[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 12, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18575-18576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9006]



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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]
BILLING CODE 3410-10-M