[Federal Register: December 31, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 251)]
[Notices]
[Page 79953-79954]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31de02-87]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Opportunity To Apply for Membership on the U.S.-Japan Private
Sector/Government Commission
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
ACTION: Notice of membership opportunity.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Government is seeking letters of interest for private
sector membership on the U.S. side of the U.S.-Japan Private Sector/
Government Commission (Commission) for 2003. President Bush and
Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi launched the Commission in June 2001 as
part of the U.S.-Japan Economic Partnership for Growth (Partnership).
The Commission held its inaugural annual meeting in Japan in May 2002.
It is expected that the next meeting will be held in Washington, DC in
the spring of 2003 on the topic of ``Successfully Meeting Economic
Challenges in the 21st Century.''
DATES: In order to receive full consideration, requests must be
received by the Government Secretariat no later than February 12, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Please send requests for consideration on company letterhead
by facsimile or letter to the Government Secretariat for the U.S.-Japan
Private Sector/Government Commission in care of Harrison Cook, Office
of Japan, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 2320, 14th Street and
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230, facsimile (202) 482-
0469. Requests sent by e-mail will not be considered. Candidates chosen
for membership will be notified in writing.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harrison Cook or Karin Ryerson, Office
of Japan, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 2320, 14th Street and
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230, facsimile (202) 482-
0469; or John Neuffer, Office of North Asian Affairs, Office of the
United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW., Washington,
DC 20508, facsimile (202) 395-3597.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
The U.S. Government seeks letters of interest for private sector
membership on the U.S. side of the Commission. President Bush and
Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi launched the Commission in June 2001 as
part of the Partnership. The Commission is made up of U.S. and Japanese
government and private sector representatives. It aims to integrate the
U.S. and Japanese private sectors more fully into the economic work of
the two governments. The Commission will enable U.S. and Japanese
private sector representatives to present input--including expertise,
observations, and recommendations--on agenda topics agreed to in
advance by the two governments. For a description of the goals and
structure of the Commission and the Partnership, see the Annex to the
Joint Statement by President Bush and Prime Minister Koizumi on June
30, 2001, on the Department of Commerce Web site at: http://www.mac.doc.gov/japan/source/menu/partnership/partnership2.html
.
Topic
The Commission topic is selected annually. The topic in 2003 is
``Successfully Meeting Economic Challenges in the 21st Century,'' and
would include discussions on the aging of our societies, technological
advances, new business development, expanding globalization, and the
rapid integration of key economies into the regional and global
economy. The Commission members will likely wish to focus on policies
and measures needed to successfully meet these challenges so that our
two nations can grow and prosper, including steps to:
[sbull] Increase productivity by facilitating corporate
revitalization and optimal allocation of human, capital, and other
resources;
[sbull] Enhance competitiveness of our respective economies;
[sbull] Promote growth and improve standards of living in economies
with shifting demographics;
[sbull] Identify and implement best practices and principles of
corporate governance, based on practical experiences in the two
countries; and
[sbull] Address the changes in the trade and investment environment
in the era of globalization.
Duties and Responsibilities of Private Sector Members
Private sector members will serve at the discretion of USTR.
Private sector individuals chosen for the Commission will be expected
to be fully involved in all necessary preparatory meetings and attend
the Commission's annual 2003 meeting, which, as currently envisioned,
will be held in Washington, DC in the spring of 2003 in conjunction
with a Subcabinet meeting of U.S. and Japanese government officials at
the Deputy/Vice-Ministerial level from key economic agencies and
ministries and other agencies and ministries appropriate to the
Commission's topic. The number of private sector Commission members
will be limited and will be determined in coordination with the
Government of Japan. Members of the private sector delegation will
serve for one term. Members who wish to serve additional terms must
apply under the same rules as other future prospective members.
Private sector members are fully responsible for travel, lodging
and personal expenses associated with their participation in the
Commission. They will receive no compensation. The private sector
members will serve in a representative capacity, presenting the views
and interests of the particular business sector in which they operate;
private sector members are not special government employees. Candidates
will be vetted for pending business before USTR and the Department of
Commerce. Members from the private sector will be chosen based on
criteria set forth in this Notice.
Candidate Eligibility and Selection Procedures
The process for recruiting and selecting Commission members from
the U.S. private sector is based on objective, written criteria
developed in accordance with the Annex to the Joint Statement by
President Bush and Prime Minister Koizumi. A candidate's partisan
political activities (including political contributions) are not
relevant to and will not be considered part of the selection process.
To be eligible for consideration, each candidate must be a U.S.
citizen and not a registered foreign agent under the Foreign Agents
Registration Act of 1938.
All requests for consideration will be reviewed by the Government
Secretariat for the Commission, which is composed of officials from
USTR and the Department of Commerce. Members of
[[Page 79954]]
the Government Secretariat will evaluate each submission based on the
evaluation criteria and provide a ranking of Excellent, Good, or Poor.
Each ranked request for consideration will be sent to the Assistant
USTR for North Asian Affairs and the Commerce Department's Assistant
Secretary for Market Access and Compliance (Selecting Officials) for
final selection. The Selecting Officials will review the rankings and
comments of the review team and will determine the candidates who will
be selected for the Commission.
Evaluation Criteria
In reviewing prospective members, the Government Secretariat will
consider the following evaluation criteria:
[sbull] Experience in executive level positions, such as CEO of
U.S. companies; \1\
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\1\ A U.S. company is defined in the Procedures and Rules for
Industry Sector Advisory Committees as a firm incorporated in the
United States (or an unincorporated U.S. firm with its principal
places of business in the United States) that is controlled by U.S.
citizens or by another U.S. entity. An entity is not a U.S. company
if 50 percent plus one share of its stock (if a corporation, or a
similar ownership interest of an unincorporated entity) is
controlled, directly or indirectly, by non-U.S. citizens or non-U.S.
entities. If the matter is to represent an entity or corporation
with 10 percent or greater non-U.S. ownership, the nominee must
demonstrate at the time of nomination that this ownership interest
does not constitute control and will not adversely affect his or her
ability to serve on the Commission.
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[sbull] Experience doing business with or in Japan;
[sbull] Expertise in the topic to be considered by the Commission
in 2003;
[sbull] Commitment to undertake any necessary preparatory work and
to participate in any preparatory meetings and the Commission meeting
itself;
[sbull] Commitment to assume the costs of travel, lodging and other
personal expenses related to Commission participation;
[sbull] Contributions to membership diversity based on company
size, type, and location; and
[sbull] Other considerations relevant to the Commission as
described in the Annex to the U.S.-Japan Joint Statement by President
Bush and Prime Minister Koizumi.
Submission Procedures and Requirements
To be considered for membership, please provide a personal resume
and materials that would identify the following: (1) Name and title of
the individual requesting consideration; (2) name and address of the
company where the candidate is employed; (3) company's product or
service line; (4) company size (market capitalization, annual revenues,
number of employees); (5) company's experience in Japan (exports,
sales, employees, years in Japan); (6) why candidate wishes to be
considered for the Commission; and (7) the particular sector of the
business community the candidate would represent. In addition,
candidates should specifically address the evaluation criteria as
described above.
Third parties, such as trade associations and government officials,
may nominate or endorse potential candidates, but candidates must
submit their own letters to be considered for Commission membership.
Referrals from political organizations and any references to political
contributions or other partisan political activities will not be
considered in the selection process.
Dated: December 20, 2002.
Wendy S. Cutler,
Assistant United States Trade Representative for North Asian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 02-33004 Filed 12-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-P