[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 230 (Wednesday, December 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 63169]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28837]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6547]


U.S. Department of State Advisory Committee on Private 
International Law: Organization of American States (OAS) Specialized 
Conference on Private International Law (CIDIP) Study Group

    The Working Group on Conflicts of Law previously established under 
the Department of State Advisory Committee on Private International Law 
has been renamed the OAS CIDIP Study Group to reflect a broader scope 
of activity including consideration of issues relating to choice of 
law, applicable law, jurisdiction, enforcement of judgments, and 
dispute resolution that may be discussed in the Organization of 
American States (OAS) CIDIP process. 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 (CJAP) of the Permanent Council of the OAS is 
carrying out work on consumer rights as part of its program on private 
international law. Three proposals have been put forward: A revised 
Brazilian draft convention on applicable law that has recently been 
expanded to include jurisdiction, a Canadian draft model law on 
applicable law and jurisdiction, and a United States proposal (with 
several components) for legislative guidelines/model laws/rules to 
promote consumer redress mechanisms such as small claims tribunals, 
collective procedures, on-line dispute resolution, and government 
actions. The U.S. is considering the possibility of expanding its 
existing proposal.
    The United States is also considering whether to pursue 
ratification of the Inter-American Convention on the Law Applicable to 
International Contracts (known as the Mexico City Convention), which 
was adopted at the Fifth Inter-American Specialized Conference on 
Private International Law (CIDIP-V). The United States is exploring the 
process for obtaining official corrections to the English text of the 
Convention to conform to the Spanish version. Copies of proposed 
corrections to the English text can be obtained through the contact 
points listed below. Other developments which may be relevant to work 
at the OAS include the proposal at UNCITRAL for future work on on-line 
dispute resolution and the establishment by the Permanent Bureau of the 
Hague Conference on Private International Law of an experts group to 
consider development of a non-binding instrument on choice of law in 
international commercial contracts.
    The Advisory Committee's OAS CIDIP Study Group will hold a public 
meeting to obtain additional views on the three consumer protection 
proposals identified above (along with possible revisions) and the 
Mexico City Convention.
    Time and Place: The public meeting of the Study Group will take 
place at the Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Room 
H-481, Washington, DC on December 14, 2009, from 10 a.m. EST to 4 p.m. 
EST. 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 Study 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) if any. Please contact Ms. 
Smeltzer for additional meeting information, any of the documents 
referenced above, or dial-in information on the conference call. A 
member of the public needing reasonable accommodation should advise 
those same contacts not later than December 9th. Requests made after 
that date will be considered, but might not be able to be fulfilled. 
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] or Hugh 
Stevenson at [email protected].

    Dated: November 25, 2009.
Michael Dennis,
Attorney-Adviser, Office of Private International Law, Office of the 
Legal Adviser, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-28837 Filed 12-1-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-08-P