[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21690-21692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07743]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Notice of Continuation and Request for Nominations for the 
Industry Trade Advisory Committees

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice and request for applications.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of Commerce 
(Secretary) have established a new four-year charter term ending in 
February 2026 for the Industry Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs) and 
are accepting applications from qualified individuals interested in 
serving as members. The ITACs provide detailed policy and technical 
advice, information, and recommendations to the Secretary and the U.S. 
Trade Representative regarding trade barriers, negotiation of trade 
agreements, and implementation of existing trade agreements affecting 
industry sectors, and perform other advisory functions relevant to U.S. 
trade policy matters. There currently are opportunities for membership 
on each ITAC and we will accept nominations throughout the charter 
term.

DATES: We will accept nominations for membership on the ITACs 
throughout the four-year charter term.

ADDRESSES: Submit nominations via email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ingrid Mitchem, Director, Industry 
Trade Advisory Center, U.S. Department of Commerce at [email protected], 
202-482-3268, or Ethan Holmes, Director of Private Sector Engagement, 
Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement, in the 
Office of the United States Trade Representative at 
[email protected], 202-881-9185. You can find additional 
information about the ITACs on the International Trade Administration 
website at: https://www.trade.gov/industry-trade-advisory-center.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2155), 
establishes 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(c)(2) (19 U.S.C. 
2155(c)(2)) directs the President to establish sectoral or functional 
trade advisory committees, as appropriate, including representatives of 
industry, labor, agriculture, and services, including small business, 
in the sector or functional area concerned, to provide detailed policy 
and technical advice, information, and recommendations regarding trade 
barriers, negotiation of trade agreements, and implementation of 
existing trade agreements affecting industry sectors, and perform other 
advisory functions relevant to U.S. trade policy matters as requested.
    The ITACs are subject to the provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act. See 19 U.S.C. 2155(f); 5 U.S.C. app. II.

II. What do the ITACs do?

    The ITACs provide detailed policy and technical advice, 
information, and recommendations to the Secretary and the U.S. Trade 
Representative on trade policy matters including:
     Negotiating objectives and bargaining positions before 
entering into trade agreements. The impact of the implementation of 
trade agreements on the relevant sector.
     Matters concerning the operation of any trade agreement 
once entered into.
     Other matters arising in connection with the development, 
implementation, and administration of the trade policy of the United 
States.
    The nonpartisan, industry input provided by the ITACs is important 
in developing unified trade policy objectives and positions when the 
United States negotiates and implements trade agreements.
    The ITACs address market-access problems, trade barriers, tariffs, 
discriminatory foreign procurement practices, and information, 
marketing, and advocacy needs of their industry sector. Twelve ITACs 
(ITACS 1-12) provide advice and information on issues that affect 
specific sectors of U.S. industry. Three ITACs (ITACs 13-15) focus on 
crosscutting functional issues that affect all industry sectors and 
include specifically appointed members along with non-voting members 
from the industry specific ITACs to represent a broad range of industry 
perspectives. The ITACs may address other trade policy issues, e.g., 
government procurement and subsidies, in ad hoc working groups.

III. What is the ITAC slate for 2022-2026?

    When the U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary organize the 
ITACs, the Trade Act requires that they consult with interested private 
organizations and consider:
     Patterns of actual or potential competition between U.S. 
industry and agriculture and foreign enterprise in international trade.
     The character of the nontariff barriers and other 
distortions affecting such competition.
     The necessity for reasonable limits on the number and size 
of the ITACs.
     That the product lines covered by each ITAC are reasonably 
related.
    The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Department 
of Commerce requested comments on proposed changes to the slate of 
ITACs (86 FR 72303) and received 13 written submissions in response. A 
majority of the responses substantially supported separating the 
current ITAC 5 into two separate ITACs and re-establishing the 
Committee of Chairs. We have carefully considered these submissions and 
other factors including the nature of the U.S. industry in various 
sectors, the level of interest in serving on an ITAC (using the number 
of members and applications for appointment during the 2018-2022 
charter terms), the level of activity of each ITAC (using the number of 
meetings and recommendations submitted during the 2018-2022 charter 
terms), and constraints on the resources to support and engage with the 
ITACs. Based on all of this information,

[[Page 21691]]

pursuant to section 135(c)(2) of the Trade Act, the Secretary and the 
U.S. Trade Representative have established new four-year charter terms 
for the following ITACs, that began on February 24, 2022, and will end 
on February 24, 2026.

Committee of Chairs
    ITAC 1 Aerospace Equipment
    ITAC 2 Automotive Equipment and Capital Goods
    ITAC 3 Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Health/Science Products and 
Services
    ITAC 4 Consumer Goods
    ITAC 5 Critical Minerals and Nonferrous Metals
    ITAC 6 Digital Economy
    ITAC 7 Energy and Energy Services
    ITAC 8 Forest Products and Building Materials
    ITAC 9 Small, Minority, and Woman-led Business
    ITAC 10 Services
    ITAC 11 Steel
    ITAC 12 Textiles and Clothing
    ITAC 13 Customs Matters and Trade Facilitation
    ITAC 14 Intellectual Property Rights
    ITAC 15 Standards and Technical Trade Barriers

IV. Membership

    Each ITAC consists of members with experience relevant to the 
industry sector for ITACs 1 through 12, or the subject area for ITACs 
13 through 15. All ITAC members serve in a representative capacity 
(there are no special government employees (SGEs)) and present the 
views and interests of a sponsoring U.S. entity or U.S. organization 
and the entity's or organization's subsector (if applicable). In 
selecting members, the Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative 
consider the nominee's ability to carry out the objectives of the ITAC, 
including knowledge of the industry and of trade matters relevant to 
the work of the ITAC, and ensuring that the ITAC is balanced in terms 
of points of view, demographics, geography, and entity or organization 
size. The Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative also are 
committed to achieving diversity in ITAC membership to the maximum 
extent permitted by law and consistent with the need for balanced 
industry representation. The Secretary and the U.S. Trade 
Representative may seek additional nominations as necessary to attain 
membership balance and demographic diversity. Appointments are made 
without regard to political affiliation and in accordance with equal 
opportunity practices that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and 
accessibility.
    The Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative appoint all ITAC 
members for a term of four-years or until the ITAC charter expires, and 
members serve at the discretion of the Secretary and the U.S. Trade 
Representative. Individuals can be reappointed for any number of terms. 
Appointments are made at the time an ITAC is re-chartered and 
periodically throughout the four-year charter term. Appointments expire 
at the end of the charter term, in this case, on February 24, 2026.
    ITAC members serve without compensation, including reimbursement of 
expenses. Members are responsible for all expenses they incur to attend 
meetings or otherwise participate in ITAC activities.
    The ITACs meet as needed, depending on various factors such as the 
level of activity of trade negotiations and the needs of the Secretary 
and the U.S. Trade Representative. On average, each ITAC meets six 
times a year in Washington DC or via teleconference.

V. Request for Nominations

    The Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative are soliciting 
nominations for membership on the ITACs.

A. Eligibility Requirements

    To apply for membership, an applicant must meet the following 
eligibility criteria:
    1. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen.
    2. The applicant cannot be a full-time employee of a U.S. 
governmental entity.
    3. The applicant cannot 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. The applicant must represent either:
    a. A U.S. entity that is directly engaged in the import or export 
of goods or services or that provides services in direct support of the 
international trading activities of other entities; or
    b. A U.S. organization that trades internationally, represents 
members that trade internationally, or, consistent with the needs of an 
ITAC as determined by the Secretary and the Trade Representative, 
represents members who have a demonstrated interest in international 
trade.
     For eligibility purposes, a ``U.S. entity'' is a for-
profit firm engaged in commercial, industrial, or professional 
activities that is incorporated in the United States (or is an 
unincorporated U.S. firm with its principal place of business in the 
United States) that is controlled by U.S. citizens or by other U.S. 
entities. An entity is not a U.S. entity if 50 percent plus one share 
of its stock (if a corporation, or a similar ownership interest of an 
unincorporated entity) is known to be controlled, directly or 
indirectly, by non-U.S. citizens or non-U.S. entities.
     For eligibility purposes, a ``U.S. organization'' is an 
organization, including a trade association, labor union or 
organization, and nongovernmental organization (NGO), 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, in order 
for an NGO to qualify as a U.S. organization, at least 50 percent of 
the NGO's annual revenue must be attributable to nongovernmental U.S. 
sources.
     An applicant who will represent an entity or organization 
known to have 10 percent or greater non-U.S. ownership of its shares or 
equity, non-U.S. board members, non-U.S. membership, or non-U.S. 
funding sources, as applicable, must certify that this non-U.S. 
interest does not constitute control and will not adversely affect his/
her ability to serve as a trade advisor to the United States.
     The Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative have 
appointed, and will consider nominees, who represent the public health 
or health care community to ITACs 3 and 14, and environmental 
viewpoints to ITACs 3 and 8.

B. How do I apply?

    To be considered for ITAC membership, interested persons should 
submit the following documents to the Director of the Industry Trade 
Advisory Center at the U.S. Department of Commerce at [email protected]:
    1. A completed ITAC Member Application, available at www.trade.gov/industry-trade-advisory-center.
    2. A sponsor letter on the entity's or organization's letterhead 
containing a brief description of why the Secretary and the U.S. Trade 
Representative should consider the individual for membership.
    3. The company or organization's profile information or annual 
report.
    4. The individual's personal resume or comprehensive biography

[[Page 21692]]

demonstrating knowledge of international trade issues.
    5. A narrative response of no more than 500 words to the following 
prompt:
    The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to a trade agenda that 
advances racial equity and supports underserved communities. We will 
seek advice and recommendations from the ITACs on trade policies that 
eliminate social and economic structural barriers to equality and 
economic opportunity. We also will seek advice and recommendations from 
the ITACs to better understand the projected impact of proposed trade 
policies on communities of color and underserved communities. Please 
explain how your knowledge and experience will contribute to these 
policy objectives.
    The Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative will consider 
applicants who meet the eligibility criteria based on the following 
factors: ability to represent the sponsoring U.S. entity or U.S. 
organization and its subsector's interests on trade matters; knowledge 
of and experience in trade matters relevant to the work of the ITAC; 
and ensuring that the ITAC is balanced in terms of points of view, 
demographics, geography, and entity or organization size.

Ethan Holmes,
Director, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement, 
Office of the United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2022-07743 Filed 4-11-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3390-F2-P