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The
Agricultural Policy
Advisory Committee (APAC) for Trade and six Agricultural Technical Advisory
Committees (ATACs) for Trade are a formal mechanism to ensure ongoing liaison
between the federal government and the private sector regarding agricultural
trade issues. The committees are jointly chartered by the Secretary of
Agriculture and the United States Trade Representative pursuant to the Trade Act
of 1974, as amended. The committees' current charter runs until May 2007.
The APAC and the ATACs consult with, advise and make
recommendations to the Secretary and to the U.S. Trade Representative on a wide
range of agricultural trade issues. The committees provide information and
advice on U.S. negotiating objectives and bargaining positions before the United
States enters into trade agreements; on the operation of existing trade
agreements; and on other matters related to the development, implementation, and
administration of U.S. agricultural trade policy.
The APAC provides trade policy advice regarding all
agricultural trade issues, while the ATACs provide detailed technical advice and
information on specific commodities. The six technical advisory committees are:
Background: The APAC and the ATACs were formed in
1974, when 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. Private sector agricultural
advisors were first used on an ad hoc basis in the Kennedy Round of the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) as part of the U.S. policy development and
review process during the multilateral trade negotiations of the 1960's.
The Trade Act of 1974 included a formal mechanism for
agricultural advisory committees. This advisory mechanism proved to be so
successful during the 1979 Tokyo Round of GATT multilateral trade negotiations
that the legislation to implement the agreements of the Tokyo Round included a
provision to continue gathering advice from the private sector through advisory
committees.
Today the private sector trade advisory system 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 six ATACs. The Departments of Commerce and Labor also administer
policy and technical or sectoral committees.
Meeting and Membership Information: Members of
the APAC and ATACs are appointed to the advisory committees by, and serve at the
discretion of, the Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative.
The advisory committees must represent a balance between
varied interests. All members must have demonstrated leadership qualities. ATAC
members must have commodity expertise, and knowledge of the effects that various
trade barriers—or the lack of barriers—can have on the commodities they
represent. All members should be recognized leaders in their fields, and be able
to defend those interests fully and professionally.
Due to the sensitive nature of the issues discussed,
committee meetings are generally closed to the public and all members are
required to hold a confidential security clearance. Meetings are held in
Washington, D.C.
The committees meet, on average, three times per year,
but meetings may be called more often. Committee members serve at their own
expense, are not compensated for their services, and do not receive per diem or
travel funds.
For more information, contact:
Office of Negotiations and Agreements
Foreign Agricultural Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Ag Stop 1048
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20250-1001
Tel: (202) 720-6219
Fax: (202) 720-0340
General information about FAS programs, resources, and
services is available on the FAS Web site:
http://www.fas.usda.gov
USDA to Re-Establish Agricultural Trade Advisory Committees
(03/20/07)
APAC/ATAC Press Release
(Aug. 2005)