[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8907-8908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03594]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Notice of Imminent Establishment of the United States-Mexico 
Energy Business Council and Solicitation of Nominations for U.S. 
Private Sector Members

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Imminent Establishment of the United States-Mexico 
Energy Business Council and Solicitation of Nominations for U.S. 
Private Sector Members.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce announces the imminent 
establishment of the United States-Mexico Energy Business Council (the 
``Council'') with U.S. Department of Energy, the Ministry of Economy of 
the United Mexican States, and the Ministry of Energy of the United 
Mexican States, and is soliciting nominations for U.S. private sector 
members. The Council is expected to have as its objective bringing 
together representatives of the respective energy industries of the 
United States and Mexico to discuss issues of mutual interest, 
particularly ways to strengthen the economic and commercial ties 
between energy industries in the two countries, and communicating 
actionable, non-binding recommendations to the U.S. and Mexican 
governments.

DATES: All nominations must be received by the Office of North America 
by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on April 18, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Please submit nominations to Patrick Krissek, International 
Trade Specialist, Office of North America, U.S. Department of Commerce 
either by email at [email protected] or by mail to U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Room 30014, 
Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Krissek, Office of North 
America, U.S. Department of Commerce, telephone: (202) 482-4231, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. 
Department of Energy, the Ministry of Economy of the United Mexican 
States, and the Ministry of Energy of the United Mexican States 
anticipate formally establishing the Council following the U.S.-Mexico 
High-Level Economic Dialogue meeting in late February 2016. Please 
consult www.trade.gov/hled for more information, where the Terms of 
Reference of the Council will be published following its formal 
establishment. The expected objective of the Council is to bring 
together representatives of the respective energy industries of the 
United States and Mexico to discuss issues of mutual interest, 
particularly ways to strengthen the economic and commercial ties 
between energy industries in the two countries, and communicating 
actionable, non-binding recommendations to the U.S. and Mexican 
Governments.
    The Council is expected to consist of the U.S. Department of 
Commerce, represented by the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
International Trade, and the U.S. Department of Energy, represented by 
the Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs, for the 
United States Government (the ``U.S. Participants''); the Ministry of 
Energy of the United Mexican States, represented by General Director of 
Investor Relations and Promotion, and the Ministry of Economy of the 
United Mexican States, represented by the Under Secretary of Foreign 
Trade, for the Government of Mexico (the ``Mexican Participants''); and 
a Committee comprised of private sector members from both countries. 
The Committee would be composed of a U.S. Section and a Mexican 
Section, each consisting of approximately ten members from the private 
sector appointed by their respective Government, representing the views 
and interests of the private sector business community, including their 
respective energy industry sub-sector and the energy industry more 
broadly. Each Government would seek to appoint at least one 
representative from each of the oil and gas, renewable energy, 
electricity, nuclear energy, and energy efficiency industry sub-
sectors. Members of the Sections would freely exchange information, 
best industry practices, and points of view among themselves and 
provide actionable, non-binding recommendations jointly addressed to 
both Governments that reflect their views, needs, and concerns 
regarding creating an environment in which their respective energy 
industries can participate, thrive, and enhance bilateral commercial 
ties that could form the basis for expanded trade and investment 
between the United States and Mexico.
    Nominations are currently being sought for membership on the U.S.

[[Page 8908]]

Section of the Committee. Each candidate must be a senior 
representatives (e.g., Chief Executive Officer, Vice President, 
Regional Manager, Senior Director, etc.) of a U.S.-owned or controlled 
individual company, trade association, or private sector organization 
that is incorporated in and has its main headquarters in the United 
States and whose activities focus on the manufacture, production, 
commercialization and/or trade of goods and services for the energy 
industries in the United States and Mexico. Each candidate must also be 
a U.S. citizen or otherwise legally authorized to work in the United 
States and able to travel to Mexico or locations in the United States 
to attend official Council meetings, as well as independent U.S. 
Section and Committee meetings. In addition, the candidate may not be a 
registered foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 
1938, as amended.
    Nominations for membership in the U.S. Section of eligible 
individuals will be evaluated on the following criteria:

--A demonstrated commitment by the entity to be represented to the 
Mexican market, including as applicable either through exports or 
investment.
--A demonstrated strong interest in Mexico and its economic 
development.
--The ability to offer a broad perspective and business experience 
specific to the energy industry to the discussions.
--The ability to address cross-cutting issues that affect the 
individual's entire energy industry sub-sector.
--The ability to initiate and be responsible for activities in which 
the Council will be active.

    U.S. Section members will also be selected on the basis of who is 
best qualified to carry out the anticipated objectives of the Council 
to:

--Promote increased two-way investment in the energy industry;
--Promote two-way trade in goods and services produced by and used in 
the energy industry, including the oil and gas, renewable energy, 
electricity, nuclear energy, and energy efficiency sub-sectors;
--Promote the development of binational value chains in the production 
of goods and services in the energy sector;
--Promote the development of modern energy infrastructure and bolster 
energy efficiency and security;
--Foster an enabling environment for the rapid development, deployment, 
and integration of new energy industry technologies--including clean 
renewable energy technologies--into the marketplace;
--Improve competitiveness through innovation and entrepreneurship in 
the energy industry, to include the promotion of technology exchanges 
and research partnerships; and
--Partner in skills development to create solutions in training and 
education to address evolving energy industry workforce needs.

To the extent possible, members of the U.S. Section also should 
represent a cross-section of small, medium-sized and large firms.

    U.S. Section members will receive no compensation for their 
participation in Council-related activities. Individual U.S. Section 
members will be responsible for all travel and related expenses 
associated with their participation in the Council, including 
attendance at Committee and Section meetings. Only appointed U.S. 
Section members may participate in official Council meetings; 
substitutes and alternates will not be designated. U.S. Section members 
are expected to serve for two-year terms, but may be reappointed.
    To nominate an eligible individual for membership in the U.S. 
Section, please submit the following information as instructed in the 
ADDRESSES and DATES captions above:

--Name(s) and title(s) of the nominated individual(s);
--Name and address of represented entity's headquarters;
--Location of incorporation or establishment; size of the represented 
entity;
--As applicable, size of the company's export trade, investment, and 
nature of operations or interest in Mexico;
--And a brief statement of why the candidate should be considered, 
including information about the candidate's ability to initiate and be 
responsible for activities in which the Council will be active.

All candidates will be notified of whether they have been selected once 
the application window closes and selection of U.S. Section members has 
been made.

    Dated: February 18, 2016.
Geri Word,
Director for the Office of North America.
[FR Doc. 2016-03594 Filed 2-22-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-HE-P