FACACLASSIC

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 - 1263 - Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade	Agency Name	Department of Agriculture
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	1263
Original Establishment Date	4/7/1975	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.fas.usda.gov/agricultural-policy-ad...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	40
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	DFO
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Current Charter Date	6/13/2023	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Sharynne
Date Of Renewal Charter	6/13/2027	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Nenon
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(202) 341-5860
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(202) 720-0340
Specific Establishment Authority*	Section 135(c)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended.	Designated Federal Officer Email*	sharynne.nenon@usda.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	3/27/1975
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Other Committee

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	No
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. This year, the Administration has been consulting Committee members almost weekly on ongoing tariff negotiations and Agreements on Reciprocal Trade. The Administration received 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. 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. The APAC is broadly made up of chief executive officers and other high-level industry representatives.
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. There was a virtual meeting in October 2024, an in-person meeting in December 2024, and another meeting is possible in September 2025. Virtual meetings and conference calls are methods 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 secret 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	No
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	NA
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	NA	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment		Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	60	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. Moreover, Committee members are providing input on reciprocal tariff negotiations directly into a database managed by USTR. USDA has limited visibility on the database. The APAC submitted 1 letter and 1 resolution in FY2025.	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 agreements on reciprocal trade 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	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	USTR provides feedback in weekly conference calls with industry partners. USDA leadership regularly engages APAC members to received feedback.	Narrative Description*	The APAC supports USDA's international trade functions by providing advice to the U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of Agriculture on trade policy and other economic issues that affect U.S. agriculture.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*	$13,580.00	3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$15,000.00
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$13,580.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$15,000.00
Date Cost Last Modified	9/3/2025 4:24 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	0.03	Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks	FY2025 was an unusual year given the Presidential transition and changes to USDA staffing. We expect FY2026 to be more average in terms of advisory committee meetings.

Interest Areas

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

Custom Links

Committee Level Reports