[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 52 (Tuesday, March 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15201-15203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05923]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Charter Renewal of the Trade Advisory Committee on Africa (TACA); 
Request for Nominations

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of Renewal of the Charter and Request for Nominations.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative 
(``USTR''), pursuant to Section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 
2155(c)(1)) as amended, the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App. II),

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announces the renewal of the charter of the Trade Advisory Committee on 
Africa (TACA), a federal advisory committee established to provide 
trade and development policy advice regarding the countries of sub-
Saharan Africa. The Charter will be effective for four years from the 
date of this Federal Register notice. There are currently opportunities 
for membership on this Committee. USTR is seeking nominations for 
membership on the Committee.

DATES: In order to receive full consideration, nominations for current 
vacancies should be received not later than April 18, 2014. Nominations 
will be accepted after April 18 until the expiration of the charter 
term on March 17, 2018, for appointments on a rolling basis as 
vacancies arise.

ADDRESSES: Submissions should be sent to Tiffany Enoch, Deputy 
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Office of Intergovernmental 
Affairs and Public Engagement at [email protected]. For alternatives to 
email submission, please contact Tiffany Enoch at (202) 395-6120.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding this request for 
nominations 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), 
established a private-sector trade advisory system to ensure that U.S. 
trade policy and trade negotiation objectives adequately reflect U.S. 
commercial and economic interests.
    Section 135(a)(2) directs the President to: Seek information and 
advice from representative elements of the private sector and the non-
Federal governmental sector with respect to
    (A) Negotiating objectives and bargaining positions before entering 
into a trade agreement under [title I of the Trade Act of 1974 and 
section 2103 of the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2002];
    (B) The operation of any trade agreement once entered into, 
including preparation for dispute settlement panel proceedings to which 
the United States is a party; and
    (C) Other matters arising in connection with the development, 
implementation, and administration of the trade policy of the United 
States.
    Section 135(c)(1) of the 1974 Trade Act provides that: [t]he 
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. Such committees 
shall, insofar as is practicable, be representative of all industry, 
labor, agricultural, service, investment, defense, and other interests, 
respectively, including small business interests, and shall be 
organized by the United States Trade Representative and the Secretaries 
of Commerce, Defense, Labor, Agriculture, the Treasury, or other 
executive departments, as appropriate. The members of such committees 
shall be appointed by the United States Trade Representative in 
consultation with such Secretaries.
    Section 14 of the AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004 directs the 
President to convene the TACA ``in order to facilitate the goals and 
objectives of the African Growth and Opportunity Act and this Act, and 
to maintain ongoing discussions with African trade and agricultural 
ministries and private sector organizations on issues of mutual 
concern, including regional and international trade concerns and World 
Trade Organization issues.'' Pursuant to these provisions, the United 
States Trade Representative (USTR) is renewing the charter of the Trade 
Advisory Committee on Africa (TACA) concurrent with this notice.

Functions

    The duties of the TACA are to provide the President, through the 
USTR, with policy advice on issues involving trade and development in 
sub-Saharan Africa. The TACA is expected to meet an average of two to 
three times a year in Washington, DC.

Membership

    Members serve without compensation and are responsible for all 
expenses incurred to attend the meetings. TACA members are appointed by 
the USTR. Appointments are made at the chartering of the TACA and 
periodically throughout the four-year charter term. Members serve at 
the discretion of the USTR. Appointments to the TACA expire at the end 
of the TACA's charter term, in this case, March 17, 2018.
    Members are selected to represent their respective sponsoring U.S. 
entity's interests on sub-Saharan African trade matters, and thus 
nominees are considered foremost based upon their ability to carry out 
the goals of section 135(c) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. Other 
criteria are the nominee's knowledge of and expertise in international 
trade issues as relevant to the work of the TACA and that 
representation on the TACA is balanced in terms of sectors, 
demographics, and other interests. Additionally, USTR may appoint 
members expert in a relevant subject matter to serve in an individual 
capacity. Appointments to the TACA are made without regard to political 
affiliation.
    All TACA members must be able to obtain and maintain a security 
clearance.

Request for Nominations

    USTR is soliciting nominations for membership on the TACA. In order 
to be appointed to the TACA, 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 whose members 
(or funders) have a demonstrated interest in issues relevant to trade 
and development in sub-Saharan Africa or that (a) is directly engaged 
in the import or export of goods or that sells its services abroad, or 
(b) is an association of such entities.
    For eligibility purposes, a ``U.S. organization'' is an 
organization, 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 TACA membership, a nominee should 
submit:
    (1) Name, title, affiliation, and relevant contact information of 
the individual requesting consideration;

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    (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 
TACA 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.
    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.
    Applicants that meet the eligibility criteria will be considered 
for membership based on the following criteria: Ability to represent 
the sponsoring U.S. entity's or U.S. organization's and its subsector's 
interests on trade and development matters; knowledge of and experience 
in trade and development matters relevant to the work of the Committee; 
and ensuring that the Committee is balanced in terms of points of view, 
demographics, geography, and entity or organization size.

    Dated: March 13, 2014.
Jewel James,
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Intergovernmental Affairs and 
Public Engagement.
[FR Doc. 2014-05923 Filed 3-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F4-P