Notice2023-22880
Notice of Establishment and Request for Nominations for the Seasonal and Perishable Agricultural Products Advisory Committee
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Published
October 17, 2023
Issuing agencies
Trade Representative, Office of United States
Abstract
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have established a new trade advisory committee known as the Seasonal and Perishable Agricultural Products Advisory Committee (Committee) to provide advice and recommendations to the U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of Agriculture in connection with U.S. trade policy that concerns administrative actions and legislation that would promote the competitiveness of Southeastern U.S. producers of seasonal and perishable agricultural products. USTR is accepting applications from qualified individuals interested in serving a four-year term as a Committee member.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 199 (Tuesday, October 17, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71638-71640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22880]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Notice of Establishment and Request for Nominations for the
Seasonal and Perishable Agricultural Products 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)
and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have established a new
trade advisory committee known as the Seasonal and Perishable
Agricultural Products Advisory Committee (Committee) to provide advice
and recommendations to the U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary
of Agriculture in connection with U.S. trade policy that concerns
administrative actions and legislation that would promote the
competitiveness of Southeastern U.S. producers of seasonal and
perishable agricultural products. USTR is accepting applications from
qualified individuals interested in serving a four-year term as a
Committee member.
DATES: USTR will accept nominations on a rolling basis for Committee
membership for an initial four-year charter term.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ethan Holmes, Director for Private
Sector Engagement, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#febb8a969f90d0b3d0b69192939b8dbe8b8d8a8cd09b918ed0999188"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d590a1bdb4bbfb98fb9dbab9b8b0a695a0a6a1a7fbb0baa5fbb2baa3">[email protected]</span></a>, (202) 881-9185.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background
Section 135(c)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C.
2155(c)(2)), authorizes the President to establish appropriate sectoral
or functional trade advisory committees. 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 this authority, the U.S Trade Representative, jointly
with the Secretary of Agriculture, established the Committee to provide
advice and recommendations to them on trade policy and development
matters that have a significant relationship to administrative actions
and legislation that would promote the competitiveness of Southeastern
U.S. producers of seasonal and perishable agricultural products.
The Committee meets as needed in person or by virtual or telephone
conference, generally four times per year, at the call either of the
U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of Agriculture or their
designee, depending on various factors such as the level of activity of
trade negotiations and the needs of the U.S. Trade Representative and
the Secretary of Agriculture.
II. Membership
The U.S. Trade Representative and Secretary of Agriculture jointly
appoint up to 25 members who represent the views and interests of
Southeast U.S. producers of seasonal and perishable agricultural
products. In addition to general trade, investment, and development
issues, members must have expertise in areas such as:
<bullet> growing and selling seasonal and perishable fruits and
vegetables.
<bullet> understanding the needs and market dynamics affecting
producers of seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables in the
Southeastern United States.
<bullet> understanding the existing State and Federal support
programs and resources for producers of seasonal and perishable fruits
and vegetables.
<bullet> developing and presenting actionable recommendations to
U.S. Government officials.
To ensure that the Committee is broadly representative, USTR and
USDA will consider qualified representatives of key sectors and groups
of the economy with an interest in seasonal and perishable produce
within the Southeastern United States. Fostering diversity, equity,
inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) is one of the top priorities.
The U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of Agriculture
appoint members jointly and members serve at their discretion. Members
serve for a term of up to four years or until the Committee is
scheduled to expire. The U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of
Agriculture may reappoint individuals for any number of terms.
The U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of Agriculture are
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. USTR and USDA strongly encourage diverse
backgrounds and perspectives and makes appointments to the Committee
without regard to political affiliation and in accordance with equal
opportunity practices that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and
accessibility. USTR and USDA strive to ensure balance in terms of
sectors, demographics, and other factors relevant to USTR's needs.
Committee members serve without either compensation or
reimbursement of expenses. Members are responsible for all expenses
they incur to attend meetings or otherwise participate in Committee
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.
Committee members are appointed to represent their sponsoring U.S.
entity's interests on U.S. trade policy that affects the
competitiveness of Southeastern U.S. producers of seasonal and
perishable agricultural products, and thus the 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 Committee, USTR and USDA. USTR anticipates
that almost all Committee 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 Committee. 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 Committee 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
Committee, 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 Committee membership, interested
persons should submit the following to Ethan Holmes, Director for
Private Sector Engagement, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b6f3c2ded7d898fb98fed9dadbd3c5f6c3c5c2c498d3d9c698d1d9c0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d194a5b9b0bfff9cff99bebdbcb4a291a4a2a5a3ffb4bea1ffb6bea7">[email protected]</span></a>:
<bullet> Name, title, affiliation, and contact information of the
individual requesting consideration.
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<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 U.S. trade policy that
affects the competitiveness of Southeastern U.S. producers of seasonal
and perishable agricultural products trade and environmental matters,
as described in more detail in part II above, that is relevant to the
work of the Committee, USTR and USDA.
<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 Committee 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. 2023-22880 Filed 10-16-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3390-F4-P
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