[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 172 (Friday, September 5, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53091-53093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21123]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Request for Nominations Based on Updated Membership Criteria for 
the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee on Trade

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Request for Nominations; Amendment of Membership Criteria.

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SUMMARY: This notice amends the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory 
Committee on Trade (IGPAC)--Charter Reestablishment and Request for 
Nominations Notice of April 1, 2014 (79 FR 18382) to revise the 
membership eligibility criteria pursuant to the Revised Guidance on the 
Appointment of Lobbyists to Federal Advisory Committees, Boards and 
Commissions, published by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on 
August 13, 2014. Federally-registered lobbyists are no longer 
prohibited from serving on the IGPAC in a representative capacity in 
light of OMB's recent policy clarification that the eligibility 
restriction does not apply to advisory committee members who are 
specifically appointed to represent the interests of a nongovernmental 
entity, a

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recognizable group of persons or nongovernmental entities (an industry 
sector, labor unions, environmental groups, etc.), or state or local 
governments. The lobbyist prohibition continues to apply to persons 
serving on advisory committees in their individual capacity. The United 
States Trade Representative now will consider nominations of federally-
registered lobbyists for appointment to the IGPAC as members who serve 
in a representative capacity. All other eligibility criteria continue 
to apply.

DATES: These revised membership criteria are effective immediately. 
Nominations for membership to the IGPAC (including self-nominations) 
will be accepted on a rolling basis.

ADDRESSES: Submit nominations to Julia Friedman, Attorney-Advisor for 
the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's Office of 
Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement, at [email protected]. 
For alternatives to email submission, please contact Julia Friedman at 
(202) 395-6120.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia Friedman, Attorney-Advisor for 
the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's Office of 
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 ensure that U.S. trade policy 
and trade negotiation objectives 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 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(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 Section 135(a), and with 
respect to implementation of trade agreements.
    Pursuant to these provisions, the Office of the U.S. Trade 
Representative established the IGPAC.

Functions

    The duties of the IGPAC are to provide the President, through the 
United States Trade Representative, with advice, and policy 
recommendations on matters related to trade that have a significant 
relationship to the affairs of non-Federal governmental interests 
including any U.S. state, territory, or possession, and any political 
subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof. The IGPAC will meet as 
needed at the call of the United States Trade Representative or his 
designee depending on various factors such as the level of activity of 
trade negotiations and the needs of the United States Trade 
Representative, or at the call of two-thirds of the IGPAC members.

Membership

    Members serve without compensation and are responsible for all 
expenses incurred to attend the meetings. IGPAC members are appointed 
by the United States Trade Representative. Appointments are made at the 
chartering of the IGPAC and periodically throughout the four-year 
charter term, which ends on April 4, 2018, unless otherwise extended. 
Members serve at the discretion of the United States Trade 
Representative.
    Members are selected to represent their sponsoring 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 are 
the nominee's knowledge of and expertise in international trade issues 
as relevant to the work of the IGPAC. While all or almost all IGPAC 
members will represent their sponsoring non-Federal entities' 
interests, it is possible that the United States Trade Representative 
may appoint members who serve in an individual capacity as subject 
matter experts. Appointments to the IGPAC are made without regard to 
political affiliation with an interest in ensuring balance in terms of 
sectors, demographics, and other factors relevant to the IGPAC's needs.

Request for Nominations

    The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is soliciting 
nominations for membership on the IGPAC. To be appointed to the IGPAC, 
the following eligibility criteria must be met:
    1. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen.
    2. If serving in an individual capacity, the applicant must not be 
a federally-registered lobbyist.
    3. The applicant must not be registered with the U.S. Department of 
Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
    4. The applicant must be able to obtain and maintain a security 
clearance.
    5. For representative members, who will comprise the overwhelming 
majority of the IGPAC, the applicant must represent a non-Federal 
governmental entity, including, but not limited to, the executive and 
legislative branches of U.S. states, territories, possessions, and 
political subdivisions thereof, including local, county and municipal 
governments, or any agency or instrumentality thereof. The applicant 
also may represent an association or organization that represents the 
interests of U.S. non-Federal governmental entities.
    6. For members who will serve in an individual capacity, the 
applicant must possess subject matter expertise regarding international 
trade issues relevant to non-Federal governmental entities.
    To be considered for IGPAC membership, interested persons should 
submit the following to Julia Friedman at [email protected]:
    1. Applicant's name, title, affiliation, and contact information.
    2. If applicable, a sponsor letter on the non-Federal governmental 
entity's letterhead that contains a brief description of the manner in 
which international trade affects the entity and

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why the applicant should be considered for membership.
    3. Applicant's personal resume.
    4. An affirmative statement that the applicant and, if applicable, 
the Non-Federal governmental entity the applicant represents, meets all 
eligibility requirements.
    Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria will be considered for 
membership based on the following factors: Ability to represent the 
sponsoring non-Federal governmental entity's interests on trade 
matters; knowledge of and experience in trade matters relevant to the 
work of the IGPAC; and ensuring that IGPAC members are appointed from 
and are reasonably representative of U.S. non-Federal governmental 
entities.

    Dated: August 29, 2014.
Jewel James,
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Intergovernmental Affairs and 
Public Engagement.
[FR Doc. 2014-21123 Filed 9-4-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F4-P