[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88865-88866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-28407]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of Solicitation for the Agricultural Policy Advisory 
Committee (APAC) and the Related Agricultural Technical Advisory 
Committees (ATACs) for Trade and Continuation of Requests for 
Nominations for the Agricultural Trade Advisory Committees

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Solicit for nominations.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974 and the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, notice is hereby given that 
the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary), in coordination with the 
United States Trade Representative (Trade Representative or USTR), is 
soliciting nominations for the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee 
(APAC) and the related Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees 
(ATACs) for Trade to provide detailed policy and technical advice, 
information, and recommendations regarding trade barriers, negotiation 
of trade agreements, and implementation of existing trade agreements 
affecting food and agricultural products, including the performance of 
other advisory functions relevant to U.S. agricultural trade policy 
matters. The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) continues to welcome 
nominations for persons to serve on APAC and ATACs. The APAC and ATACs 
charters were renewed on June 13, 2023, and the committees are in the 
public interest in connection with the duties of USDA imposed by the 
Trade Act of 1974, as amended.

DATES: We will accept nominations for membership on the APAC and six 
ATACs until January 31, 2024, for the July 2024-2028 term. New 
applicants are considered approximately every 12-18 months.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the nomination materials should be sent 
to [email protected].
    All nomination materials may also be mailed in a single, complete 
package to: Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 200A Jamie L. Whitten Building, 
Washington, DC 20250-1001, Attn: APAC/ATACs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Darlene Maginnis, Group Federal 
Officer, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture 
at 202-868-7059; or by email at [email protected]. You can find additional 
information about the APAC and ATACs on the Foreign Agricultural 
Service website at www.fas.usda.gov/atacs.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Pursuant to Section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2155 
(c)) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, (5 U.S.C. 10), 
notice is hereby given that the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary), 
in coordination with the United States Trade Representative (Trade 
Representative or USTR), is soliciting nominations for the Agricultural 
Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) and the related Agricultural Technical 
Advisory Committees (ATACs) for Trade. In 1974, Congress established a 
private-sector advisory committee system to ensure that U.S. trade 
policy and negotiation objectives adequately reflect U.S. commercial 
and economic interests.
    As provided for in the law and their charters, the APAC has the 
following responsibilities:
    (A) The Committee will advise, consult with, and make 
recommendations to the Secretary and Trade Representative concerning 
the trade policy of the United States and the matters arising in the 
administration of such policy; (B) The Committee will provide 
information and advice regarding the following: negotiating objectives 
and bargaining positions of the United States before the United States 
enters into trade agreements, the operation of any trade agreement once 
entered into, and matters arising in connection with the administration 
of the trade policy of the United States; and (C) The Committee will 
furnish such other advisory opinions and reports as the Secretary and 
Trade Representative deem necessary; and the ATACs have similar 
responsibilities:

General Committee Information

    Each committee has a chairperson, who is elected from the 
membership of that committee. Committees meet as needed, and all 
committee meetings are

[[Page 88866]]

typically held in Washington, DC or by telephone or video conference. 
Committee meetings may be closed if USDA or USTR determines that a 
committee will be discussing issues that justify closing a meeting or 
portions of a meeting, in accordance with 19 U.S.C. 2155(f). Throughout 
the year, members are requested to review sensitive trade policy 
information and provide comments regarding trade negotiations. In 
addition to their other advisory responsibilities, at the conclusion of 
negotiations of any trade agreement, all committees are required to 
provide a report on each agreement to the President, Congress, USTR and 
USDA.

Committee Membership Information

    All committee members are appointed by and serve at the discretion 
of the Secretary and Trade Representative. Committee appointments are 
typically for a period of four years but may be renewed for an 
additional term. Each committee member must be a U.S. citizen and must 
represent a U.S. entity with an interest in agricultural trade and must 
not be registered with the Department of Justice under the Foreign 
Agents Registration Act. To attend most meetings, committee members 
must have a current security clearance. New members will be guided in 
how to apply for a security clearance and their appointment will be 
contingent on successful completion of the investigation. Committee 
members serve without compensation and are not reimbursed for their 
travel expenses. No person may serve on more than one USDA advisory 
committee at the same time unless a specific exception is granted by 
the USDA Committee Management Officer. No entity may have more than one 
representative on any single trade advisory committee.

Nominations and Appointments of Members

    Eligibility: Nominations for APAC and ATAC membership are open to 
individuals representing U.S. entities with an interest in agricultural 
trade without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, 
age, mental or physical handicap, marital status, or sexual 
orientation. Equal opportunity practices in accordance with U.S. 
Government policies will be followed in all appointments to the 
Committee. To ensure that the recommendations of the Committee reflect 
the needs of the diverse groups served by USDA, membership shall 
include to the extent possible, individuals with demonstrated ability 
to represent minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. Members 
should have expertise and knowledge of agricultural trade as it relates 
to policy and commodity specific issues. Members will normally come 
from an entity with an interest in agriculture, and will serve as a 
Representative, presenting the views and interests of a particular U.S. 
entity that has an interest in the subject matter of the committee. 
However, should a member be appointed primarily for his or her 
expertise, and not as a representative of an interest group, he or she 
shall be designated as a Special Government Employee (SGE). SGEs are 
subject to specific provisions of the ethics laws, including disclosure 
of financial interests, if they are appointed because of their personal 
knowledge, background, or expertise. USDA will assist SGEs in 
disclosing their financial interest and will provide ethics training on 
an annual basis.
    Appointments are made of individuals only and are not 
transferrable. No person, company, producer, farm organization, trade 
association, or other entity has a right to membership on a committee. 
In making appointments, every effort will be made to maintain balanced 
representation on the committees with representation from producers, 
farm and commodity organizations, processors, traders, and consumers. 
Geographical diversity on each committee will also be sought.
    Nominations: Nominating a person to serve on any of the committees 
requires submission of a current resume for the nominee and the USDA 
AD-755 (Advisory Committee Membership Background Information, OMB 
Number 0505-0001), available on the internet at: http://www.fas.usda.gov/trade-advisorycommittees-applying-membership. A cover 
letter should also be submitted indicating the specific committee for 
which the individual is being nominated, why the nominee wants to be a 
committee member, and his or her qualifications for membership, and how 
the submitter learned about this call for nominations. The cover letter 
should also include the statements required below related to Federally 
Registered Lobbyists and Foreign Firms. If applicable, the application 
should include a sponsor letter on the non-Federal governmental entity 
letterhead containing a brief description of the manner in which 
international trade affects the entity and why the applicant should be 
considered for membership. Forms may also be requested by sending an 
email to [email protected], or by phone at (202) 868-7059.
    Federally Registered Lobbyists: All nominees must provide a 
statement confirming their lobbyist status.
    Pursuant to the Revised Guidance on Appointment of Lobbyists to 
Federal Advisory Committees, Boards, and Commissions, published by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on August 13, 2014, ``federally 
registered lobbyists are no longer prohibited from serving on the 
advisory committees in a representative capacity.'' OMB's revised 
guidance clarifies that the eligibility restriction does not apply to 
advisory committee members who are specifically appointed to represent 
the interests of a nongovernmental entity, a recognizable group of 
persons or nongovernmental entities (an industry sector, labor unions, 
environmental groups, etc.), or state or local governments. The 
lobbyist prohibition continues to apply to persons serving on advisory 
committees in their individual capacity (e.g., SGEs).
    Foreign Firms: If the nominee is to represent an entity or 
corporation with ten percent or greater non-U.S. ownership, the nominee 
must state the extent to which the organization or interest to be 
represented by the nominee is owned by non-U.S. citizens, 
organizations, or interests and demonstrate at the time of nomination 
that this ownership interest does not constitute control and will not 
adversely affect his or her ability to serve as an advisor on the U.S. 
agriculture advisory committee for trade.

    Dated: December 18, 2023.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-28407 Filed 12-22-23; 8:45 am]
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