[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 211 (Tuesday, November 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67345-67346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27630]



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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 and request for nominations.

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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 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 4 years.

DATES: Written nominations must be received by FAS by 5 p.m. on 
December 17, 2010.

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 may be sent by electronic mail to: 
[email protected] and [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 
Lorie Fitzsimmons or Steffon Brown.

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. 93-618, 19 U.S.C. 2155). 
The purpose of these committees is to advise the Secretary and USTR 
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. II), 
FAS gives notice that the Secretary and USTR intend to reestablish the 
APAC and the following six ATACs:
     Animals and Animal Products;
     Fruits and Vegetables;
     Grains, Feed, Oilseeds and Planting Seeds;
     Processed Foods;
     Sweeteners and Sweetener Products; and,
     Tobacco, Cotton and Peanuts.
    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 
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 4 years, but the 
Secretary and USTR may renew an appointment for one or more additional 
terms.
     All committee members must be U.S. citizens and must 
represent a U.S. entity with an interest in agricultural trade, and 
must not be registered with the Department of Justice under the Foreign 
Agents Registration Act.
     Committee members must not be federally-registered 
lobbyists.
     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 as needed, and all committee meetings are 
held in Washington, DC.
     Committee meetings may be closed if USTR determines that a 
committee will be discussing issues that justify closing a meeting or 
portions of a meeting, in accordance with 19 U.S.C. 2155(f).
     Throughout the year, members are requested to review 
sensitive trade policy information via a secure Web site, 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 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 the members. There will be six ATACs, one for each of the 
following sectors:
     Animals and Animal Products;
     Fruits and Vegetables;
     Grains, Feed, Oilseeds and Planting Seeds;
     Processed Foods;
     Sweeteners and Sweetener Products; and
     Tobacco, Cotton and Peanuts.

Nominations and Appointment of Members

    Nominations for APAC and ATAC membership are open to 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 committees take into account the 
needs of the diverse groups served by USDA, membership shall include, 
to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to 
represent minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.
    Members must represent a U.S. entity with an interest in 
agricultural trade and

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should 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: Representation from producers, farm and commodity 
organizations, processors, traders, and consumers. Geographical balance 
on each committee will also be sought.
    Nominations: Nominating a person to serve on any of the committees 
requires submission of a current r[eacute]sum[eacute] 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 
Committees Supplemental Sheet), available on the Internet at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/admin/ad1086.pdf. Forms may also be requested by 
sending an e-mail to [email protected], or by phone at (202) 
720-6219.
    Federally Registered Lobbyists: In order to be considered for 
advisory committee membership, nominees should submit an affirmative 
statement that the applicant is not a federally registered lobbyist, 
and that the applicant understands that if appointed, the applicant 
will not be allowed to continue to serve as an advisory committee 
member if the applicant becomes a federally registered lobbyist.
    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 ten 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.

    Dated: October 26, 2010.
John D. Brewer,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-27630 Filed 11-1-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-P