Request for Nominations for the Industry Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs)

This month, the Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary) and the United States Trade Representative (the USTR) are renewing the charters of the 16 Industry Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs) and the Committee of Chairs of the ITACs for a four-year term to expire in February 2018. The ITACs provide detailed policy and technical advice, information, and recommendations to the Secretary and the USTR regarding trade barriers, negotiation of trade agreements, and implementation of existing trade agreements affecting industry sectors; and perform other advisory functions relevant to U.S. trade policy matters as may be requested by the Secretary and the USTR or their designees. There are currently opportunities for membership on each ITAC. Nominations will be accepted for current vacancies and those that occur throughout the remainder of the charter term, which expires in February 2018.

DATES: Appointments will be made on a rolling basis. For that reason, nominations will be accepted through February 14, 2018.

The Secretary and the USTR welcome nominations for the ITACs listed below:

(ITAC 1) Aerospace Equipment
(ITAC 2) Automotive Equipment and Capital Goods
(ITAC 3) Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Health/Science Products and Services
(ITAC 4) Consumer Goods
(ITAC 5) Distribution Services
(ITAC 6) Energy and Energy Services
(ITAC 7) Forest Products
(ITAC 8) Information and Communications Technologies, Services, and Electronic Commerce
(ITAC 9) Building Materials, Construction, and Nonferrous Metals
(ITAC 10) Services and Finance Industries
(ITAC 11) Small and Minority Business
(ITAC 12) Steel
(ITAC 13) Textiles and Clothing
(ITAC 14) Customs Matters and Trade Facilitation
(ITAC 15) Intellectual Property Rights
(ITAC 16) Standards and Technical Trade Barriers

The duties of the ITACs are to provide the President, through the Secretary and the USTR, with detailed policy and technical advice, information, and recommendations regarding trade barriers, negotiation of trade agreements, and implementation of existing trade agreements affecting industry sectors; and perform other advisory functions relevant to U.S. trade policy matters as may be requested by the Secretary and the USTR or their designees. The ITACs provide nonpartisan, industry input in the development of trade policy objectives. The ITACs' efforts have assisted the United States in putting forward unified positions when it negotiates trade agreements.