[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 189 (Monday, October 2, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67859-67860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21652]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Notice of Continuation and Request for Nominations for the Trade 
and Environment Policy Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice and request for applications.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) 
expects to establish a new two-year charter term and is accepting 
applications from qualified individuals interested in serving as a 
member of the Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee (TEPAC). 
The TEPAC is a trade advisory committee that provides general policy 
advice to the U.S. Trade Representative on trade policy matters that 
have a significant impact on the environment.

DATES: USTR will accept nominations on a rolling basis for membership 
on the TEPAC for a new two-year charter term expected to expire in 
September 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amanda Mayhew, Office of Environment 
and Natural Resources, [email protected] or (202) 395-9629, 
or Ethan Holmes, Director for Private Sector Engagement, at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Background

    Section 135(c)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 
2155(c)(1)), authorizes the President to establish individual general 
trade policy advisory committees for industry, labor, agriculture, 
services, investment, defense, small business, and other interests, as 
appropriate, to provide general policy advice. The President delegated 
that authority to the U.S. Trade Representative in Executive Order 
11846, section 4(d), issued on March 27, 1975. Pursuant to an executive 
order that renewed the TEPAC and extended Executive Order 12905 of 
March 25, 1994, the U.S. Trade Representative expects to establish a 
new two-year charter term for the TEPAC, which would end in September 
2025.
    The TEPAC is a trade advisory committee established to provide 
general policy advice to the U.S. Trade Representative on trade policy 
matters that have a significant impact on the environment. More 
specifically, the TEPAC provides general policy advice with respect to 
the effect on the environment of the implementation of trade 
agreements; negotiating objectives and bargaining positions before 
entering into trade agreements; the operation of any trade agreement 
once entered into, and other matters arising in connection with the 
development, implementation, and administration of the trade policy of 
the United States.
    The TEPAC meets as needed, at the call either of the U.S. Trade 
Representative or their designee, or two-thirds of the TEPAC members, 
depending on various factors such as the level of activity of trade 
negotiations and the needs of the U.S. Trade Representative.

II. Membership

    The TEPAC is composed of not more than 35 members, including, but 
not limited to, representatives from environmental interest groups 
(including environmental justice), industry (including the 
environmental technology and environmental services industries), 
agriculture, academia, consumer groups, services, non-governmental 
organizations, and others with expertise in trade and environment 
matters. USTR intends for the TEPAC to be broadly representative of key 
sectors and groups of the economy with an interest in trade and 
environmental policy issues. Fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and 
accessibility (DEIA) is one of the top priorities.
    The U.S. Trade Representative appoints TEPAC members in 
consultation with relevant Cabinet Secretaries, as appropriate, for a 
term that will not exceed the duration of the charter. Members serve at 
the discretion of the U.S. Trade Representative. Individuals can be 
reappointed for any number of terms.
    The U.S. Trade Representative is committed to a trade agenda that 
advances racial equity and supports underserved communities and will 
seek advice and recommendations on trade policies that eliminate social 
and economic structural barriers to equality and economic opportunity, 
and to better understand the projected impact of proposed trade 
policies on communities of color and underserved communities. The U.S. 
Trade Representative strongly encourages diverse backgrounds and 
perspectives and makes appointments to the TEPAC without regard to 
political affiliation and in accordance with equal opportunity 
practices that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. 
USTR strives to ensure balance in terms of sectors, demographics, and 
other factors relevant to USTR's needs.
    TEPAC members serve without either compensation or reimbursement of 
expenses. Members are responsible for

[[Page 67860]]

all expenses they incur to attend meetings or otherwise participate in 
TEPAC activities. Committee members must be able to obtain and maintain 
a security clearance in order to serve and have access to classified 
and trade sensitive documents. They must meet the eligibility 
requirements at the time of appointment and at all times during their 
term of service.
    TEPAC members are appointed to represent their sponsoring U.S. 
entity's interests on trade and the environment, and thus USTR's 
foremost consideration for applicants is their ability to carry out the 
goals of section 135(c) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. Other 
criteria include the applicant's knowledge of and expertise in 
international trade issues as relevant to the work of the TEPAC and 
USTR. USTR anticipates that almost all TEPAC members will serve in a 
representative capacity with a limited number serving in an individual 
capacity as subject matter experts. These members, known as special 
government employees, are subject to conflict of interest rules and may 
have to complete a financial disclosure report.

III. Request for Nominations

    USTR is soliciting nominations for membership on the TEPAC. To 
apply for membership, an applicant must meet the following eligibility 
criteria at the time of application and at all times during their term 
of service as a TEPAC member:
    1. The person must be a U.S. citizen.
    2. The person cannot be a full-time employee of a U.S. governmental 
entity.
    3. If serving in an individual capacity, the person cannot be a 
federally registered lobbyist.
    4. The person cannot be registered with the U.S. Department of 
Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
    5. The person must be able to obtain and maintain a security 
clearance.
    6. For representative members, who will comprise almost all of the 
TEPAC, the person must represent a U.S. organization whose members (or 
funders) have a demonstrated interest in issues relevant to trade and 
the environment or have personal experience or expertise in trade and 
the environment.
    7. For eligibility purposes, a ``U.S. organization'' is an 
organization 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), 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, at least 50 percent of the organization's 
annual revenue must be attributable to nongovernmental U.S. sources.
    8. For members who will serve in an individual capacity, the person 
must possess subject matter expertise regarding international trade and 
environmental issues.
    In order to be considered for TEPAC membership, interested persons 
should submit the following to Amanda Mayhew, Office of Environment and 
Natural Resources, [email protected], and Ethan Holmes, 
Director for Private Sector Engagement, at [email protected]:
     Name, title, affiliation, and contact information of the 
individual requesting consideration.
     If applicable, a sponsor letter on the organization's 
letterhead containing a brief description of the manner in which 
international trade affects the organization and why USTR should 
consider the applicant for membership.
     The applicant's personal resume.
     An affirmative statement that the applicant and the 
organization they represent meet all eligibility requirements.
    USTR will consider applicants who meet the eligibility criteria in 
accordance with equal opportunity practices that promote diversity, 
equity, inclusion, and accessibility, based on the following factors:
     Ability to represent the sponsoring U.S. entity's or U.S. 
organization's and its subsector's interests on trade and environmental 
matters.
     Knowledge of and experience in trade and environmental 
matters relevant to the work of the TEPAC and USTR.
     How they will contribute to trade policies that eliminate 
social and economic structural barriers to equality and economic 
opportunity and to understanding of the projected impact of proposed 
trade policies on communities of color and underserved communities.
     Ensuring that the TEPAC is balanced in terms of points of 
view, demographics, geography, and entity or organization size.

Roberto Soberanis,
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Intergovernmental Affairs and 
Public Engagement, Office of the United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2023-21652 Filed 9-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F3-P