Notice2023-12446
Request for Comments on Advancing Inclusive, Worker-Centered Trade Policy
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Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 12, 2023
Issuing agencies
Trade Representative, Office of United States
Abstract
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is exploring how trade and investment policy may be designed to expand the benefits of trade to include underserved and marginalized communities here in the United States and with trading partners who share concerns about rising inequality. In order to develop inclusive objectives and positions in all trade and investment policy areas for both enhanced engagement and subsequent negotiations, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative invites public comments.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 112 (Monday, June 12, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 112 (Monday, June 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38118-38119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12446]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
[Docket Number USTR-2023-0004]
Request for Comments on Advancing Inclusive, Worker-Centered
Trade Policy
AGENCY: Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is exploring how
trade and investment policy may be designed to expand the benefits of
trade to include underserved and marginalized communities here in the
United States and with trading partners who share concerns about rising
inequality. In order to develop inclusive objectives and positions in
all trade and investment policy areas for both enhanced engagement and
subsequent negotiations, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
invites public comments.
DATES: The deadline for submission of written comments is August 11,
2023. Comments received after this date will be considered for future
advisory, communication, and outreach efforts to the extent
practicable.
ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through
the Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. For
alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact Megan Paster, in
advance of the deadline at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e1a88f828d9492889784b593808584a1b4b2b5b3cfa4aeb1cfa6aeb7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="de97b0bdb2abadb7a8bb8aacbfbabb9e8b8d8a8cf09b918ef0999188">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Issues regarding submissions or
questions about this request for comments should be sent to Megan
Paster at (202) 395-6116 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4b022528273e38223d2e1f392a2f2e0b1e181f19650e041b650c041d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2a634449465f59435c4f7e584b4e4f6a7f797e78046f657a046d657c">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The President's Trade Agenda now includes the ambition for all U.S.
trade policy tools, engagements, and new trade initiatives to
incorporate and reflect the core principles outlined in the President's
Executive Order (E.O.) 13985 on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for
Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government and E.O. 14025
on Worker Organizing and Empowerment; the United States inaugural
National Strategies on Gender Equity and Equality and to Advance
Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian,
and Pacific Islander Communities; and the Presidential Memoranda on
Tribal Consultation and Strengthening the Nation-to-Nation
Relationships and Advancing the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Persons Around the World.
Additionally, the U.S. Trade Representative co-chairs the White
House Initiative and President's Advisory Commission on Asian
Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders and serves on the
White House Council on Native American Affairs and the Gender Policy
Council.
To inform the development of inclusive, worker-centered trade
policy and investment, USTR seeks comments and recommendations on trade
and investment policy actions, including responsible business conduct,
to advance racial and gender equity and support for historically
underserved communities.
Definitions. Consistent with E.O. 13985 and previously referenced
[[Page 38119]]
National Strategies and Presidential Memoranda, this request for public
comment supports the effort to ``pursue a comprehensive approach to
advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have
been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by
persistent poverty and inequality'' and uses the following definitions:
(a) The term ``equity'' means the consistent and systematic
fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including
individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been
denied such treatment, such as women and girls; Black, Latino, and
Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans, Native
Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members
of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer,
and intersex (LGBTQI+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons
who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by
persistent poverty or inequality.
(b) The term ``underserved communities'' refers to populations
sharing a particular characteristic, as well as geographic
communities, that have been systematically denied a full opportunity
to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life, as
exemplified by the list in the preceding definition of ``equity.''
(c) In addition, the term ``interested parties'' involves any
individual or organization that believes it has interest in
international trade, including but not limited to: labor,
environmental, business (including micro, small, and medium-sized
enterprises), consumer organizations, think tanks, civil society,
and academia (including Historically Black Colleges and
Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving
Institutions, Asian American & Native American, Pacific Islander-
Serving Institutions, and other minority serving institutions);
local, State, Tribal, and Territorial authorities; civil, human
rights, and faith-based organizations, and community-based
organizations that represent the interests of women, Indigenous
Peoples, persons with disabilities, rural and remote populations,
members of racial, ethnic, or religious minorities, and LGBTQI+
persons; individuals and members of and organizations representing
the interests of underserved communities.
II. Public Comment
USTR invites interested parties to submit comments to inform the
development of inclusive objectives and positions on all trade and
investment policy areas. Interested parties may provide inclusive trade
and investment policy comments regarding a specific group or a
combination of members of underserved communities.
Responses should:
[ssquf] Be written in clear, concise, and plain language;
[ssquf] Not include any information that cannot be made publicly
available;
[ssquf] Not exceed 10 pages;
[ssquf] Include the name of the individual and organization
responding and a brief description of the responding individual or
organization; and
[ssquf] If applicable, identify the specific question(s) addressed
in the submission.
In submitting comments, parties are invited to consider any or all
of the following questions.
[ssquf] What meaningful and substantive trade policies, actions, or
provisions should policy and decision makers consider that would
advance racial and gender equity, equality, and empowerment in U.S.
trade and investment policy? If applicable, what existing tools can be
better utilized for these goals?
[ssquf] What new and innovative tools, structures, and capacity
should the U.S. Government adopt to advance inclusive trade and
investment policy? Please identify data gaps that, if addressed, would
be most helpful in undertaking meaningful impact analysis.
[ssquf] How can trade and investment policy address multiple,
intersecting barriers to advancing equity for underserved persons
(e.g., rural communities, race/ethnicity, gender, and persons with
disabilities)?
[ssquf] What best practices should USTR consider to ensure that
advancing equity, equality, and economic empowerment is standardized in
community and stakeholder engagement regarding the development and
implementation of U.S. trade and investment policy?
[ssquf] Are there specific engagement and consultation
considerations and/or processes that policy makers should consider in
incorporating equity into U.S. trade and investment policy?
[ssquf] What key actions should the U.S. Government pursue with
trade partners and allies to ensure that the benefits from trade and
investment policy reach underserved communities?
[ssquf] Are there trade policies, provisions, or actions which are
detrimental to advancing racial and gender equity, equality, and
economic empowerment? If so, please specify the relevant policy,
program, and/or provision, and if available, provide data or analysis
that would be useful evidence of this detrimental effect. Do you have a
recommendation for how this should be corrected?
[ssquf] How can trade policymaking better respond to the specific
interests of different U.S. regions and local communities?
III. Requirements for Submissions
You must submit comments by the August 11, 2023 deadline. You must
make all submissions in English via <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, using Docket
Number USTR-2023-0004. USTR prefers submissions in Microsoft Word
(.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If the submission is in an application
other than those two, please indicate the name of the application in
the `type comment' field. USTR will not accept hand-delivered
submissions.
To make a submission using <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, enter Docket Number
USTR-2023-0004 in the `search for' field on the home page and click
`search.' The site will provide a search results page listing all
documents associated with this docket. Find a reference to this notice
by selecting `notice' under `document type' in the `refine documents
results' section on the left side of the screen and click on the link
entitled `comment.' The <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> website offers the option of
providing comments by filling in a `comment' field or by attaching a
document using the `attach files' field.
USTR prefers that you provide submissions in an attached document
and note `see attached' in the `comment' field on the online submission
form. At the beginning of the submission, or on the first page (if an
attachment) include the following: `Advancing Inclusive, Worker-
Centered Trade Policy.' Include any cover letters, exhibits, annexes,
or other attachments to the submission in the same file as the
submission itself, and not as separate files.
You will receive a tracking number upon completion of the
submission procedure at <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>. The tracking number is
confirmation that <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> received the submission. Keep the
confirmation for your records. USTR is not able to provide technical
assistance for <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>. USTR may not consider documents that
you do not submit in accordance with these instructions.
If you are unable to provide submissions as requested, please
contact Megan Paster in advance of the deadline at (202) 395-6116 or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f8b1969b948d8b918e9dac8a999c9db8adabacaad6bdb7a8d6bfb7ae"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="de97b0bdb2abadb7a8bb8aacbfbabb9e8b8d8a8cf09b918ef0999188">[email protected]</span></a> to arrange for an alternative method of
transmission.
USTR will place comments in the docket for public inspection.
General information concerning USTR is available at <a href="http://www.ustr.gov">www.ustr.gov</a>.
Jamila Thompson,
Senior Advisor to the U.S. Trade Representative, Office of the U.S.
Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2023-12446 Filed 6-9-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3390-F3-P
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