[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 231 (Monday, December 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72897-72898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28472]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6435]


U.S. Department of State Advisory Committee on Private 
International Law: Working Group on Conflicts of Law

    A Working Group on Conflicts of Law has been established under the 
Department of State Advisory Committee on Private International Law to 
consider issues relating to choice of law, applicable law and dispute 
resolution. This is not a meeting of the full Advisory Committee.
    In the context of the Seventh Inter-American Specialized Conference 
on Private International Law (CIDIP-VII), the Committee on Juridical 
and Political Affairs of the Permanent Council of the Organization of 
American States (OAS) is carrying out work on consumer rights as part 
of its program on private law. Three proposals have been put forward: a 
Brazilian draft convention on applicable law, a Canadian draft model 
law on jurisdiction and applicable law, and a United States proposal in 
the form of legislative guidelines and model laws/rules to promote 
consumer redress mechanisms such as small claims tribunals, collective 
procedures, on-line dispute resolution, and government actions.
    The United States is also considering whether to pursue 
ratification of the Inter-American Convention on the Law Applicable to 
International Contracts

[[Page 72898]]

(known as the Mexico City Convention), which was adopted at the Fifth 
Inter-American Specialized Conference on Private International Law 
(CIDIP-V), and whether a possible protocol to that Convention on choice 
of law concerning consumer protection would be desirable. Other 
developments which may be relevant to work at the OAS include proposals 
at UNCITRAL for future work on on-line dispute resolution, proposals at 
the Hague Conference on Private International Law for work on a non-
binding instrument on choice of law in business to business 
transactions, and the recently concluded Hague Convention on Choice of 
Court Agreements.
    Accordingly, the Advisory Committee's Working Group on Conflicts of 
Law will hold a public meeting to obtain views on the three consumer 
protection proposals identified above and the Mexico City Convention.
    Time and Place: The public meeting of the working group will take 
place at the Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Room 
H-294, Washington, DC on December 10, 2008, from 10 a.m. EST to 4 p.m. 
EST. This date is necessary due to travel arrangements of the 
participants. If you are unable to attend the public meeting and would 
like to participate from a remote location, teleconferencing will be 
available.
    Public Participation: Advisory Committee Working Group meetings are 
open to the public. Persons wishing to attend must contact Trisha 
Smeltzer at [email protected] or 202-776-8423 and provide their 
name, e-mail address, and affiliation(s). Please contact Ms. Smeltzer 
for additional meeting information, any of the documents referenced 
above, or dial-in information on the conference call. Persons who 
cannot attend or participate by conference call but who wish to comment 
on any of the topics referred to above are welcome to do so by e-mail 
to Michael Dennis at [email protected].

    Dated: November 24, 2008.
Keith Loken,
Assistant Legal Adviser, Office of Private International Law, Office of 
the Legal Adviser, Department of State.
 [FR Doc. E8-28472 Filed 11-28-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-08-P