Notice2023-21652
Notice of Continuation and Request for Nominations for the Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee
Primary source
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
October 2, 2023
Issuing agencies
Trade Representative, Office of United States
Abstract
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) expects to establish a new two-year charter term and is accepting applications from qualified individuals interested in serving as a member of the Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee (TEPAC). The TEPAC is a trade advisory committee that provides general policy advice to the U.S. Trade Representative on trade policy matters that have a significant impact on the environment.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 189 (Monday, October 2, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 189 (Monday, October 2, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67859-67860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21652]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Notice of Continuation and Request for Nominations for the Trade
and Environment Policy Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice and request for applications.
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SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR)
expects to establish a new two-year charter term and is accepting
applications from qualified individuals interested in serving as a
member of the Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee (TEPAC).
The TEPAC is a trade advisory committee that provides general policy
advice to the U.S. Trade Representative on trade policy matters that
have a significant impact on the environment.
DATES: USTR will accept nominations on a rolling basis for membership
on the TEPAC for a new two-year charter term expected to expire in
September 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amanda Mayhew, Office of Environment
and Natural Resources, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bdfcd0dcd3d9dc93ff93f0dcc4d5d8cafdc8cec9cf93d8d2cd93dad2cb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="de9fb3bfb0babff09cf093bfa7b6bba99eabadaaacf0bbb1aef0b9b1a8">[email protected]</span></a> or (202) 395-9629,
or Ethan Holmes, Director for Private Sector Engagement, at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7d3809151c1353305335121110180e3d080e090f5318120d531a120b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cb8ebfa3aaa5e586e583a4a7a6aeb88bbeb8bfb9e5aea4bbe5aca4bd">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background
Section 135(c)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C.
2155(c)(1)), authorizes the President to establish individual general
trade policy advisory committees for industry, labor, agriculture,
services, investment, defense, small business, and other interests, as
appropriate, to provide general policy advice. The President delegated
that authority to the U.S. Trade Representative in Executive Order
11846, section 4(d), issued on March 27, 1975. Pursuant to an executive
order that renewed the TEPAC and extended Executive Order 12905 of
March 25, 1994, the U.S. Trade Representative expects to establish a
new two-year charter term for the TEPAC, which would end in September
2025.
The TEPAC is a trade advisory committee established to provide
general policy advice to the U.S. Trade Representative on trade policy
matters that have a significant impact on the environment. More
specifically, the TEPAC provides general policy advice with respect to
the effect on the environment of the implementation of trade
agreements; negotiating objectives and bargaining positions before
entering into trade agreements; the operation of any trade agreement
once entered into, and other matters arising in connection with the
development, implementation, and administration of the trade policy of
the United States.
The TEPAC meets as needed, at the call either of the U.S. Trade
Representative or their designee, or two-thirds of the TEPAC members,
depending on various factors such as the level of activity of trade
negotiations and the needs of the U.S. Trade Representative.
II. Membership
The TEPAC is composed of not more than 35 members, including, but
not limited to, representatives from environmental interest groups
(including environmental justice), industry (including the
environmental technology and environmental services industries),
agriculture, academia, consumer groups, services, non-governmental
organizations, and others with expertise in trade and environment
matters. USTR intends for the TEPAC to be broadly representative of key
sectors and groups of the economy with an interest in trade and
environmental policy issues. Fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and
accessibility (DEIA) is one of the top priorities.
The U.S. Trade Representative appoints TEPAC members in
consultation with relevant Cabinet Secretaries, as appropriate, for a
term that will not exceed the duration of the charter. Members serve at
the discretion of the U.S. Trade Representative. Individuals can be
reappointed for any number of terms.
The U.S. Trade Representative is committed to a trade agenda that
advances racial equity and supports underserved communities and will
seek advice and recommendations on trade policies that eliminate social
and economic structural barriers to equality and economic opportunity,
and to better understand the projected impact of proposed trade
policies on communities of color and underserved communities. The U.S.
Trade Representative strongly encourages diverse backgrounds and
perspectives and makes appointments to the TEPAC without regard to
political affiliation and in accordance with equal opportunity
practices that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
USTR strives to ensure balance in terms of sectors, demographics, and
other factors relevant to USTR's needs.
TEPAC members serve without either compensation or reimbursement of
expenses. Members are responsible for
[[Page 67860]]
all expenses they incur to attend meetings or otherwise participate in
TEPAC activities. Committee members must be able to obtain and maintain
a security clearance in order to serve and have access to classified
and trade sensitive documents. They must meet the eligibility
requirements at the time of appointment and at all times during their
term of service.
TEPAC members are appointed to represent their sponsoring U.S.
entity's interests on trade and the environment, and thus USTR's
foremost consideration for applicants is their ability to carry out the
goals of section 135(c) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. Other
criteria include the applicant's knowledge of and expertise in
international trade issues as relevant to the work of the TEPAC and
USTR. USTR anticipates that almost all TEPAC members will serve in a
representative capacity with a limited number serving in an individual
capacity as subject matter experts. These members, known as special
government employees, are subject to conflict of interest rules and may
have to complete a financial disclosure report.
III. Request for Nominations
USTR is soliciting nominations for membership on the TEPAC. To
apply for membership, an applicant must meet the following eligibility
criteria at the time of application and at all times during their term
of service as a TEPAC member:
1. The person must be a U.S. citizen.
2. The person cannot be a full-time employee of a U.S. governmental
entity.
3. If serving in an individual capacity, the person cannot be a
federally registered lobbyist.
4. The person cannot be registered with the U.S. Department of
Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
5. The person must be able to obtain and maintain a security
clearance.
6. For representative members, who will comprise almost all of the
TEPAC, the person must represent a U.S. organization whose members (or
funders) have a demonstrated interest in issues relevant to trade and
the environment or have personal experience or expertise in trade and
the environment.
7. For eligibility purposes, a ``U.S. organization'' is an
organization 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), 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, at least 50 percent of the organization's
annual revenue must be attributable to nongovernmental U.S. sources.
8. For members who will serve in an individual capacity, the person
must possess subject matter expertise regarding international trade and
environmental issues.
In order to be considered for TEPAC membership, interested persons
should submit the following to Amanda Mayhew, Office of Environment and
Natural Resources, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0b4a666a656f6a254925466a72636e7c4b7e787f79256e647b256c647d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="91d0fcf0fff5f0bfd3bfdcf0e8f9f4e6d1e4e2e5e3bff4fee1bff6fee7">[email protected]</span></a>, and Ethan Holmes,
Director for Private Sector Engagement, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8cc9f8e4ede2a2c1a2c4e3e0e1e9ffccf9fff8fea2e9e3fca2ebe3fa"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="9fdaebf7fef1b1d2b1d7f0f3f2faecdfeaecebedb1faf0efb1f8f0e9">[email protected]</span></a>:
<bullet> Name, title, affiliation, and contact information of the
individual requesting consideration.
<bullet> If applicable, a sponsor letter on the organization's
letterhead containing a brief description of the manner in which
international trade affects the organization and why USTR should
consider the applicant for membership.
<bullet> The applicant's personal resume.
<bullet> An affirmative statement that the applicant and the
organization they represent meet all eligibility requirements.
USTR will consider applicants who meet the eligibility criteria in
accordance with equal opportunity practices that promote diversity,
equity, inclusion, and accessibility, based on the following factors:
<bullet> Ability to represent the sponsoring U.S. entity's or U.S.
organization's and its subsector's interests on trade and environmental
matters.
<bullet> Knowledge of and experience in trade and environmental
matters relevant to the work of the TEPAC and USTR.
<bullet> How they will contribute to trade policies that eliminate
social and economic structural barriers to equality and economic
opportunity and to understanding of the projected impact of proposed
trade policies on communities of color and underserved communities.
<bullet> Ensuring that the TEPAC is balanced in terms of points of
view, demographics, geography, and entity or organization size.
Roberto Soberanis,
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Intergovernmental Affairs and
Public Engagement, Office of the United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2023-21652 Filed 9-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F3-P
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