[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 8 (Monday, February 26, 2007)]
[Page 187]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Memorandum on Designation of Officers of the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative To Act as the United States Trade Representative

February 20, 2007

Memorandum for the United States Trade Representative

Subject: Designation of Officers of the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative to Act as the United States Trade Representative

    By the authority vested in me as President under the Constitution 
and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal 
Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345, et seq., it is hereby 
ordered that:
    Section 1. Order of Succession.
    During any period when the United States Trade Representative (USTR) 
has died, resigned, or otherwise becomes unable to perform the functions 
and duties of the office of the United States Trade Representative, the 
following officers of the Office of the United States Trade 
Representative, in the order listed, shall perform the functions and 
duties of the USTR, until such time as the USTR is able to perform the 
functions and duties of that office;
    (a) Deputy United States Trade Representatives (stationed in 
Washington, D.C.; in order of their length of service as a Deputy USTR);
    (b) Deputy United States Trade Representative (stationed in Geneva);
    (c) General Counsel;
    (d) Chief Negotiator for Agriculture;
    (e) Deputy General Counsel; and
    (f) Deputy Chief of Mission (stationed in Geneva).
    Sec. 2. Exceptions.
(a)          No individual who is serving in an office listed in section 
            1 in an acting capacity, by virtue of so serving, shall act 
            as the USTR pursuant to this memorandum.
(b)          No individual shall act as USTR unless that individual is 
            otherwise eligible to so serve under the Federal Vacancies 
            Reform Act of 1998.
(c)          Notwithstanding the provisions of this memorandum, the 
            President retains discretion, to the extent permitted by 
            law, to depart from this memorandum in designating an acting 
            USTR.
    Sec. 3. Judicial Review. This memorandum is intended to improve the 
internal management of the executive branch and is not intended to, and 
does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, 
its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or 
agents, or any other person.
    Sec. 4. Publication. You are authorized and directed to publish this 
memorandum in the Federal Register.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:48 a.m., February 21, 
2007]

Note: This memorandum was published in the Federal Register on February 
22.