablishment 
and Nominations

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is 
hereby given that the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary), in 
coordination with the United States Trade Representative (USTR), 
intends to reestablish the Agricultural policy advisory Committee 
(APAC) for Trade and the six existing Agricultural Technical Advisory 
Committees (ATAC) for Trade. The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is 
requesting nominations for persons to serve on these seven committees 
for a term of four years.

DATES: Written nominations must be received by FAS before the close of 
business on April 13, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Nominations must be hand-delivered (including FedEx, DHL, 
UPS, etc.) to the Office of Negotiations and Agreements, Foreign 
Agricultural Service, USDA, Room 5603-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Mail Stop 1048, Washington, DC 20250-1001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Inquiries or comments regarding the 
reestablishment of these committees also may be sent by electronic mail 
to [email protected], or by fax to (202) 720-0340. The Office 
of Negotiations and Agreements may be reached by telephone at (202) 
720-6219, with inquiries directed to Michelle Moore.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    The APAC and the 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 (2000)). The purpose of these committees is to advise the 
Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative concerning agricultural 
trade policy. The committees are intended to ensure that representative 
elements of the private sector have an opportunity to express their 
views to the U.S. government.

Rechartering of Existing Committees

    Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 
(2000)), FAS gives notice that the Secretary and the USTR intend to 
reestablish the APAC and the following six ATACs:
     Animals and Animal Products;
     Fruits and Vegetables;
     Grains, Feed, and Oilseeds;
     Processed Foods;
     Sweeteners and Sweetener Products; and,
     Tobacco, Cotton, Peanuts, and Planting Seeds.
    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 committee system currently consists of three tiers:
     The President's Advisory Committee on Trade and Policy 
Negotiations;
     Five general policy advisory committees, including the 
APAC; and,
     Twenty-two technical advisory committees, including the 
ATACs.
    The establishment and renewal of such committees is in the public 
interest in connection with the duties of the USDA imposed by the Trade 
Act of 1974, as amended.

Committee Membership Information

     All committee members are appointed by the Secretary and 
the USTR and serve at the discretion of the Secretary and the USTR.
     Committee size will be limited up to approximately 35 
members each.
     All committee appointments will expire in four years, but 
the Secretary and the USTR may renew an appointment for one or more 
additional terms.
     All committee members must be U.S. citizens and must not 
be required to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
     To attend certain meetings, committee members must have a 
current security clearance or have submitted an application for a 
security clearance.
     Committee members serve without compensation; they are not 
reimbursed for their travel expenses.
     No person may serve on more than one USDA advisory 
committee at the same time.

General Committee Information

     Each committee has a chairperson, who is elected from the 
membership of that committee.
     Committees meet approximately four times per year, and all 
committee meetings are held in Washington, DC.
     Committee meetings may be closed to the public, if the 
USTR determines that a committee will be discussing issues that justify 
closing a meeting or portion of a meeting, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 
552(b).
     Throughout the year, members are requested to review 
sensitive trade policy information via a secure website and provide 
comments regarding trade negotiations.
     In addition to their other advisory responsibilities, at 
the conclusion of negotiations of any trade agreement, all committees 
are required to provide a report on each agreement to the President, 
Congress, and the USTR.

Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade

    The APAC is composed of a broad spectrum of agricultural interests. 
The APAC provides advice concerning the following:
     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

    The ATACs provide advice and information regarding trade issues 
that affect both domestic and foreign production in the commodities of 
the respective sector, drawing upon the technical competence and 
experience of

[[Page 13079]]

the members. There will be six ATACs, one for each of the following 
sectors:
     Animals and Animal Products;
     Fruits and Vegetables;
     Grains, Feed, and Oilseeds;
     Processed Foods;
     Sweeteners and Sweetener Products; and,
     Tobacco, Cotton, Peanuts, and Planning Seeds.

Nominations and Appointment of Members

    Nominations for APAC and ATAC membership are open to all 
individuals representing U.S. entities with an interest in agricultural 
trade 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 committee take 
into account the needs of the diverse groups served by the USDA, 
membership shall include, to the extent practicable, individuals with 
demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with 
disabilities.
    Members must have expertise and knowledge of agricultural 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 membership on a committee. In making 
appointments, every effort will be made to maintain balanced 
representation on the committees: from producers, farm and commodity 
organizations, processors, traders, and consumers. Geographical balance 
on each committee will also be sought.
    Nominating a person to serve on any of the committees requires 
submission of a current resume for the nominee and the following form:
     AD-755 (Advisory Committee Membership Background 
Information), available on the Internet at http://www.fas.usda.gov/admin/ad755.pdf.
    In addition, FAS encourages the submission of the optional form AD-
1086 (Applicant for Advisory Committee Supplemental Sheet), available 
on the Internet at http://www.fas.usda.gov/admin/ad1086.pdf. Forms may 
also be requested by sending an email to [email protected], 
or by phone at 202-720-6219.
    Foreign Firms: Persons who are employed by firms that are 50 
percent plus one share foreign-owned must state the extent to which the 
organization or interest to be represented by the nominee is owned by 
non-U.S. citizens, organizations, or interests. If the nominee is to 
represent an entity or corporation with 10 percent or greater non-U.S. 
ownership, the nominee must demonstrate at the time of nomination that 
this ownership interest does not constitute control and will not 
adversely affect his or her ability to serve as an advisor on the U.S. 
agriculture advisory committee for trade.

    Issued at Washington, DC, this 7th day of March, 2007.
W. Kirk Miller,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 07-1339 Filed 3-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M