[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8433-8434]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03937]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Notice of Request for Applicants for Appointment to the United 
States-Mexico Energy Business Council

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In 2016, agencies of the Governments of the United States and 
Mexico established the U.S.-Mexico Energy Business Council (the 
``Council''). This notice announces 10 membership opportunities for 
appointment as U.S. representatives to

[[Page 8434]]

the U.S. Section of the Council for a term beginning in June 2018 and 
ending in June 2020.

DATES: All applications must be received by the Office of North America 
by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on April 30, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Please submit applications to Leslie Wilson, International 
Trade Specialist, Office of North America, U.S. Department of Commerce 
either by email at [email protected] (preferred method) or by 
mail to U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 
30014, Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie Wilson, Office of North 
America, U.S. Department of Commerce, telephone: (202) 482-0704, 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 
established the Council in March 2016. The 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.
    For more information, please consult the Terms of Reference of the 
Council (copy and paste link into browser): https://www.trade.gov/hled/documents/Signed%20US-MEX%20Energy%20Business%20Council%20Terms%20(May%202016%20-
%20English).pdf.
    The Department of Commerce is seeking applicants for membership on 
the U.S. Section of the Council. Each applicant must be a senior 
representative (e.g., Chief Executive Officer, Vice President, Regional 
Manager, Senior Director, or holder of a similar position) 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 include a focus 
on the manufacture, production, commercialization and/or trade in goods 
and services for the energy industry in Mexico. Each applicant must 
also be a U.S. citizen, or otherwise legally authorized to work in the 
United States, and be able to travel to Mexico or locations in the 
United States to attend Council meetings, as well as U.S. Section and 
Committee meetings. In addition, the applicant may not be a registered 
foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as 
amended.
    Applications for membership in the U.S. Section by eligible 
individuals, including applications by current U.S. section members for 
reappointment, 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 to the work of the Council a broad perspective 
and business experience specific to the energy industry.
--The ability to address cross-cutting issues that affect the entity's 
entire energy industry sub-sector.
--The ability to dedicate organizational resources 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 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.
    In selecting members of the U.S. Section, the U.S. Government 
selection committee, composed of representatives from the Department of 
Commerce and the Department of Energy, will attempt to ensure that the 
Section represents 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. They shall not be 
considered as special government employees. 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 Council meetings; substitutes and 
alternates may not be designated. U.S. Section members are expected to 
serve for two-year terms, but may be reappointed.
    To apply for membership in the U.S. Section, please submit the 
following information as instructed in the ADDRESS and DATES captions 
above:

--Name(s) and title(s) of the applicant;
--Name and address of the headquarters of the entity that employs the 
applicant;
--Location of incorporation or establishment;
--Size of the represented entity, in terms of annual sales and number 
of employees;
--As applicable, the size of the entity's export trade, investment, and 
nature of operations or interest in Mexico; and
--A brief statement of why the applicant should be considered, 
including information about the applicant's ability to initiate and be 
responsible for activities in which the Council will be active.
    All applicants 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 21, 2018.
Geri Word,
Director for the Office of North America.
[FR Doc. 2018-03937 Filed 2-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-HE-P