[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 1, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18382-18384]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07262]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Charter Reestablishment of the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory 
Committee on Trade (IGPAC); Request for Nominations

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of Reestablishment 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)(3)(A)), as amended, the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.), as amended, announces the reestablishment of the charter 
of the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee on Trade (IGPAC), a 
federal advisory committee established to provide overall policy advice 
on trade policy matters that have a significant relationship to the 
affairs of state and local governments within the jurisdiction of the 
United States. The Charter will be effective for four years from the 
date the charter is filed, unless otherwise extended. 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 May 1. Nominations will be 
accepted after that date until the expiration of the charter term, 
which is four years from the date of filing, for appointments on a 
rolling basis as vacancies arise.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding this request for 
nominations should be directed to Karen Lezny, Office of the U.S. Trade 
Representative, Office 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 trade advisory system to obtain information and advice 
from the private and public sectors to ensure that the development, 
implementation, and administration of U.S. trade policy, operation of 
any trade agreements once entered into, and trade negotiation 
objectives before entering into a trade agreement adequately reflect 
U.S. commercial and economic interests.
    Section 135(a)(1) 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 (19 
U.S.C. 2111 et seq.) or section 2103 of the Bipartisan Trade Promotion 
Authority Act of 2002 (19 U.S.C. 3808(a)(1)(A).
    (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(a)(2) directs the President to:
    Consult with representative elements of the private sector and the 
non-Federal governmental sector on the overall current trade policy of 
the United States. The consultations shall include, but are not limited 
to, the following elements of such policy:
    (A) The principal multilateral and bilateral trade negotiating 
objectives and the progress being made toward their achievement.
    (B) The implementation, operation, and effectiveness of recently 
concluded multilateral and bilateral trade agreements and resolution of 
trade disputes.
    (C) The actions taken under the trade laws of the United States and 
the effectiveness of such actions in achieving trade policy objectives.
    (D) Important developments in other areas of trade for which there 
must be developed a proper policy response.
    Section 135(c)(3) provides that:
    [t]he President may, if necessary, establish policy advisory 
committees representing non-Federal governmental interests to provide 
policy advice on matters referred to in subsection (a) of this section, 
and with respect to implementation of trade agreements. Pursuant to 
these provisions, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is 
reestablishing the charter of the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory 
Committee on Trade (IGPAC).

Functions

    The duties of the IGPAC are to advise, consult with, make policy 
recommendations, and provide information to the USTR on matters that 
have a significant relationship to the affairs of state and local 
governments within the jurisdiction of the United States. The Committee 
will meet as needed at the call of the U.S. Trade Representative or his 
designee depending on various factors such as the level of activity of 
trade negotiations and the needs of the U.S. Trade Representative, or 
at the call of two-thirds of the members of the Committee.

Membership

    Members serve without compensation and are responsible for all 
expenses incurred to attend the meetings. IGPAC members are appointed 
by the USTR. Appointments are made at the chartering of the IGPAC and 
periodically throughout the four-year charter term. Members serve at 
the discretion of the USTR.
    Members are selected to represent non-Federal governmental 
entities' interests, and thus nominees are considered foremost based 
upon their ability to carry out the goals of section 135(c)(3)(A) of 
the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. Other criteria considered are the 
nominee's knowledge of and expertise in international trade issues. 
Appointments to the IGPAC are made without regard to political 
affiliation.
    All IGPAC members must be able to obtain and maintain a security 
clearance.

Request for Nominations

    USTR is soliciting nominations for membership on the IGPAC. In 
order to be appointed to the IGPAC, the following eligibility 
requirements must be met:
    1. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen;
    2. The applicant must not be a federally-registered lobbyist;
    3. The applicant must not be registered with the Department of 
Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act;
    4. The applicant must be able to obtain and maintain a security 
clearance; and
    5. The applicant must represent a non-Federal governmental entity.
    In order to be considered for IGPAC membership, a nominee should 
submit:
    (1) Name, title, affiliation, and relevant contact information of 
the individual requesting consideration;
    (2) A sponsor letter on the non-federal government entity's 
letterhead containing a brief description of the manner in which 
international trade affects the entity and why the applicant should be 
considered for membership;
    (3) The applicant's personal resume;
    (4) An affirmative statement that the applicant and the non-federal 
government entity 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 an 
IGPAC member if the applicant becomes a federally registered lobbyist.

[[Page 18384]]

    As noted, members of the Committee are appointed to represent the 
views of their non-federal government entities. As such, Committee 
members will generally serve as representatives of those entities and 
not as Special Government Employees.
    Applicants that meet the eligibility criteria will be considered 
for membership based on the following criteria: ability to represent 
the sponsoring non-federal government entity's interests on trade 
matters; knowledge of and experience in trade matters relevant to the 
work of the Committee; and ensuring that the Committee members are 
appointed from and are reasonably representative of the various states 
and other non-Federal governmental entities within the jurisdiction of 
the United States, including but not limited to, the executive and 
legislative branches of state, county, and municipal governments.

    Dated: March 27, 2014.
Jewel James,
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Intergovernmental Affairs and 
Public Engagement.
[FR Doc. 2014-07262 Filed 3-31-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F4-P