[Federal Register: March 8, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 45)]
[Notices]
[Page 11685-11686]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08mr06-124]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Paperwork Reduction Act Notice of Collection of Applications for
Dispute Settlement Rosters
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Request for comments on the collection of applications.
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SUMMARY: Free trade agreements entered into by the United States
require the establishment of lists or rosters of individuals that would
be available to serve as panelists in dispute settlement proceedings.
From time to time, the Office of the United States Trade Representative
(USTR) will collect applications from people who wish to serve on those
panels. USTR solicited comments from the public on this proposed
collection of information and received none. Therefore no changes have
been made to the proposed collection. USTR is now submitting a request
for approval to the Office of Management and Budget pursuant to the
Paperwork Reduction Act.
DATES: Comments regarding this collection of information should be
received no later than April 8, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to David Rostker in the Office
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget.
Fax number, (202) 395-7285, or by e-mail to David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Apol, Office of the United
States Trade Representative, (202) 395-9633.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dispute Settlement Mechanisms of U.S. Free Trade Agreements
U.S. free trade agreements set out detailed procedures for the
resolution of disputes over compliance with the obligations set out in
each agreement. Generally, dispute settlement involves three stages:
(1) Lower level consultations between the disputing Parties to try to
arrive at a mutually satisfactory resolution of the matter; (2)
cabinet-level consultations; and (3) resort to a neutral panel to make
a determination as to whether a Party is in compliance with its
obligations under the agreement. This panel is composed of individuals
chosen by the Parties. The method by which the panel is selected varies
between agreements. Some agreements require the establishment of a
roster, from which panelists shall normally be selected. See e.g. Chile
FTA, Article 22.7. Other agreements allow the Parties to select anyone
as a panelist, after consultations, but provide for a contingent list
from which panelists can be selected by lot, if the Parties do not
otherwise select a panelist. See e.g. Singapore FTA, Article 20.4;
Australia FTA, Article 21.7; Morocco FTA, Article 20.7.
Eligible individuals who wish to be considered for the various
rosters and lists will be invited to submit applications. Persons
submitting applications may either send one copy by fax or transmit a
copy electronically. Applications must be typewritten, and should be
headed ``Application for Consideration as an FTA Panelist.'' Applicants
will be asked to include the following information:
1. Name of the applicant.
2. Business address, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail
address.
3. Citizenship(s).
4. Agreement or agreements for which the applicant wishes to be
considered.
5. Current employment, including title, description of
responsibility, and name and address of employer.
6. Relevant education and professional training.
7. Relevant language fluency, written and spoken.
8. Post-education employment history, including the dates and
addresses of each prior position and a summary of responsibilities.
9. Relevant professional affiliations and certifications,
including, if any, current bar memberships in good standing.
10. A list and copies of publications, testimony, and speeches, if
any, concerning the relevant area of expertise. Judges or former judges
[[Page 11686]]
should list relevant judicial decisions. Only one copy of publications,
testimony, speeches, and decisions need be submitted.
11. Summary of any current and past employment by, or consulting or
other work for, the Government of the United States or for the
government of the other Party to the agreement for which you are to be
considered (e.g. NAFTA, Singapore, Chile, Australia, or Morocco).
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 on FTA dispute settlement panels, including information
relevant to the applicant's familiarity with international trade 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
international trade law.
15. Information regarding any specific skill or experience which
may be relevant to a specific panel for which the applicant is
applying.
Paperwork Burden
It is estimated that approximately 150 individuals a year will
submit applications for various panels and that it will take each
applicant approximately three hours to compile their applications for a
total paperwork burden of 450 hours a year. The recordkeeping cost of
maintaining the information received will be minimal.
David Apol,
Associate General Counsel, Office of the United States Trade
Representative.
[FR Doc. 06-2201 Filed 3-7-06; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W6-M