U.S.-China Housing Initiative

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

U.S.-China Housing Initiative

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of opportunity to apply to serve on the U.S.-China

Residential Building Council.

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SUMMARY: The U.S.-China Housing Initiative was designed to facilitate a

U.S. opportunity to meet emerging Chinese housing market demands. To

guide and support the U.S.-China Housing Initiative, President Clinton

announced the formation of the U.S.-China Residential Building Council

during the U.S. China Presidential Summit in June of last year. Since

that announcement, U.S. and Chinese officials have agreed on a

structure for the Council and on the mutually beneficial areas of

cooperation. The Departments of Commerce and Housing and Urban

Development are seeking individuals who would like to serve on the

U.S.-China Residential Building Council. Applicants may represent

associations or non-governmental organizations prominent in the housing

industry, or U.S. companies who are interested in the expansion of U.S.

housing-related commercial interests in China. The Council will be made

up of U.S. and Chinese representatives from the construction and

housing policy sectors. Individual Council members will generally

concentrate their efforts on one of the two sectors. The work of the

Council will focus on activities which will assist China in developing

a residential housing industry, residential construction and

rehabilitation, and a housing finance system. The Council will be led

by a Steering Committee with Secretary of Commerce William Daley and

Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Andrew

Cuomo, as the co-chairs. China's Minister of Construction, Yu

Zhengsheng, will represent China.

DATES: In order to receive full consideration, requests must be

received no later than May 7, 1999.

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ADDRESSES: Please send your requests for consideration to U.S.-China

Residential Building Council, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4039,

14th and Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20230. You may fax

your request to (202) 482-0382.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Reiley, Director, Office of

Metals Materials, and Chemicals, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room

4039, 14th and Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20230, (202)

482-0575 telephone, (202) 482-0382 fax.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Members will serve on the Council for a two-

year term at the discretion of the Secretaries. Members are expected to

participate fully in defining the agenda for the Initiative and in

implementing its work programs. It is expected that individuals chosen

for the Council will attend at least 75 percent of Council meetings

which will be held in the United States and China.

Members are fully responsible for travel, accommodation, and

personal expenses associated with their participation in the

Residential Building Council. The members will serve in a

representative capacity presenting the views and interests of the

particular business or housing sector in which they operate.

The U.S.-China Residential Building Council encourages the

development of a housing industry in China and increased bilateral

trade and investment including, but not limited to, the following:

Implementing trade/business development and promotion

programs including trade missions, technical assistance, conferences,

exhibits, seminars and other events; and

Adopting sectoral or project oriented approaches to

support China's residential housing reform efforts.

Implementing housing finance, planning, design, and

building technology seminars and technical exchange to support reform

efforts.

Selection

There are twelve available positions on the U.S. side of the

Residential Business Council. This notice is seeking individuals to

fill all twelve positions. The number of Council positions may be

expanded, should the need arise.

Eligibility requirements. Applicants must:

Be a U.S. citizen residing in the United States or a

permanent United States resident;

Be a CEO or other senior management employee of a U.S.

company or association involved in the residential housing

construction, supply, finance, or community planning sectors;

Not be a registered foreign agent under the Foreign Agents

Registration Act of 1938.

In reviewing eligible applicants, the Commerce Department, in

consultation with HUD, will consider:

The applicant's expertise in either construction building

materials or housing policy and development;

Readiness to initiate and be responsible for the

activities the Council proposes to take on;

An ability to contribute in light of overall Council

composition;

Diversity of company size, type, location, and

demographics.

To be considered for membership, please provide the following: name

and title of the individual requesting consideration; name and address

of the company or association that the individual will represent; the

specific product or service line; size of the company; and export

expertise and major markets. Please also provide a brief statement on

why each candidate should be considered for membership on the Council;

the particular segment of the business community each candidate would

represent; a personal resume; and a statement that the applicant is not

a registered foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1512.

Dated: February 23, 1999.

Robert Reiley,

Director, Office of Metals, Materials and Chemicals.

[FR Doc. 99-5507 Filed 3-4-99; 8:45 am]

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