Agricultural Advisory Committees for Trade

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service

Agricultural Advisory Committees for Trade

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Rechartering of the 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

rechartered the following advisory committees:

--Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade

--Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and

Animal Products

--Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Fruits and

Vegetables

--Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Grains, Feed,

and Oilseeds

--Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Sweeteners and

Sweetener Products

--Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Tobacco,

Cotton, and Peanuts

The purpose of these committees is to provide advice to the

Secretary of Agriculture 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 U.S. Trade

Representative determines that the committees will be discussing issues

the disclosure of which justify closing such meetings or portions

thereof in accordance with 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 U.S. Department of Agriculture

(USDA) imposed by the Trade Act of 1974, as amended.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments regarding the reestablishment

of these committees should be addressed to Paula Scott or Denise Bell,

Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), USDA, Room 5065-S, Washington, DC

20250-1000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee

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

Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative are

reestablishing the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade

(APAC) and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committees for Trade

(ATACs). 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 APAC; and more than 30

technical advisory committees including the ATACs. The duties of the

APAC are to provide the Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. 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 is comprised of

approximately 50 members. The members elect a chairperson from the

membership of the committee. The Assistant to the Administrator, FAS,

and the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative,

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Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison, Office of the U.S. Trade

Representative, are the Committee's Joint Executive Secretaries. Each

of the ATACs is comprised 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 FAS shall serve

as the Executive Secretary of each Technical Advisory Committee. Each

committee is chartered for a period of 2 years, at which time all

appointments expire. Reappointments are made at the discretion of the

Secretary of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative.

Issued at Washington, DC, this 31st day of March, 1999.

Dated: March 31, 1999.

Sally Thompson,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Administration.

[FR Doc. 99-9183 Filed 4-12-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-10-M