[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 202 (Wednesday, October 19, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64892-64893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26975]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


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

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: On June 9, 2011 the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary), and 
the United States Trade Representative (USTR), renewed the charters of 
the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) and the six 
Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees (ATACs) for Trade for a 4-
year term to expire on June 9, 2015. The APAC provides advice on the 
operation of various existing U.S. trade agreements and on negotiating 
objectives for new trade agreements, as well as other matters arising 
from the administration of U.S. trade policy. 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. Some 
appointments were made to these committees on September 8, 2011. The 
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) seeks to add additional members in 
order to begin to stagger membership terms and is requesting 
nominations for persons to serve on these seven committees.

DATES: Appointments will be made periodically as appropriate to 
establish staggered terms. For that reason, nominations will be 
accepted on an ongoing basis.

ADDRESSES: All nomination materials should be mailed in a single, 
complete package and sent to: Thomas J. Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20250, Attn: APAC/ATACs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Office of Agreements and 
Scientific Affairs may be reached by telephone at (202) 720-6219; with 
inquiries directed to Bob Spitzer or Steffon Brown: or by fax at (202) 
720-0340. E-mail may be sent to [email protected] or 
[email protected]. Mail may be addressed to the Office of 
Agreements and Scientific Affairs, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Stop 1040, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1001.

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 issues and 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. On 
June 9, 2011, the Secretary and USTR renewed the charters of 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.

Background

    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.
    As provided for in the law and the USDA charter, the APAC has the 
following responsibilities: (A) The Committee will advise, consult 
with, and make recommendations to the Secretary and USTR concerning the 
trade policy of the United States and the matters arising in the 
administration of such policy; (B) The Committee will provide 
information and advice regarding the following: negotiating objectives 
and bargaining positions of the United States before the United States 
enters into trade agreements, the operation of any trade agreement once 
entered into, and matters arising in connection with the administration 
of the trade policy of the United States. It will keep abreast of the 
ongoing work of the technical-level committees (ATACs); (C) The 
Committee will furnish such other advisory opinions and reports as the 
Secretary and USTR deem necessary.
    As provided for in the law and the USDA charters, the ATACs have 
the following responsibilities: (A) The Committees will advise, consult 
with, and make recommendations to the Secretary and USTR on matters 
that are of mutual concern to the United States and to its consumers, 
producers, processors, and traders of commodities of their respective 
sectors in connection with the trade policy activities undertaken by 
the United States. (B) The Committees will provide advice and 
information regarding trade issues that affect both domestic and 
foreign production and trade concerning commodities in their respective 
sectors. The Committees will furnish advisory opinions and reports 
regarding trade policy as requested by the Secretary and USTR, or their 
designees.

[[Page 64893]]

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 or by telephone 
conference. 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 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.

Committee Membership Information

    All committee members are appointed by, and serve at the discretion 
of the Secretary and the USTR. Committee appointments are typically for 
a period of approximately 4 years, but the Secretary and USTR may renew 
an appointment for an additional term. All committee members must be a 
U.S. citizen 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 most meetings, committee members must have a current security 
clearance. New members will be guided in how to apply for a security 
clearance and their appointment will be contingent on successful 
completion of the investigation. Committee members serve without 
compensation and are not reimbursed for their travel expenses. No 
person may serve on more than one USDA advisory committee at the same 
time unless a specific exception is granted by the USDA Committee 
Management Officer. No entity may have more than one representative on 
any single trade advisory committee.

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. 
Equal opportunity practices in accordance with the U.S. Government 
policies will be followed in all appointments to the Committee. To 
ensure that the recommendations of the Committee have taken into 
account the needs of the diverse groups served by USDA, membership 
shall include to the extent possible, individuals with demonstrated 
ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.
    Members should have expertise and knowledge of agricultural trade 
as it relates to policy and commodity specific issues. Members will 
normally come from entities with an interest in agriculture, and will 
serve as Representatives, presenting the views and interests of U.S. 
entities that have interests in the subject matters of the committee. 
However, should a member be appointed primarily for his or her 
expertise, and not solely as a representative of an interest group, he 
or she shall be designated as a Special Government Employee. Special 
government employees (SGEs) are subject to ethics laws if they are 
appointed because of their personal knowledge, background, or 
expertise. USDA will assist SGEs in disclosing their financial interest 
and will provide ethics training on an annual basis. Appointments are 
made of individuals only and are not transferrable. 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 with 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 resume for the nominee and the 
following form: AD-755 (Advisory Committee Membership Background 
Information, OMB Number 0505-0001), available on the Internet at: 
http://www.fas.usda.gov/itp/apac-atacs/advisorycommittees.asp. A cover 
letter should also be submitted indicating the specific committee for 
which the individual is being nominated, why the nominee wants to be a 
committee member, his or her qualifications for membership, and how the 
submitter learned about this call for nominations. The cover letter 
should also include the statements required below related to Federally 
Registered Lobbyists and Foreign Firms. 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 should they become a federally registered lobbyist.
    Foreign Firms: If the nominee is to represent an entity or 
corporation with ten percent or greater non-U.S. ownership, the nominee 
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 and 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 12, 2011.
Suzanne E Heinen,
Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-26975 Filed 10-18-11; 8:45 am]
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