Notice2022-07743
Notice of Continuation and Request for Nominations for the Industry Trade Advisory Committees
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Published
April 12, 2022
Issuing agencies
Trade Representative, Office of United States
Abstract
The U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) have established a new four-year charter term ending in February 2026 for the Industry Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs) and are accepting applications from qualified individuals interested in serving as members. The ITACs provide detailed policy and technical advice, information, and recommendations to the Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative regarding trade barriers, negotiation of trade agreements, and implementation of existing trade agreements affecting industry sectors, and perform other advisory functions relevant to U.S. trade policy matters. There currently are opportunities for membership on each ITAC and we will accept nominations throughout the charter term.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21690-21692]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07743]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Notice of Continuation and Request for Nominations for the
Industry Trade Advisory Committees
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice and request for applications.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of Commerce
(Secretary) have established a new four-year charter term ending in
February 2026 for the Industry Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs) and
are accepting applications from qualified individuals interested in
serving as members. The ITACs provide detailed policy and technical
advice, information, and recommendations to the Secretary and the U.S.
Trade Representative regarding trade barriers, negotiation of trade
agreements, and implementation of existing trade agreements affecting
industry sectors, and perform other advisory functions relevant to U.S.
trade policy matters. There currently are opportunities for membership
on each ITAC and we will accept nominations throughout the charter
term.
DATES: We will accept nominations for membership on the ITACs
throughout the four-year charter term.
ADDRESSES: Submit nominations via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cc85988d8f8cb8beada8a9e2aba3ba"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="622b3623212216100306074c050d14">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ingrid Mitchem, Director, Industry
Trade Advisory Center, U.S. Department of Commerce at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ffb6abbebcbf8b8d9e9b9ad1989089"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0a435e4b494a7e786b6e6f246d657c">[email protected]</span></a>,
202-482-3268, or Ethan Holmes, Director of Private Sector Engagement,
Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement, in the
Office of the United States Trade Representative at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7f3a0b171e11513251371013121a0c3f0a0c0b0d511a100f51181009"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2f6a5b474e41016201674043424a5c6f5a5c5b5d014a405f01484059">[email protected]</span></a>, 202-881-9185. You can find additional
information about the ITACs on the International Trade Administration
website at: <a href="https://www.trade.gov/industry-trade-advisory-center">https://www.trade.gov/industry-trade-advisory-center</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2155),
establishes a private-sector trade advisory system to ensure that U.S.
trade policy and trade negotiation objectives adequately reflect U.S.
commercial and economic interests. Section 135(c)(2) (19 U.S.C.
2155(c)(2)) directs the President to establish sectoral or functional
trade advisory committees, as appropriate, including representatives of
industry, labor, agriculture, and services, including small business,
in the sector or functional area concerned, to provide detailed policy
and technical advice, information, and recommendations regarding trade
barriers, negotiation of trade agreements, and implementation of
existing trade agreements affecting industry sectors, and perform other
advisory functions relevant to U.S. trade policy matters as requested.
The ITACs are subject to the provisions of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act. See 19 U.S.C. 2155(f); 5 U.S.C. app. II.
II. What do the ITACs do?
The ITACs provide detailed policy and technical advice,
information, and recommendations to the Secretary and the U.S. Trade
Representative on trade policy matters including:
<bullet> Negotiating objectives and bargaining positions before
entering into trade agreements. The impact of the implementation of
trade agreements on the relevant sector.
<bullet> Matters concerning the operation of any trade agreement
once entered into.
<bullet> Other matters arising in connection with the development,
implementation, and administration of the trade policy of the United
States.
The nonpartisan, industry input provided by the ITACs is important
in developing unified trade policy objectives and positions when the
United States negotiates and implements trade agreements.
The ITACs address market-access problems, trade barriers, tariffs,
discriminatory foreign procurement practices, and information,
marketing, and advocacy needs of their industry sector. Twelve ITACs
(ITACS 1-12) provide advice and information on issues that affect
specific sectors of U.S. industry. Three ITACs (ITACs 13-15) focus on
crosscutting functional issues that affect all industry sectors and
include specifically appointed members along with non-voting members
from the industry specific ITACs to represent a broad range of industry
perspectives. The ITACs may address other trade policy issues, e.g.,
government procurement and subsidies, in ad hoc working groups.
III. What is the ITAC slate for 2022-2026?
When the U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary organize the
ITACs, the Trade Act requires that they consult with interested private
organizations and consider:
<bullet> Patterns of actual or potential competition between U.S.
industry and agriculture and foreign enterprise in international trade.
<bullet> The character of the nontariff barriers and other
distortions affecting such competition.
<bullet> The necessity for reasonable limits on the number and size
of the ITACs.
<bullet> That the product lines covered by each ITAC are reasonably
related.
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Department
of Commerce requested comments on proposed changes to the slate of
ITACs (86 FR 72303) and received 13 written submissions in response. A
majority of the responses substantially supported separating the
current ITAC 5 into two separate ITACs and re-establishing the
Committee of Chairs. We have carefully considered these submissions and
other factors including the nature of the U.S. industry in various
sectors, the level of interest in serving on an ITAC (using the number
of members and applications for appointment during the 2018-2022
charter terms), the level of activity of each ITAC (using the number of
meetings and recommendations submitted during the 2018-2022 charter
terms), and constraints on the resources to support and engage with the
ITACs. Based on all of this information,
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pursuant to section 135(c)(2) of the Trade Act, the Secretary and the
U.S. Trade Representative have established new four-year charter terms
for the following ITACs, that began on February 24, 2022, and will end
on February 24, 2026.
Committee of Chairs
ITAC 1 Aerospace Equipment
ITAC 2 Automotive Equipment and Capital Goods
ITAC 3 Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Health/Science Products and
Services
ITAC 4 Consumer Goods
ITAC 5 Critical Minerals and Nonferrous Metals
ITAC 6 Digital Economy
ITAC 7 Energy and Energy Services
ITAC 8 Forest Products and Building Materials
ITAC 9 Small, Minority, and Woman-led Business
ITAC 10 Services
ITAC 11 Steel
ITAC 12 Textiles and Clothing
ITAC 13 Customs Matters and Trade Facilitation
ITAC 14 Intellectual Property Rights
ITAC 15 Standards and Technical Trade Barriers
IV. Membership
Each ITAC consists of members with experience relevant to the
industry sector for ITACs 1 through 12, or the subject area for ITACs
13 through 15. All ITAC members serve in a representative capacity
(there are no special government employees (SGEs)) and present the
views and interests of a sponsoring U.S. entity or U.S. organization
and the entity's or organization's subsector (if applicable). In
selecting members, the Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative
consider the nominee's ability to carry out the objectives of the ITAC,
including knowledge of the industry and of trade matters relevant to
the work of the ITAC, and ensuring that the ITAC is balanced in terms
of points of view, demographics, geography, and entity or organization
size. The Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative also are
committed to achieving diversity in ITAC membership to the maximum
extent permitted by law and consistent with the need for balanced
industry representation. The Secretary and the U.S. Trade
Representative may seek additional nominations as necessary to attain
membership balance and demographic diversity. Appointments are made
without regard to political affiliation and in accordance with equal
opportunity practices that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and
accessibility.
The Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative appoint all ITAC
members for a term of four-years or until the ITAC charter expires, and
members serve at the discretion of the Secretary and the U.S. Trade
Representative. Individuals can be reappointed for any number of terms.
Appointments are made at the time an ITAC is re-chartered and
periodically throughout the four-year charter term. Appointments expire
at the end of the charter term, in this case, on February 24, 2026.
ITAC members serve without compensation, including reimbursement of
expenses. Members are responsible for all expenses they incur to attend
meetings or otherwise participate in ITAC activities.
The ITACs meet as needed, depending on various factors such as the
level of activity of trade negotiations and the needs of the Secretary
and the U.S. Trade Representative. On average, each ITAC meets six
times a year in Washington DC or via teleconference.
V. Request for Nominations
The Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative are soliciting
nominations for membership on the ITACs.
A. Eligibility Requirements
To apply for membership, an applicant must meet the following
eligibility criteria:
1. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen.
2. The applicant cannot be a full-time employee of a U.S.
governmental entity.
3. The applicant cannot be registered with the U.S. Department of
Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
4. The applicant must be able to obtain and maintain a security
clearance.
5. The applicant must represent either:
a. A U.S. entity that is directly engaged in the import or export
of goods or services or that provides services in direct support of the
international trading activities of other entities; or
b. A U.S. organization that trades internationally, represents
members that trade internationally, or, consistent with the needs of an
ITAC as determined by the Secretary and the Trade Representative,
represents members who have a demonstrated interest in international
trade.
<bullet> For eligibility purposes, a ``U.S. entity'' is a for-
profit firm engaged in commercial, industrial, or professional
activities that is incorporated in the United States (or is an
unincorporated U.S. firm with its principal place of business in the
United States) that is controlled by U.S. citizens or by other U.S.
entities. An entity is not a U.S. entity if 50 percent plus one share
of its stock (if a corporation, or a similar ownership interest of an
unincorporated entity) is known to be controlled, directly or
indirectly, by non-U.S. citizens or non-U.S. entities.
<bullet> For eligibility purposes, a ``U.S. organization'' is an
organization, including a trade association, labor union or
organization, and nongovernmental organization (NGO), established under
the laws of the United States, that is controlled by U.S. citizens, by
another U.S. organization (or organizations), or by a U.S. entity (or
entities), as determined based on its board of directors (or comparable
governing body), membership, and funding sources, as applicable. To
qualify as a U.S. organization, more than 50 percent of the board of
directors (or comparable governing body) and more than 50 percent of
the membership of the organization to be represented must be U.S.
citizens, U.S. organizations, or U.S. entities. Additionally, in order
for an NGO to qualify as a U.S. organization, at least 50 percent of
the NGO's annual revenue must be attributable to nongovernmental U.S.
sources.
<bullet> An applicant who will represent an entity or organization
known to have 10 percent or greater non-U.S. ownership of its shares or
equity, non-U.S. board members, non-U.S. membership, or non-U.S.
funding sources, as applicable, must certify that this non-U.S.
interest does not constitute control and will not adversely affect his/
her ability to serve as a trade advisor to the United States.
<bullet> The Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative have
appointed, and will consider nominees, who represent the public health
or health care community to ITACs 3 and 14, and environmental
viewpoints to ITACs 3 and 8.
B. How do I apply?
To be considered for ITAC membership, interested persons should
submit the following documents to the Director of the Industry Trade
Advisory Center at the U.S. Department of Commerce at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1b524f5a585b6f697a7f7e357c746d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a2ebf6e3e1e2d6d0c3c6c78cc5cdd4">[email protected]</span></a>:
1. A completed ITAC Member Application, available at <a href="http://www.trade.gov/industry-trade-advisory-center">www.trade.gov/industry-trade-advisory-center</a>.
2. A sponsor letter on the entity's or organization's letterhead
containing a brief description of why the Secretary and the U.S. Trade
Representative should consider the individual for membership.
3. The company or organization's profile information or annual
report.
4. The individual's personal resume or comprehensive biography
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demonstrating knowledge of international trade issues.
5. A narrative response of no more than 500 words to the following
prompt:
The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to a trade agenda that
advances racial equity and supports underserved communities. We will
seek advice and recommendations from the ITACs on trade policies that
eliminate social and economic structural barriers to equality and
economic opportunity. We also will seek advice and recommendations from
the ITACs to better understand the projected impact of proposed trade
policies on communities of color and underserved communities. Please
explain how your knowledge and experience will contribute to these
policy objectives.
The Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative will consider
applicants who meet the eligibility criteria based on the following
factors: ability to represent the sponsoring U.S. entity or U.S.
organization and its subsector's interests on trade matters; knowledge
of and experience in trade matters relevant to the work of the ITAC;
and ensuring that the ITAC is balanced in terms of points of view,
demographics, geography, and entity or organization size.
Ethan Holmes,
Director, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement,
Office of the United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2022-07743 Filed 4-11-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3390-F2-P
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