1452 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 8 / Thursday, January 11, 2018 / Notices 

For Burma, the existing ongoing 

restrictions referenced in 22 CFR 126.1, 

pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act; 

For China, the existing ongoing 

restriction on exports to China of crime 

control and detection instruments and 

equipment, under the Foreign Relations 

Authorization Act of 1990 and 1991 

(Pub. L. 101–246), pursuant to section 

402(c)(5) of the Act; 

For Eritrea, the existing ongoing 

restrictions referenced in 22 CFR 126.1, 

pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act; 

For Iran, the existing ongoing travel 

restrictions in section 221(c) of the Iran 

Threat Reduction and Syria Human 

Rights Act of 2012 (TRA) for individuals 

identified under section 221(a)(1)(C) of 

the TRA in connection with the 

commission of serious human rights 

abuses, pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of 

the Act; 

For the Democratic People’s Republic 

of Korea, the existing ongoing 

restrictions to which the Democratic 

People’s Republic of Korea is subject, 

pursuant to sections 402 and 409 of the 

Trade Act of 1974 (the Jackson-Vanik 

Amendment), pursuant to section 

402(c)(5) of the Act; 

For Saudi Arabia, a waiver as required 

in the ‘‘important national interest of 

the United States,’’ pursuant to section 

407 of the Act; 

For Sudan, the restriction in the 

annual Department of State, Foreign 

Operations, and Related Programs 

Appropriations Act on making certain 

appropriated funds available for 

assistance to the Government of Sudan, 

currently set forth in section 7042(j) of 

the Department of State, Foreign 

Operations, and Related Programs 

Appropriations Act, 2015 (Div. K, Pub. 

L. 114–113), and any provision of law 

that is the same or substantially the 

same as this provision, pursuant to 

section 402(c)(5) of the Act; 

For Tajikistan, a waiver as required in 

the ‘‘important national interest of the 

United States,’’ pursuant to section 407 

of the Act; 

For Turkmenistan, a waiver as 

required in the ‘‘important national 

interest of the United States,’’ pursuant 

to section 407 of the Act; 

For Uzbekistan, a waiver as required 

in the ‘‘important national interest of 

the United States,’’ pursuant to section 

407 of the Act. 

In addition, the Secretary of State has 

designated the following country as a 

‘‘special watch list’’ country for severe 

violations of religious freedom: 

Pakistan. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Benjamin W. Medina, Office of 

International Religious Freedom, Bureau 

of Democracy, Human Rights, and 

Labor, U.S. Department of State, (Phone: 

(202) 647 3865 or Email: MedinaBW@

state.gov). 

Daniel L. Nadel, 

Director, Office of International Religious 

Freedom, Department of State. 

[FR Doc. 2018–00333 Filed 1–10–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4710–18–P 

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES 

TRADE REPRESENTATIVE 

Notice of Continuation and Request for 

Nominations for the Trade Advisory 

Committee on Africa 

AGENCY: Office of the United States 

Trade Representative. 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

applications. 

SUMMARY: The Office of the United 

States Trade Representative (USTR) is 

establishing a new four-year charter 

term and accepting applications from 

qualified individuals interested in 

serving as a member of the Trade 

Advisory Committee on Africa (TACA). 

The TACA is a trade advisory 

committee that provides general policy 

advice and guidance to the United 

States Trade Representative on trade 

policy and development matters that 

have a significant impact on the 

countries of sub-Saharan Africa. 

DATES: USTR will accept nominations 

on a rolling basis for membership on the 

TACA for the four-year charter term 

beginning in March 2018. To ensure 

consideration before the new charter 

term, you should submit you 

application by February 2, 2018. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Stewart Young, Deputy Assistant U.S. 

Trade Representative for 

Intergovernmental Affairs and Public 

Engagement, SYoung@ustr.eop.gov or 

202–395–2864, or Bennett Harman, 

Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade 

Representative for Africa, BHarman@

ustr.eop.gov or 202–395–9612. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Background 

Section 135(c)(1) of the Trade Act of 

1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2155(c)(1)), 

authorizes the President to establish 

individual general trade policy advisory 

committees for industry, labor, 

agriculture, services, investment, 

defense, small business, and other 

interests, as appropriate, to provide 

general policy advice. The President 

delegated that authority to the United 

States Trade Representative in 

Executive Order 11846, section 4(d), 

issued on March 27, 1975. In addition, 

section 14 of the AGOA Acceleration 

Act of 2004, Public Law 108–274, 118 

Stat. 829–830 (codified at 19 U.S.C. 

3701 note) specifically acknowledged 

the TACA, which USTR established 

under these authorities. Advisory 

committees established by the Trade 

Representative are subject to the 

provisions of the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act. See 19 U.S.C. 2155(f); 5 

U.S.C. App. II. 

Pursuant to these authorities, the 

United States Trade Representative 

intends to establish a new four-year 

charter term for the TACA, which will 

begin on March 19, 2018 and end on 

March 18, 2022. 

The TACA is a discretionary trade 

advisory committee established to 

provide general policy advice to the 

United States Trade Representative on 

trade policy and development matters 

that have a significant impact on the 

countries of sub-Saharan Africa. More 

specifically, the TACA provides general 

policy advice on issues that may affect 

the countries of sub-Saharan Africa 

including: (1) Negotiating objectives and 

bargaining positions before entering into 

trade agreements; (2) the impact of the 

implementation of trade agreements; (3) 

matters concerning the operation of any 

trade agreement once entered into; and 

(4) other matters arising in connection 

with the development, implementation, 

and administration of the trade policy of 

the United States. The TACA also 

facilitates the goals and objectives of the 

African Growth and Opportunity Act 

(AGOA) and assists in maintaining 

ongoing discussions with sub-Saharan 

African trade and agriculture ministries 

and private sector organizations on 

issues of mutual concern, including 

regional and international trade 

concerns and World Trade Organization 

issues. 

The TACA meets as needed, at the 

call of the United States Trade 

Representative or his/her designee, or 

two-thirds of the TACA members, 

depending on various factors such as 

the level of activity of trade negotiations 

and the needs of the United States Trade 

Representative. 

II. Membership 

The TACA is composed of not more 

than 30 members who have expertise in 

general trade, investment and 

development issues and specific 

knowledge of United States-Africa trade 

and investment trends including trade 

under the AGOA; constraints to trade 

and investment (including 

infrastructure, energy and financing); 

trade facilitation measures; sanitary and 

phyto-sanitary measures and technical 


srobinson on DSK9F5VC42PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 8 / Thursday, January 11, 2018 / Notices 1453 

barriers to trade; trade capacity 

building; investment treaty negotiations; 

United States-Africa investment and 

private sector partnerships; and 

implementation of World Trade 

Organization agreements. Members may 

represent industry, organized labor, 

investment, agriculture, services, nonprofit development organizations, 

academia, and small business. 

The United States Trade 

Representative appoints all TACA 

members for a term of four-years or until 

the TACA charter expires, and they 

serve at his/her discretion. Individuals 

can be reappointed for any number of 

terms. The United States Trade 

Representative makes appointments 

without regard to political affiliation 

and with an interest in ensuring balance 

in terms of sectors, demographics, and 

other factors relevant to the USTR’s 

needs. Insofar as practicable, TACA 

membership will reflect regional 

diversity and be broadly representative 

of key sectors and groups of the 

economy with an interest in trade and 

sub-Saharan Africa issues, including 

U.S. citizens who are diaspora African 

and U.S. citizens of African descent 

with requisite knowledge and 

experience. 

TACA members serve without either 

compensation or reimbursement of 

expenses. Members are responsible for 

all expenses they incur to attend 

meetings or otherwise participate in 

TACA activities. 

The United States Trade 

Representative appoints TACA members 

to represent their sponsoring U.S. 

entity’s interests on sub-Saharan Africa 

trade, and thus USTR’s 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 TACA and USTR. 

USTR anticipates that almost all TACA 

members will serve in a representative 

capacity with a very limited number 

serving in an individual capacity as 

subject matter experts. These members, 

known as special government 

employees or SGEs, are subject to 

conflict of interest rules and will have 

to complete a financial disclosure 

report. 

III. Request for Nominations 

USTR is soliciting nominations for 

membership on the TACA. To apply for 

membership, an applicant must meet 

the following eligibility criteria: 

1. The applicant must be a U.S. 

citizen. 

2. The applicant cannot be a full-time 

employee of a U.S. governmental entity. 

3. If serving in an individual capacity 

as an SGE, the applicant cannot be a 

federally registered lobbyist. 

4. The applicant cannot be registered 

with the U.S. Department of Justice 

under the Foreign Agents Registration 

Act. 

5. The applicant must be able to 

obtain and maintain a security 

clearance. 

6. For representative members, who 

will comprise the overwhelming 

majority of the TACA, the applicant 

must represent a U.S. organization 

whose members (or funders) have a 

demonstrated interest in issues relevant 

to U.S. African trade and investment or 

have personal experience or expertise in 

United States-sub-Saharan African 

trade. 

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. 

7. For members who will serve in an 

individual capacity, the applicant must 

possess subject matter expertise 

regarding sub-Saharan Africa trade 

issues. 

In order to be considered for TACA 

membership, interested persons should 

submit the following to Stewart Young 

at SYoung@ustr.eop.gov: 

• Name, title, affiliation, and contact 

information of the individual requesting 

consideration. 

• 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. 

• The applicant’s personal resume or 

comprehensive biography. 

• An affirmative statement that the 

applicant and the organization he or she 

represents meet all eligibility 

requirements. 

USTR will consider applicants who 

meet the eligibility criteria based on the 

following factors: Ability to represent 

the sponsoring U.S. entity’s or U.S. 

organization’s and its subsector’s 

interests on sub-Saharan Africa trade 

matters; knowledge of and experience in 

trade matters relevant to the work of the 

TACA and USTR; and ensuring that the 

TACA is balanced in terms of points of 

view, demographics, geography, and 

entity or organization size. 

Stewart Young, 

Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative 

for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public 

Engagement, Office of the United States Trade 

Representative. 

[FR Doc. 2018–00338 Filed 1–10–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3290–F8–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Fifty Fifth RTCA SC–224 Standards for 

Airport Security Access Control 

Systems Plenary 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), U.S. Department 

of Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Fifty Fifth RTCA SC–224 

Standards for Airport Security Access 

Control Systems Plenary. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing this notice 

to advise the public of a meeting of Fifty 

Fifth RTCA SC–224 Standards for 

Airport Security Access Control 

Systems Plenary. 

DATES: The meeting will be held 

February 22, 2018 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at: 

RTCA Headquarters, 1150 18th Street 

NW, Suite 910, Washington, DC 20036. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Karan Hofmann at khofmann@rtca.org 

or 202–330–0680, or The RTCA 

Secretariat, 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 

910, Washington, DC 20036, or by 

telephone at (202) 833–9339, fax at (202) 

833–9434, or website at http://

www.rtca.org. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant 

to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92– 

463, 5 U.S.C., App.), notice is hereby 

given for a meeting of the Fifty Fifth 

RTCA SC–224 Standards for Airport 

Security Access Control Systems 

Plenary. The agenda will include the 

following: 

1. Welcome/Introductions/ 

Administrative Remarks 

2. Review/Approve Previous Meeting 

Summary 

3. Report on TSA Participation 

4. Report on Document Distribution 

Mechanisms 


srobinson on DSK9F5VC42PROD with NOTICES