[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 112 (Monday, June 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38118-38119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12446]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket Number USTR-2023-0004]


Request for Comments on Advancing Inclusive, Worker-Centered 
Trade Policy

AGENCY: Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is exploring how 
trade and investment policy may be designed to expand the benefits of 
trade to include underserved and marginalized communities here in the 
United States and with trading partners who share concerns about rising 
inequality. In order to develop inclusive objectives and positions in 
all trade and investment policy areas for both enhanced engagement and 
subsequent negotiations, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative 
invites public comments.

DATES: The deadline for submission of written comments is August 11, 
2023. Comments received after this date will be considered for future 
advisory, communication, and outreach efforts to the extent 
practicable.

ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. For 
alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact Megan Paster, in 
advance of the deadline at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Issues regarding submissions or 
questions about this request for comments should be sent to Megan 
Paster at (202) 395-6116 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The President's Trade Agenda now includes the ambition for all U.S. 
trade policy tools, engagements, and new trade initiatives to 
incorporate and reflect the core principles outlined in the President's 
Executive Order (E.O.) 13985 on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for 
Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government and E.O. 14025 
on Worker Organizing and Empowerment; the United States inaugural 
National Strategies on Gender Equity and Equality and to Advance 
Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, 
and Pacific Islander Communities; and the Presidential Memoranda on 
Tribal Consultation and Strengthening the Nation-to-Nation 
Relationships and Advancing the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, 
Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Persons Around the World.
    Additionally, the U.S. Trade Representative co-chairs the White 
House Initiative and President's Advisory Commission on Asian 
Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders and serves on the 
White House Council on Native American Affairs and the Gender Policy 
Council.
    To inform the development of inclusive, worker-centered trade 
policy and investment, USTR seeks comments and recommendations on trade 
and investment policy actions, including responsible business conduct, 
to advance racial and gender equity and support for historically 
underserved communities.
    Definitions. Consistent with E.O. 13985 and previously referenced

[[Page 38119]]

National Strategies and Presidential Memoranda, this request for public 
comment supports the effort to ``pursue a comprehensive approach to 
advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have 
been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by 
persistent poverty and inequality'' and uses the following definitions:

    (a) The term ``equity'' means the consistent and systematic 
fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including 
individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been 
denied such treatment, such as women and girls; Black, Latino, and 
Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans, Native 
Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members 
of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, 
and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons 
who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by 
persistent poverty or inequality.
    (b) The term ``underserved communities'' refers to populations 
sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic 
communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity 
to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as 
exemplified by the list in the preceding definition of ``equity.''
    (c) In addition, the term ``interested parties'' involves any 
individual or organization that believes it has interest in 
international trade, including but not limited to: labor, 
environmental, business (including micro, small, and medium-sized 
enterprises), consumer organizations, think tanks, civil society, 
and academia (including Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving 
Institutions, Asian American & Native American, Pacific Islander-
Serving Institutions, and other minority serving institutions); 
local, State, Tribal, and Territorial authorities; civil, human 
rights, and faith-based organizations, and community-based 
organizations that represent the interests of women, Indigenous 
Peoples, persons with disabilities, rural and remote populations, 
members of racial, ethnic, or religious minorities, and LGBTQI+ 
persons; individuals and members of and organizations representing 
the interests of underserved communities.

II. Public Comment

    USTR invites interested parties to submit comments to inform the 
development of inclusive objectives and positions on all trade and 
investment policy areas. Interested parties may provide inclusive trade 
and investment policy comments regarding a specific group or a 
combination of members of underserved communities.
    Responses should:
    [ssquf] Be written in clear, concise, and plain language;
    [ssquf] Not include any information that cannot be made publicly 
available;
    [ssquf] Not exceed 10 pages;
    [ssquf] Include the name of the individual and organization 
responding and a brief description of the responding individual or 
organization; and
    [ssquf] If applicable, identify the specific question(s) addressed 
in the submission.
    In submitting comments, parties are invited to consider any or all 
of the following questions.
    [ssquf] What meaningful and substantive trade policies, actions, or 
provisions should policy and decision makers consider that would 
advance racial and gender equity, equality, and empowerment in U.S. 
trade and investment policy? If applicable, what existing tools can be 
better utilized for these goals?
    [ssquf] What new and innovative tools, structures, and capacity 
should the U.S. Government adopt to advance inclusive trade and 
investment policy? Please identify data gaps that, if addressed, would 
be most helpful in undertaking meaningful impact analysis.
    [ssquf] How can trade and investment policy address multiple, 
intersecting barriers to advancing equity for underserved persons 
(e.g., rural communities, race/ethnicity, gender, and persons with 
disabilities)?
    [ssquf] What best practices should USTR consider to ensure that 
advancing equity, equality, and economic empowerment is standardized in 
community and stakeholder engagement regarding the development and 
implementation of U.S. trade and investment policy?
    [ssquf] Are there specific engagement and consultation 
considerations and/or processes that policy makers should consider in 
incorporating equity into U.S. trade and investment policy?
    [ssquf] What key actions should the U.S. Government pursue with 
trade partners and allies to ensure that the benefits from trade and 
investment policy reach underserved communities?
    [ssquf] Are there trade policies, provisions, or actions which are 
detrimental to advancing racial and gender equity, equality, and 
economic empowerment? If so, please specify the relevant policy, 
program, and/or provision, and if available, provide data or analysis 
that would be useful evidence of this detrimental effect. Do you have a 
recommendation for how this should be corrected?
    [ssquf] How can trade policymaking better respond to the specific 
interests of different U.S. regions and local communities?

III. Requirements for Submissions

    You must submit comments by the August 11, 2023 deadline. You must 
make all submissions in English via Regulations.gov, using Docket 
Number USTR-2023-0004. USTR prefers submissions in Microsoft Word 
(.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If the submission is in an application 
other than those two, please indicate the name of the application in 
the `type comment' field. USTR will not accept hand-delivered 
submissions.
    To make a submission using Regulations.gov, enter Docket Number 
USTR-2023-0004 in the `search for' field on the home page and click 
`search.' The site will provide a search results page listing all 
documents associated with this docket. Find a reference to this notice 
by selecting `notice' under `document type' in the `refine documents 
results' section on the left side of the screen and click on the link 
entitled `comment.' The Regulations.gov website offers the option of 
providing comments by filling in a `comment' field or by attaching a 
document using the `attach files' field.
    USTR prefers that you provide submissions in an attached document 
and note `see attached' in the `comment' field on the online submission 
form. At the beginning of the submission, or on the first page (if an 
attachment) include the following: `Advancing Inclusive, Worker-
Centered Trade Policy.' Include any cover letters, exhibits, annexes, 
or other attachments to the submission in the same file as the 
submission itself, and not as separate files.
    You will receive a tracking number upon completion of the 
submission procedure at Regulations.gov. The tracking number is 
confirmation that Regulations.gov received the submission. Keep the 
confirmation for your records. USTR is not able to provide technical 
assistance for Regulations.gov. USTR may not consider documents that 
you do not submit in accordance with these instructions.
    If you are unable to provide submissions as requested, please 
contact Megan Paster in advance of the deadline at (202) 395-6116 or 
[email protected] to arrange for an alternative method of 
transmission.
    USTR will place comments in the docket for public inspection. 
General information concerning USTR is available at www.ustr.gov.

Jamila Thompson,
Senior Advisor to the U.S. Trade Representative, Office of the U.S. 
Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2023-12446 Filed 6-9-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3390-F3-P