[Federal Register: April 13, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 70)]
[Notices]               
[Page 17993-17994]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13ap99-38]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service

 
Agricultural Advisory Committees for Trade

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Rechartering of the Agricultural Advisory Committees for Trade.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Secretary of Agriculture, 
after consultation with the United States Trade Representative, has 
rechartered the following advisory committees:

--Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade
--Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and 
Animal Products
--Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Fruits and 
Vegetables
--Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Grains, Feed, 
and Oilseeds
--Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Sweeteners and 
Sweetener Products
--Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Tobacco, 
Cotton, and Peanuts

    The purpose of these committees is to provide advice to the 
Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative with respect 
to the trade policy of the United States pursuant to Section 135(c) of 
the Trade Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-618) as amended. Meetings of these 
committees will be open to the public, unless the U.S. Trade 
Representative determines that the committees will be discussing issues 
the disclosure of which justify closing such meetings or portions 
thereof in accordance with Section 552(c) of Title 5 of the United 
States Code. The renewal of such committees is in the public interest 
in connection with the duties of the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) imposed by the Trade Act of 1974, as amended.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments regarding the reestablishment 
of these committees should be addressed to Paula Scott or Denise Bell, 
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), USDA, Room 5065-S, Washington, DC 
20250-1000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. Appendix), notice is hereby given that the 
Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative are 
reestablishing the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade 
(APAC) and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade 
(ATACs). In 1974, Congress established a private sector advisory 
committee system to ensure that U.S. trade policy and trade negotiation 
objectives adequately reflect U.S. commercial and economic interests. 
Congress expanded and enhanced the role of this system in three 
subsequent trade acts. The private sector advisory system now consists 
of almost 40 committees, arranged in three tiers; The President's 
Advisory Committee on Trade and Policy Negotiations (ACTPN); seven 
policy advisory committees, including the APAC; and more than 30 
technical advisory committees including the ATACs. The duties of the 
APAC are to provide the Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade 
Representative with advice concerning negotiating objectives and 
bargaining positions before entering into a trade agreement, the 
operation of an agreement once entered into, and other matters arising 
in connection with the administration of the trade policy of the United 
States. The duties of the ATACs are to provide advice and information 
regarding trade issues which affect both domestic and foreign 
production and trade concerning the respective agricultural 
commodities, drawing upon the technical competence and experience of 
its members. Each committee is required to meet at the conclusion of 
negotiations for each trade agreement entered into under the Act to 
provide a report on such agreement to the President, to Congress, and 
to the U.S. Trade Representative. The APAC is comprised of 
approximately 50 members. The members elect a chairperson from the 
membership of the committee. The Assistant to the Administrator, FAS, 
and the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative,

[[Page 17994]]

Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison, Office of the U.S. Trade 
Representative, are the Committee's Joint Executive Secretaries. Each 
of the ATACs is comprised of approximately 25 members. The members of 
each committee elect a chairperson from the membership of the 
committee. A full-time federal officer or employee of FAS shall serve 
as the Executive Secretary of each Technical Advisory Committee. Each 
committee is chartered for a period of 2 years, at which time all 
appointments expire. Reappointments are made at the discretion of the 
Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative.

    Issued at Washington, DC, this 31st day of March, 1999.

    Dated: March 31, 1999.
Sally Thompson,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-9183 Filed 4-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M