The Electronic Commerce IFAC is comprised of approximately 40 industry representatives who provide advice on trade policy matters. Recently, members of the Electronic Commerce IFAC provided advice on a range of issues, including: data privacy, taxation, standards, consumer protection, authentication, security and content, among others. Foreign governments could respond to the emergence of e-commerce by adopting approaches that operate as trade barriers, thereby undercutting the flexibility and seamlessness which this medium needs in order to thrive. For these reasons, the Department of Commerce and the USTR require informed, immediate and regular advice from the U.S. private sector to address these issues effectively and to identify new and emerging concerns. The Committee's advice will be used to develop U.S. Government positions and priorities on electronic commerce for discussions in bilateral, regional and multilateral fora, including the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Asian- Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), the Trans-Atlantic Economic Partnership (TEP), and others. 

The IFAC is part of the Industry Consultations Program (ICP), which emerged from the 1974 Trade Act to ensure that trade negotiators were coordinating with the private sector during trade negotiations. Based on the program's success, the ICP was renewed and expanded by the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 and the Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. Through the ICP, the Department of Commerce, the USTR and other agencies work side-by-side with business leaders in their role as advisors to the U.S. Government. The Department of Commerce and USTR have joint responsibility for operating the advisory committees of the ICP.

Eligibility for Membership on the Electronic Commerce IFAC
Committee members must be U.S. citizens representing U.S. manufacturing or service firms which trade internationally and must have a special interest in and knowledge of international trade issues. Representatives of industry associations may also participate. Additional information can be found on the Industry Consultations Program's website at www.ita.doc.gov/icp or by contacting: