Agricultural Policy Advisory Committees for Trade, et al.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agriculture Service

Agricultural Policy Advisory Committees for Trade, et al.

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Reestablishment of Agricultural Advisory Committees for Trade.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Secretary of Agriculture,

after consultation with the United States Trade Representative, has

reestablished the following advisory committees: Agricultural Policy

Advisory Committee for Trade and five separate Agricultural Technical

Advisory Committees (ATAC) for Trade in: Fruits and Vegetables; Animals

and Animal Products; Grains, Feed, and Oilseeds; Tobacco, Cotton, and

Peanuts; Sweeteners. The purpose of these committees is to provide

advice to the Secretary and the U.S. Trade Representative with respect

to the trade policy of the United States pursuant to section 135(c) of

the Trade Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-618) as amended. Meetings of these

committees will be open to the public, unless the Secretary or the

Trade Representative otherwise determine that the committees will be

discussing issues the disclosure of which justify closing such meetings

or portions thereof in accordance with matters listed in section 552(c)

of Title 5 of the United States Code.

The renewal of such committees is in the public interest in

connection with the duties of the Department imposed by the Trade Act

of 1974, as amended.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Comments regarding the reestablishment of these committees should be

addressed to John Winski or Denise Burgess, Foreign Agricultural

Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Room 5065-S,

Washington, DC 20250-1000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee

Act (5 U.S.C. Appendix), notice is hereby given that the Secretary of

Agriculture and the United States Trade Representative are

reestablishing the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade and

the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade. In 1974,

Congress established a private sector advisory committee system to

ensure that U.S. trade policy and trade negotiation objectives

adequately reflect U.S. commercial and economic interests. Congress

expanded and enhanced the role of this system in three subsequent trade

acts. The private sector advisory system now consists of almost 40

committees, arranged in three tiers; The President's Advisory Committee

on Trade and Policy Negotiations (ACTPN); seven policy advisory

committees, including the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for

Trade (APAC); and more than 30 technical advisory committees including

the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade (ATACs). The

duties of the APAC are to provide the Secretary and the Trade

Representative with advice concerning: negotiating objectives and

bargaining positions before entering into a trade agreement; the

operation of an agreement once entered into; and other matters arising

in connection with the administration of the trade policy of the United

States. The duties of the ATACs are to provide advice and information

regarding trade issues which affect both domestic and foreign

production and trade concerning the respective agricultural

commodities, drawing upon the technical competence and experience of

its members. Each committee is required to meet at the conclusion of

negotiations for each trade agreement entered into under the Act to

provide a report on such agreement to the President, to Congress, and

to the U.S. Trade Representative. The APAC consists of 50 members. The

members elect a chairperson from the membership of the committee. The

Assistant to the Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and the

Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Intergovernmental Affairs and

Public Liaison, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, are the

Committee's Joint Executive Secretaries. Each of the ATACs consist of

approximately 25 members. The members of each committee elect a

chairperson from the membership of the committee. A full-time Federal

Officer or employee of the Foreign Agricultural Service shall serve as

the Executive Secretary of each Technical Advisory Committee. Each

committee is chartered for a period of two years, at which time all

appointments expire. Reappointments are made at the discretion of the

Secretary and of the U.S.Trade Representative.

[[Page 18576]] Issued at Washington, DC this 31st day of March.

Wardell Townsend, Jr.,

Assistant Secretary for Administration.

[FR Doc. 95-9006 Filed 4-11-95; 8:45 am]

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