[Federal Register: March 22, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 55)]
[Notices]
[Page 13347-13349]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22mr04-107]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Opportunity To Apply for Membership on the 2004 U.S.-Japan
Private Sector/Government Commission
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
ACTION: Notice of membership opportunity.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Government is seeking letters of interest for private
sector membership on the U.S. side of the U.S.-Japan Private Sector/
Government Commission (Commission) for 2004. President Bush and
Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi launched the Commission in June 2001 as
part of the U.S.-Japan Economic Partnership for Growth (Partnership).
It is expected the 2004 Commission meeting will be held in mid-2004 on
the topic of ``Advancing U.S.-Japan Economic Cooperation.''
DATES: In order to receive full consideration, letters of interest must
be received by the U.S. Government Secretariat no later than April 27,
2004.
[[Page 13348]]
ADDRESSES: Please send requests for consideration by facsimile or
express mail to only the U.S. Government Secretariat for the U.S.-Japan
Private Sector/Government Commission in care of Karin Ryerson, Office
of Japan, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 2320, 14th Street and
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230, facsimile (202) 482-
0469. Requests sent by e-mail will not be considered. Candidates chosen
for membership will be notified in writing.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
The U.S. Government seeks letters of interest for private sector
membership on the U.S. side of the 2004 U.S.-Japan Private Sector/
Government Commission. President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister
Koizumi launched the Commission in June 2001 as part of the
Partnership. The Commission is made up of U.S. and Japanese Government
and private sector representatives. It aims to integrate the U.S. and
Japanese private sectors more fully into the economic work of the two
Governments. The Commission enables U.S. and Japanese private sector
representatives to present input--including expertise, observations,
and recommendations--on an agenda topic agreed to in advance by the two
Governments. For a description of the goals and structure of the
Commission and the Partnership, see the Annex to the Joint Statement by
President Bush and Prime Minister Koizumi on June 30, 2001, on the
Department of Commerce Web site at: http://www.mac.doc.gov/japan/source/menu/partnership/partnership2.html
.
Topic
The Commission topic is selected annually. This year's topic is
``Advancing U.S.-Japan Economic Cooperation.'' It focuses on how the
United States and Japan can most effectively work together to meet the
emerging challenges facing the global economy. Discussions would center
on greater cooperation in key areas that would include: Developing
methods to ensure that goods and services can flow across borders as
smoothly and securely as possible; fostering economic growth through
new technologies; identifying structural and regulatory reforms that
would expand business opportunities, increase market access, and
promote a more entrepreneurial business climate; and achieving stronger
intellectual property protection.
Duties and Responsibilities of Private Sector Members
Private sector individuals chosen for the Commission will be
expected to be fully involved in all necessary preparatory meetings and
attend the Commission's annual 2004 meeting. That meeting is expected
to be held in mid-2004 in conjunction with a Subcabinet meeting of U.S.
and Japanese Government officials at the Deputy/Vice-Ministerial level
from key economic agencies and ministries and other agencies and
ministries appropriate to the Commission's topic. The number of private
sector Commission members will be limited and will be determined in
coordination with the Japanese Government. Members of the private
sector delegation from the United States will serve for one term.
Members who wish to serve additional terms must apply under the same
rules as other future prospective members.
Private sector members are fully responsible for travel, lodging
and personal expenses associated with their participation in the
Commission. They will receive no compensation. The private sector
members will serve in a representative capacity, presenting the views
and interests of the particular business sector in which they operate;
private sector members are not special government employees. Candidates
will be vetted for pending business before USTR and the Department of
Commerce. Members from the private sector will be chosen based on
criteria set forth in this Notice. Substitutions will not be permitted
if a successful candidate is unable to fulfill his or her Commission
duties.
Candidate Eligibility and Selection Procedures
The process for recruiting and selecting Commission members from
the U.S. private sector is based on objective, written criteria
developed in accordance with the Annex to the Joint Statement by
President Bush and Prime Minister Koizumi. To be eligible for
consideration, each candidate must be a U.S. citizen, be employed by a
U.S. company,\1\ and not be a registered foreign agent under the
Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ A U.S. company is defined in the Procedures and Rules for
Industry Sector Advisory Committees as a firm incorporated in the
United States (or an unincorporated U.S. firm with its principal
places of business in the United States) that is controlled by U.S.
citizens or by another U.S. entity. An entity is not a U.S. company
if 50 percent plus one share of its stock (if a corporation, or a
similar ownership interest of an unincorporated entity) is
controlled, directly or indirectly, by non-U.S. citizens or non-U.S.
entities. If the candidate is to represent an entity or corporation
with 10 percent or greater non-U.S. ownership, the candidate must
demonstrate at the time of selection that this ownership interest
does not constitute control and will not adversely affect his or her
ability to serve on the Commission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
All requests for consideration will be reviewed by the U.S.
Government Secretariat (Secretariat) for the Commission, which is
composed of officials from USTR and the Department of Commerce. Members
of the Secretariat will evaluate each submission based on the
evaluation criteria provided below and recommend a roster of candidates
to the Assistant USTR for North Asian Affairs and the Department of
Commerce's Assistant Secretary for Market Access and Compliance
(Selecting Officials). These Selecting Officials will review the
Secretariat's recommendations and make the final determination on which
candidates will be selected for the 2004 Commission.
Submission Procedures and Evaluation Criteria
To be considered for Commission membership, prospective candidates
must submit a personal resume and a letter of interest on company
letterhead that provides the information and responds directly to the
criteria outlined below. Please limit submissions to these materials,
which must be submitted by individual candidates and not by proxy.
Referrals from political organizations and any references to political
contributions or other partisan political activities will not be
considered in the selection process. The following criteria will be
considered:
Stated reasons the candidate wishes to be considered
for the Commission;
Experience in executive-level positions, such as CEO
of U.S. companies;
Experience doing business with or in Japan;
Expertise in the topic to be considered by the 2004
Commission;
Commitment to undertake any necessary preparatory
work and to participate in any preparatory meetings and the annual
Commission meeting;
Commitment to assume the costs of travel, lodging
and other personal expenses related to Commission participation;
Contributions to Commission membership diversity
based on company size, type, and location; and
Other considerations relevant to the Commission as
described in the Annex to the Joint Statement by President Bush and
Prime Minister Koizumi.
[[Page 13349]]
Other required information that must be included in the application
materials by candidates are:
Name and title of the individual requesting
consideration;
Name and address of the company where the candidate
is employed;
The particular business sector the candidate would
represent;
Company's product or service line;
Company size (market capitalization, annual
revenues, number of employees); and
Company's experience in Japan (exports, sales,
employees, years in Japan).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karin Ryerson, Office of Japan,
Department of Commerce, Room 2320, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue,
NW., Washington, DC 20230, facsimile (202) 482-0469; or John Neuffer,
Office of North Asian Affairs, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative,
600 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508, facsimile (202) 395-3597.
Dated: March 16, 2004.
Wendy Cutler,
Assistant United States Trade Representative for North Asian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 04-6267 Filed 3-19-04; 8:45 am]