[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 111 (Friday, June 11, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 31368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12321]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Notification of the First United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement 
Labor Council Meeting

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Parties to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement 
(USMCA) intend to hold the first meeting of the Labor Council 
virtually, on June 29, 2021. The session will include a government-to-
government Labor Council meeting and a virtual public session on 
implementation of the USMCA labor chapter. The Office of the United 
States Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Department of Labor 
(DOL) seek suggestions for topics to be discussed during the Labor 
Council meeting and questions from the public in advance of the public 
session.

DATES: June 29, 2021: The Parties will host a virtual public session on 
USMCA Chapter 23 (Labor) implementation from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 
EDT.
    June 22, 2021: Deadline for submission of written suggestions for 
the Labor Council meeting topics and questions for the public session.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments with the subject line `USMCA Labor 
Council Meeting' to Brenna Dougan, Director for Labor Affairs, USTR by 
email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f9acaab4bab8d795989b968bb98c8a8d8bd79c9689d79e968f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b4e1e7f9f7f59ad8d5d6dbc6f4c1c7c0c69ad1dbc49ad3dbc2">[email protected]</span></a>, and Samantha Tate, Division Chief 
for USMCA Monitoring and Enforcement, Office of Trade and Labor 
Affairs, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, DOL by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1c55505d5e315369686e797d7f745c585350327b736a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="256c696467086a5051574044464d65616a690b424a53">[email protected]</span></a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brenna Dougan, Director for Labor 
Affairs, USTR at 202-395-7391, or Samantha Tate, Division Chief for 
USMCA Monitoring and Enforcement, Office of Trade and Labor Affairs, 
Bureau of International Labor Affairs, DOL at 202-693-4920.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Article 23.14 of the USMCA establishes a Labor Council composed of 
senior government representatives from trade and labor ministries that 
must meet within one year of the date of entry into force of the USMCA. 
Thereafter, the Labor Council meets every two years, unless the Parties 
decide otherwise. The Labor Council may consider any matter within the 
scope of Chapter 23 (Labor) and perform other functions as the Parties 
may decide. In conducting its activities, including meetings, the Labor 
Council must provide a means for receiving and considering the views of 
interested persons on matters related to the labor chapter. If 
practicable, meetings will include a public session or other means for 
Council members to meet with the public to discuss matters relating to 
the implementation of Chapter 23 (Labor). Labor Council decisions and 
reports are made by consensus and will be made publicly available, 
unless the Council decides otherwise. The Labor Council issues a joint 
summary report or statement on its work at the end of each Council 
meeting.

II. Labor Council Meeting

    The Labor Council will include a government-to-government session 
to discuss Parties' Chapter 23 (Labor) obligations and a virtual public 
session. The government-to-government session will not be open to the 
public.

III. Public Session on USMCA Chapter 23 Implementation

    The Labor Council invites members of the public to attend a virtual 
public session on June 29, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EDT, to 
address USMCA Chapter 23 (Labor) implementation. At the session, the 
Labor Council will welcome questions, input, and information concerning 
the implementation of Chapter 23 obligations. Details on how to access 
the public session will be made available by June 22 on the USTR 
website at https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/labor, and on the DOL website 
at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/our-work/trade/labor-rights-usmca.

IV. Comments

    DOL and USTR invite comments suggesting topics for the United 
States government to consider as it prepares for the Labor Council 
meeting, and specific questions that could be addressed at the public 
session. When preparing comments, we encourage submitters to refer to 
Chapter 23 of the USMCA (https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/files/agreements/FTA/USMCA/Text/23-Labor.pdf) and the USMCA Interagency Labor 
Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement Interim Procedural Guidelines 
for Petitions Pursuant to the USMCA (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/06/30/2020-14086/interagency-labor-committee-for-monitoring-and-enforcement-procedural-guidelines-for-petitions).

Joshua Kagan,
Acting Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Labor, Office of the 
United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2021-12321 Filed 6-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F1-P


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