[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10596-10598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04062]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Request for Comments From the Public and Nominations for the
Public Interest Trade Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Request for comments from the public on the creation of the
Public Interest Trade Advisory Committee and request for nominees to
that Committee.
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SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative
(``USTR'') is, pursuant to Section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
U.S.C. 2155(c)(1)) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.
App. 1), establishing the Public Interest Trade Advisory Committee
(``the Committee'') to provide policy advice on issues involving trade
and from the perspective of those concerned with public interest
issues. USTR seeks comments on the Committee's objectives and the scope
of its activities. USTR is also seeking nominations for membership on
the Committee.
DATES: Written comments are due by COB on Tuesday, March 25, 2014.
Nominations for membership will be accepted at any time, however, in
order to be considered for the initial populating of the committee,
nominations should be made by March 25, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted electronically via the
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov, Docket number USTR-2014-0005.
For alternatives to online submission please contact Tiffany Enoch, at
(202) 395-6120.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding this request for
comments should be directed to Tiffany Enoch, Deputy Assistant U.S.
Trade Representative for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public
Engagement at (202) 395-6120.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2155),
directs the President to obtain information and advice from
representative elements of the private sector and the non-Federal
government sector regarding U.S. trade policy and trade negotiation
objectives. Among other mechanisms, Section 135(c)(1) of the Trade Act
of 1974 provides that:
(1) The President may establish individual general policy
advisory committees for industry, labor, agriculture, services,
investment, defense, and other interests, as appropriate, to provide
general policy advice on matters referred to in subsection (a) of
this section.
The President has delegated authority to the USTR to appoint policy
advisory committees (``Tier 2'').
Section 135(c)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974 calls for each general
policy advisory committee ``insofar as is practicable,'' ``[to] be
representative of all industry, labor, agricultural, service,
investment, defense, and other interests . . . including small business
interests.''
Section 135(f) of the Trade Act of 1974 provides, in relevant part
that, ``the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act apply . .
. (2) to all . . . advisory committees which may be established under
subsection (c) of this section.'' The Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA) (5 U.S.C. 1-14) requires that legislation establishing or
authorizing the establishment of an advisory committee ``require the
membership of the advisory committee to be fairly balanced in terms of
the points of view represented and the functions to be performed by the
advisory committee'' (5 U.S.C. 5).
With the creation of the Public Interest Trade Advisory Committee,
a new forum for discussions on public interest aspects of trade issues
will be available. The objectives and scope of activities of the Public
Interest Trade Advisory Committee include, but are not limited to:
(1) Providing the U.S. Trade Representative with policy advice on
issues including but not limited to, public health, international
development, and consumer protection.
(2) Providing the President, the USTR, and Congress with reports on
trade agreements, following their conclusions, which include an
advisory opinion on whether and to what extent the agreement promotes
the interests of the United States.
Request for Comments
USTR solicits comments on the objectives and scope of activities
for the Public Interest Advisory Committee, including comments on: the
appropriate scope of viewpoints to be represented in such a committee
to ensure the committee is fairly balanced; how included viewpoints
would improve the quality of information and advice provided to USTR;
how included viewpoints would add value and contribute to the
Committee's mission to provide general trade policy advice; any
additional objectives or activities; modifications to aforementioned
objectives, activities or viewpoints; and any other pertinent insights.
[[Page 10597]]
Requirements for Submission
Written comments must be received by COB on Tuesday, March 25,
2014. In order to ensure the most timely and expeditious receipt and
consideration of comments, USTR has arranged to accept on-line
submissions via www.regulations.gov. To submit comments via
www.regulations.gov, enter docket number USTR-2014-0005 on the home
page and click ``go''. The site will provide a search-results page
listing all documents associated with this docket. Find a reference to
this notice and click on the link entitled ``Comment Now!'' (For
further information on using the http://www.regulations.gov/ Web site,
please consult the resources provided on the Web site by clicking on
``How to Use This Site'' on the left side of the home page.)
The www.regulations.gov Web site provides the option of making
submissions by filling in a ``Type Comments'' field, or by attaching
using the ``Upload File'' field. USTR prefers submissions to be
provided in an attached document. If a document is attached, it is
sufficient to type ``See attached'' in the ``Type Comments'' field.
We strongly urge submitters to avail themselves of the electronic
filing, if at all possible. If an on-line submission is impossible,
alternative arrangements must be made with Ms. Enoch, at (202) 395-
6120.
Request for Nominations
USTR is also soliciting nominations for membership on the Public
Interest Trade Advisory Committee (PITAC). In order to be appointed to
the PITAC, the following eligibility requirements must be met:
1. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen;
2. The applicant must not be a full-time employee of a U.S.
governmental entity;
3. The applicant must not be a federally-registered lobbyist;
4. The applicant must not be registered with the Department of
Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act;
5. The applicant must be able to obtain and maintain a security
clearance; and
6. The applicant must represent a U.S. organization that represents
whose members (or funders) have a demonstrated interest in
international trade.
For eligibility purposes, a ``U.S. organization'' is an
organization, including trade association, labor union and
organization, and nongovernmental organization (NGO), established under
the laws of the United States, that is controlled by U.S. citizens, by
another U.S. organization (or organizations), or by a U.S. entity (or
entities), as determined based on its board of directors (or comparable
governing body), membership, and funding sources, as applicable. To
qualify as a U.S. organization, more than 50 percent of the board of
directors (or comparable governing body) and more than 50 percent of
the membership of the organization to be represented must be U.S.
citizens, U.S. organizations, or U.S. entities. Additionally, at least
50 percent of the organization's annual revenue must be attributable to
nongovernmental U.S. sources.
In order to be considered for PITAC membership, a nominee should
submit:
(1) Name, title, affiliation, and relevant contact information of
the individual requesting consideration;
(2) A sponsor letter on the entity's or organization's letterhead
containing a brief description of why the applicant should be
considered for membership;
(3) The applicant's personal resume demonstrating knowledge of
international trade issues;
(4) An affirmative statement that the applicant and the
organization he or she represents meet all eligibility requirements;
(5) 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 a
PITAC member if the applicant becomes a federally registered lobbyist;
and
(6) Information regarding the sponsoring entity, including the
control of the entity or organization to be represented and the
organization's demonstrated interest in international trade. As noted,
members of the committee are appointed to represent the views of their
sponsoring entities. As such, committee members will generally serve as
representatives of those organizations and not as Special Government
Employees.
USTR will consider applicants for membership on the PITAC that meet
the eligibility criteria based on the following criteria: ability to
represent the sponsoring U.S. entity's or U.S. organization's interests
on trade matters; ability to carry out the objectives of the PITAC and
ensuring that the PITAC is balanced in terms of points of view,
demographics, geography, and entity or organization size.
Submit applications to Tiffany Enoch, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade
Representative for Intergovernmental and Affairs and Public Engagement.
Send applications to: [email protected]. If you have any question
please contact Ms. Enoch at (202)395-6120.
Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments
concerning the issues raised in this notice. Persons may submit public
comments electronically to www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-
2014-0005. If you are unable to provide submissions by
www.regulations.gov, please contact Cece Jones-Davis to arrange for an
alternative method of transmission.
To submit comments via www.regulations.gov, enter docket number
USTR-2014-0005 on the home page and click ``search''. The site will
provide a search-results page listing all documents associated with
this docket. Find a reference to this notice by selecting ``Notice''
under ``Document Type'' on the left side of the search-results page,
and click on the link entitled ``Comment Now!'' (For further
information on using the www.regulations.gov Web site, please consult
the resources provided on the Web site by clicking on ``How to Use This
Site'' on the left side of the home page.)
The www.regulations.gov Web site allows users to provide comments
by filling in a ``Type Comments'' field, or by attaching a document
using an ``Upload File'' field. It is expected that most comments will
be provided in an attached document. If a document is attached, it is
sufficient to type ``See attached'' in the ``Type Comments'' field.
A person requesting that information contained in a comment that
he/she submitted be treated as confidential business information, must
certify that such information is business confidential and would not
customarily be released to the public by the submitter. Confidential
business information must be clearly designated as such and the
submission must be marked ``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL'' at the top and
bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page. Any comment
containing business confidential information must be submitted by fax
to Cece Jones-Davis at (202) 395-3692. A non-confidential summary of
the confidential information must be submitted to www.regulations.gov.
The non-confidential summary will be placed in the docket and will be
open to public inspection.
[[Page 10598]]
Dated: February 19, 2014.
Jewel James,
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Intergovernmental Affairs and
Public Engagement.
[FR Doc. 2014-04062 Filed 2-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-F4-P