[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 111 (Friday, June 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 29049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14407]



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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 111 / Friday, June 7, 1996 / 
Notices

[[Page 29049]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Foreign Agricultural Service


Notice of a Program To Provide for the Sharing of United States 
Agricultural Expertise With Emerging Markets

AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice contains information concerning a U.S. Department 
of Agriculture technical assistance program that was amended by the 
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 in order to 
provide such assistance to emerging markets. This notice replaces the 
Federal Register notice published on June 3, 1992 (57 FR 23374).

DATES: This notice is effective immediately.

ADDRESSES: Requests for information should be addressed to the 
Director, Emerging Markets Office, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Room 6506, South Building, Washington, DC 
20250; Fax (202) 690-4369.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Description of Program

    The Emerging Markets Program is authorized by section 1542(d) of 
the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990, as amended 
(1990 Act). Section 1542(d) provides that:
    For each of the fiscal years 1991 through 2002, the Secretary of 
Agriculture . . . in order to develop, maintain, or expand markets for 
United States agricultural exports, is directed to make available to 
emerging markets the expertise of the United States.
    The expertise is to be used to assess, recommend, and identify 
projects and activities, including those that have the potential to 
reduce trade barriers, to enhance the food and rural business systems 
needs of emerging markets, and to provide technical assistance to 
implement such projects and activities.
    The Emerging Markets Office (EMO) of the Foreign Agricultural 
Service is responsible for the management and implementation of the 
Emerging Markets Program.

2. Country Eligibility

    Section 1542(f) of the 1996 Act provides that an emerging market is 
any country that:

--Is taking steps toward a market-oriented economy through the food, 
agriculture, or rural business sectors of the economy of the country; 
and
--Has the potential to provide a viable and significant market for 
United States commodities or products of United States agricultural 
commodities.

    In order to determine whether a country has the potential to 
provide a viable and significant market for U.S. agricultural 
commodities and products, EMO will consider various factors, including:
    (a) Per capita income less than $8355 (the food aid per capita 
income cut-off figure of OECD's Development Assistance Committee);
    (b) Population greater than 1 million; or
    (c) Positive economic growth factors.

3. Assessments, Recommendations and Identification of Opportunities 
and Projects

    Section 1542(d)(1)(B) of the 1990 Act provides that the Secretary 
may select teams of experts to conduct assessments (including an 
analysis of the food and rural business needs of an emerging market), 
make recommendations, and identify opportunities and projects which 
technical expertise could be provided to address those needs.
    Teams of experts will not be used if sufficient information is 
available from existing information to determine whether technical 
assistance is needed to implement a project. Under other circumstances 
the Secretary may select an individual or firm to provide the same 
services as those of a team of experts. A data base of experts is 
maintained by EMO and the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Persons interested 
in being included in the data base may write EMO for information. In 
addition, an advisory committee, authorized by the 1990 Act and the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, may provide advice to the Secretary 
concerning assessments, recommendations, and the identification of 
opportunities and projects for which technical assistance would be 
utilized.

45. Technical Assistance

    In accordance with section 1542(d)(1)(D) of the 1990 Act, the 
Secretary is authorized to provide or pay for technical assistance, 
including the establishment of extension services, to enable 
individuals or other entities to implement recommendations or to carry 
out identified opportunities or projects. If USDA does not have the 
expertise to provide needed technical assistance, USDA will consider 
entering into contracts, or cooperative agreements with non-USDA 
sources in order to obtain the needed expertise. In such instances, 
USDA will solicit technical assistance through the Commerce Business 
Daily. Contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements will be awarded 
according to USDA policies, guidelines, and regulations, which are 
available from EMO on request.

5. Selection

    Factors used to determine whether the Secretary will provide or pay 
for technical assistance to implement projects may include:

1. Amount of private sector contributions;
2. Prospects for developing, maintaining or increasing U.S. 
agricultural exports;
3. Long-range impact on U.S. agricultural exports;
4. Enhancement of emerging markets' food and rural business systems;
5. Impact on the transformation of host country economics to free 
market systems;
6. Compatibility with U.S. foreign policy interests; and
7. Cost

    Signed at Washington, D.C. on May 31, 1996.
August Schumacher, Jr.,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. 96-14407 Filed 6-6-96; 8:45 am]
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