FACA

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

USDA - 16577 - Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Processed Foods - Authorized by Law

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Processed Foods	Agency Name	Department of Agriculture
Fiscal Year	2022	Committee Number	16577
Original Establishment Date	3/27/1975	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	http://www.fas.usda.gov/atac-trade-processed-foods
New Committee This FY	No	Presidential Appointments*	No
Terminated This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	40
Current Charter Date	6/7/2019	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Processed Foods DFO
Date Of Renewal Charter	6/7/2023	Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Karina
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Ramos
Establishment Authority*	Authorized by Law	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Establishment Authority*	Section 135(c)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended.	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(202) 720-3736
Effective Date Of Authority*	3/27/1975	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(202) 690-0059
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable	Designated Federal Officer Email*	karina.ramos@usda.gov
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Other Committee

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice to the U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of Agriculture on trade and other economic issues that affect U.S. agriculture. In recent years, the Administration has consulted the Committee frequently on trade issues such as WTO negotiations, as well as the evaluation of benefits from existing FTAs with Canada, Mexico and Korea. The Administration relied heavily on the Committee's guidance on many aspects of the formulation of trade strategies, proposals, and agreements.The Committee accomplishes its purpose by reviewing sensitive materials provided by USTR/USDA and providing feedback to the principal parties either through written or electronic communications. Members also attend face-to face meetings with the Secretary of Agriculture and USTR in attendance. Advisors are required to hold a Secret Clearance. The minutes from the meetings are not available due to an exemption granted within the Trade Act of 1974.
How is membership balanced?*	Members are selected from producers, processors, traders, manufacturers, and consumer representatives that are either self-nominated, or recommended by an organization for membership. Also, special emphasis has been placed on soliciting nominations from traditionally underrepresented groups.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Committee meets as needed to provide advice and counsel to the Administration on significant and timely agricultural trade matters. This Committee meets approximately twice a year. Conference calls are also a method used to hold ad hoc meetings.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	Meetings are conducted so that U.S. trade negotiators can use the meetings to discuss and seek private sector advice regarding sensitive trade policy matters, the disclosure of which could seriously compromise the U.S. Government's development of policy priorities, negotiating objectives, and bargaining positions. Members must obtain a confidential security clearance so that government-classified documents can be discussed. Thus, meetings are closed to the public. Given the nature of these discussions, no other setting can be used to seek such advice without compromising U.S. trade policy.
Why close or partially close meetings?	Section 135(g) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2155(g)) protects certain communications between and among committee members and appropriate Federal government officials in connection with trade matters, more specifically, trade negotiations, the operation of an existing trade agreement, and other matters arising in connection with the administration of U.S. trade policy.
Recommendation Remarks	The meetings for this committee are typically closed to the public in accordance with the Trade Act of 1974, 19 U.S.C. 2155(f)(2), and the Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(4) and (6).

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	Yes	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	Yes
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	N/A
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	N/A	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	N/A	Grants Review Comment	N/A
Number Of Recommendations*	23	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	The number of recommendations varies from year-to-year. Historically, the Agency has misunderstood the use of this field and therefore, the total number of recommendations noted above for the life of this Committee is underreported. Efforts are underway to search historical records to be able to amend this section in the future to include the total number of recommendations produced since inception. For FY 22, The Processed Foods ATAC committee proposed 1 resolution and put forth 1 recommendation and letter.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	100.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	Implementation does not necessarily apply to a number of the recommendations. The committee provides formal recommendations in the form of resolutions, but the committee provides numerous recommendations orally at meetings. The recommendations in all cases are fully considered by USTR and USDA negotiators in the course of pursuing free trade agreements and resolving trade disputes.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	0.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	See above.	Access Other	Yes
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment
Agency Feedback Comment*	Through frequent conference calls jointly held with USTR, and during committee meetings.	Narrative Description*	The Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Processed Foods (Processed Foods ATAC) supports USDA's international trade functions by providing technical advice to the U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of Agriculture on trade issues that affect U.S. agriculture.

COSTS

Payments to Non-Federal Members*		Est Payments to Non-Fed Members Next FY*
Payments to Federal Members*		Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
Payments to Federal Staff*	$14,550.00	Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$15,900.00
Payments to Consultants*		Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Members*		Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Members nextFY*
Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staff Next FY*
Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		Est Travel Reimb to Consultants Next FY*
Other Costs		Est. Other Costs Next FY*
Total Costs	$14,550.00	Est. Total Next FY*	$15,900.00
Date Cost Last Modified	11/9/2022 3:03 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*	0.40
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	0.40	Est Cost Remarks	Anticipate full return to pre-pandemic engagement
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Agriculture Agriculture Trade International Commerce and Investment Trade and Trade Policy

Custom Links

Committee Level Reports