[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 108 (Friday, June 5, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30813-30814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14960]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY


Treasury Advisory Committee on International Child Labor 
Enforcement

AGENCY: Departmental Offices, Treasury.

ACTION: Proposed establishment of the Treasury Advisory Committee on 
International Child Labor Enforcement (``the Committee'') and 
solicitation of applications for committee membership.

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SUMMARY: The Treasury Department has determined that it is in the 
public interest to establish an Advisory Committee on International 
Child Labor Enforcement. A Charter for the Committee has been prepared 
and will be filed 15 days following the date of publication of this 
notice. This notices establishes criteria and procedures for the 
selection of members.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dennis M. O'Connell, Director, Office of Tariff and Trade Affairs, 
Office of the Under Secretary (Enforcement), (202) 622-0220. Pursuant 
to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. I (1962), the 
Under Secretary (Enforcement) proposes to establish the following 
advisory committee:
    Title: The Treasury Advisory Committee on International Child Labor 
Enforcement.
    Purpose: The purpose of the Committee is to present advice and 
recommendations to the Secretary of the Treasury regarding the 
enforcement of restrictions on the importation of merchandise 
manufactured in foreign countries using forced or indentured child 
labor.
    Statement of Public Interest: It is in the public interest to 
establish, under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 
the Advisory Committee on International Child Labor Enforcement for an 
initial two-year term. The Committee will provide a critical forum for 
distinguished representatives of nongovernmental organizations, private 
businesses, trade associations, academia, and the public to present 
their views on enforcement of the import restrictions on merchandise 
manufactured overseas with forced or indentured child labor. These 
views are offered directly to senior Treasury and Customs officials on 
a regular basis in a candid atmosphere. There exists no other single 
body that could serve a comparable function.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1307) prohibits 
the importation of ``goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, 
produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in any foreign country by 
convict labor or/and forced labor or/and indentured labor under penal 
sanctions * * *.'' The prohibition is enforced by the United States 
Customs Service in accordance with the Customs Regulations, 19 CFR 
12.42-12.48. A general provision in the Fiscal Year 1998 Treasury 
Appropriations Act made explicit that merchandise manufactured with 
``forced or indentured child labor'' falls within the prohibition of 
Section 307, and also mandated that Customs not use any of the 
appropriation to permit the importation into the United States of such 
merchandise.
    Following the enactment of the FY 1998 appropriations amendment 
regarding child labor, both the Treasury Department and the National 
Economic Council chaired in-depth interagency discussions aimed at 
strengthening the capability of the Executive Branch to enforce the 
prohibition on child labor imports. In his State of Union address on 
January 27, 1998, President Clinton pledged to ``fight the most 
intolerable labor practice of all--abusive child labor.'' The 
establishment of the Committee is intended to create a

[[Page 30814]]

partnership between Executive agencies, labor and human rights advocacy 
groups, industry representatives, and the public to promote effective 
enforcement of the law and to further the President's commitment to 
combat abusive child labor.

Objective, Scope and Description of the Committee

    The Committee will advise the U.S. Treasury Department, the U.S. 
Customs Service, and other Executive agencies, on measures to enhance 
the effectiveness of enforcement of the import prohibition on 
merchandise manufactured in foreign countries with forced or indentured 
child labor. Among other matters, the Committee will assist in 
identifying specific information resources regarding, and avenues of 
productive inquiry into, prohibited child labor operations overseas. A 
major objective of the Committee is to share the expertise of private 
sector specialists regarding methods of operation employed, and 
international trade channels used, by manufacturers and distributors of 
merchandise produced with forced or indentured child labor. The 
ultimate purpose of this combined effort is to support a vigorous law 
enforcement initiative to stop illegal shipments of products of forced 
or indentured child labor and to punish violators.
    Among other things, the Committee may make recommendations in the 
following areas. The Committee may consider additional governmental and 
nongovernmental measures to prevent child labor imports. The Committee 
may recommend measures and furnish information that will assist the 
Executive agencies in establishing a vigorous outreach and educational 
program calling upon industries and individuals in the private sector 
to promote voluntary compliance with the child labor prohibition. The 
Committee may explore avenues for encouraging the cooperation of both 
foreign governments and foreign nongovernmental organizations in 
nations where child labor is widely perceived to be a serious problem 
in order to enlarge the reach and effectiveness of U.S. enforcement 
efforts and resources.
    Private sector members will be selected by the Secretary of the 
Treasury from persons with expertise in the subject of the use of child 
labor in foreign countries, particularly in the production of 
merchandise for international trade and/or who have commercial 
interests that may be affected by governmental enforcement measures. 
Members will be drawn from such organizations as labor rights, human 
rights, and child welfare groups; labor unions; affected private firms 
and trade associations; academic experts and others who possess 
relevant expertise and/or who represent affected constituencies. 
Appointments will be made with the objective of creating a diverse and 
balanced body with a variety of interests, backgrounds, and viewpoints 
represented. In general, there will be at least twelve private sector 
members and not more than twenty. The Committee also will include ex 
officio members from relevant government agencies and entities.
    The Committee will be chaired by the Assistant Secretary of the 
Treasury for Enforcement who may designate another official to serve in 
his absence as Acting Chairperson for purposes of presiding over a 
meeting of the Committee or performing any other duty of the 
Chairperson. The Committee will function for a two-year period before 
renewal or termination. It will meet periodically, but generally not 
more than four times per year, at the Treasury Department in 
Washington. The Committee may elect to hold a meeting(s) at another 
location if there is a consensus that this would further the objectives 
of the Committee.
    The meetings are open to public observers, including the press, 
unless special procedures have been followed to close a meeting.
    No person who is required to register under the Foreign Agents 
Registration Act as an agent or representative of a foreign principal 
may serve on an advisory committee. Members shall not be paid 
compensation nor shall they be considered Federal Government employees 
for any purpose. No per diem, transportation, or other expenses are 
reimbursed for the cost of attending Committee meetings at any 
location.
    Membership on the Committee is personal to the appointee. Regular 
attendance is essential to the effective operation of the Committee. 
However, in the event of an unavoidable absence, a member may designate 
an alternate to represent him or her at a meeting.

Application for Advisory Committee Appointment

    Any interested person wishing to serve on the Treasury Advisory 
Committee on International Child Labor Enforcement must provide the 
following:

--Statement of interest and reasons for application;
--Complete professional biography or resume;

    In addition, applicants must state in their applications that they 
agree to submit to preappointment security and tax checks. There is no 
prescribed format for the application. Applicants may send a cover 
letter describing their interest and qualifications and enclosing a 
resume.
    The application period for interested candidates will extend to 
July 10, 1998. Applications should be submitted in sufficient time to 
be received by the close of business on the closing date and be 
addressed to Dennis M. O'Connell, Director, Office of Tariff and Trade 
Affairs, Office of the Under Secretary (Enforcement), Room 4004, 
Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, 
D.C. 20220, Attention: CHILD 1998.

    Dated: June 2, 1998.
Dennis M. O'Connell,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary (Regulatory, Tariff and Trade 
Enforcement).
[FR Doc. 98-14960 Filed 6-4-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-25-M