    [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 58 (Thursday, March 26, 2026)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 14747-14748]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 2026-05898]

    [[Page 14747]]

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    OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

    Invitation for Applications for Inclusion on the Facility-
    Specific Rapid Response Labor Mechanism Dispute Settlement Roster for
    the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement

    AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

    ACTION: Notice requesting applications.

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    SUMMARY: The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) requires the
    maintenance of a roster of individuals who would be available to serve
    as panelists for specialized labor panels. The Office of the United
    States Trade Representative (USTR) invites applications from eligible
    individuals wishing to be included on this roster.

    DATES: To ensure consideration, USTR must receive your application by
    April 27, 2026.

    ADDRESSES: You should submit your application through the Federal
    eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov (Regulations.gov), using
    docket number USTR-2026-0100. Follow the submission instructions below.
    For alternatives to online submissions, please contact Sandy McKinzy at
    (202) 395-9483 before transmitting your application and in advance of
    the deadline.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the application
    process, contact Sandy McKinzy, Paralegal Specialist, Office of
    Monitoring and Enforcement, at (202) 395-9483. For all other inquiries,
    contact Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Monitoring &
    Enforcement Catherine Gibson at (202) 395-5725.

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USTR is seeking applications from U.S.
    citizens and nationals of other countries who are interested in serving
    as panelists for labor dispute settlement panels established under the
    USMCA. You can find the text of the USMCA on the USTR website: https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/united-states-mexico-canada-agreement.

    I. Facility-Specific Rapid Response Labor Mechanism Under USMCA Annex
    31-A

        USMCA is a trilateral trade agreement between the United States,
    Mexico, and Canada (the Parties). Annex 31-A establishes a facility-
    specific rapid response labor mechanism (the RRM), as between the
    United States and Mexico, which can be used whenever either Party
    believes that workers at a Covered Facility (as defined in Article 31-
    A.15) are being denied the right of free association and collective
    bargaining under the laws necessary to fulfill the obligations of the
    other Party under the USMCA (a Denial of Rights). A Party may ask a
    labor panel under the RRM to request that the respondent Party allow it
    an opportunity to verify the Covered Facility's compliance with the law
    in question and to determine whether there has been a Denial of Rights.
    See USMCA Article 31-A.5. Labor panelists submit a report to the
    Parties commenting on the functioning of the RRM at the conclusion of
    the first four-year term and every four years thereafter. See USMCA
    Article 31-A.3.6.
        USMCA requires the Parties to establish and maintain three lists of
    panelists who are willing to commit to being generally available to
    serve as labor panelists for the RRM. By the date of entry into force
    of USMCA, each Party was required to appoint three individuals to one
    list potentially comprised of its own nationals and appoint, by
    consensus, three individuals to a joint list. The individuals on the
    joint list may not be nationals of either the United States or Mexico.
    By six months from entry into force of USMCA, the Parties were required
    to expand the lists to at least five individuals, respectively.
    Individuals on the lists were appointed for a minimum term of four
    years or until the Parties constitute new lists. See Article 31-A.3.
        To qualify for inclusion on the RRM lists, an applicant must:
         Have expertise and experience in labor law and practice,
    and with the application of standards and rights as recognized by the
    International Labor Organization;
         Be objective, reliable, and possess sound judgment;
         Be independent of, and not be affiliated with or take
    instructions from, a Party; and
         Comply with the Code of Conduct adopted by the Free Trade
    Commission established under Article 30.1. You can find the text of the
    Code of Conduct on USTR's website: https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/agreements/usmca/AnnexIIIUSMCACodeConduct.pdf.

    II. Request for Applications

        USTR invites eligible individuals who wish to be considered for
    inclusion on the RRM lists to submit applications through
    Regulations.gov, using docket number USTR-2026-0100. In order to be
    assured of consideration, USTR must receive your application by April
    27, 2026. Applicants must file all submissions electronically via
    Regulations.gov. For technical questions on submitting comments on
    Regulations.gov, please contact the Regulations.gov help desk at
    regulationshelpdesk@gsa.gov or 1 (866) 498-2945. For alternatives to
    online submissions, please contact Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395-9483
    before transmitting your application and in advance of the deadline.
        To submit an application via Regulations.gov, enter docket number
    USTR-2026-0100 on the Regulations.gov 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' on the left side of the
    search-results page, and click on the `comment' link. For further
    information on using the www.regulations.gov website, please consult
    the resources provided on the website by clicking on `FAQ' at the
    bottom of the page.
        The Regulations.gov website allows users to provide comments by
    filling in a `comment' field, or by attaching a document using an
    `attach files' field. USTR prefers that candidates submit applications
    in an attached document. All submissions must be typewritten in English
    and be prepared in (or be compatible with) Microsoft Word (.doc) or
    Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) formats. Include any data attachments to the
    submission in the same file as the submission itself, and not as
    separate files.
        Applications should include the following information, and should
    number each section of the application as indicated:
        1. Name of the applicant.
        2. Business address, telephone number, fax number, and email
    address.
        3. Citizenship(s).
        4. Current employment, including title, description of
    responsibility, and name and address of employer.
        5. Relevant education and professional training.
        6. Fluency in any relevant language other than English, written and
    spoken.
        7. Post-education employment history, including the dates and
    addresses of each prior position, a summary of responsibilities, and a
    list of clients represented in the prior five years.
        8. Relevant professional affiliations and certifications,
    including, if any, current bar memberships in good standing.
        9. A list and copies of publications, testimony, and speeches, if
    any, concerning the relevant area(s) of expertise. Judges or former
    judges should list relevant judicial decisions.

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    Submit only one copy of publications, testimony, speeches, and
    decisions.
        10. A list of international trade proceedings or domestic
    proceedings relating to labor law or other relevant matters in which
    the applicant has provided advice to a party or otherwise participated.
        11. Summary of any current and past employment by, or consulting or
    other work for, the Governments of the United States, Mexico, or
    Canada.
        12. The names and nationalities of all foreign principals for whom
    the applicant is currently or has previously been registered pursuant
    to the Foreign Agents Registration Act, 22 U.S.C. 611 et seq., and the
    dates of all registration periods.
        13. A short statement of qualifications and availability for
    service, including information relevant to the applicant's familiarity
    with labor law, and willingness and ability to make time commitments
    necessary for service on panels.
        14. On a separate page, the names, addresses, telephone and fax
    numbers of three individuals willing to provide information concerning
    the applicant's qualifications for service, including the applicant's
    character, reputation, reliability, judgment, and familiarity with
    labor law.

    III. Public Disclosure

        Applications are covered by a Privacy Act System of Records Notice
    (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-12-22/pdf/2016-30496.pdf).
    They are not subject to public disclosure, and USTR will not post
    applications publicly on Regulations.gov. USTR may share applications
    with other federal agencies, advisory committees, the House Committee
    on Ways and Means, the Senate Committee on Finance, and the Government
    of Mexico (for joint list applicants) prior to determining whether to
    appoint persons to the relevant list.

    IV. False Statements

        False statements by an applicant regarding their personal or
    professional qualifications, or financial or other relevant interests
    that bear on the applicant's suitability for placement on a list or
    appointment to a panel are subject to criminal sanctions under 18
    U.S.C. 1001.

    Jennifer Thornton,
    General Counsel, Office of the United States Trade Representative.
    [FR Doc. 2026-05898 Filed 3-25-26; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3390-F4-P