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MISSION AND HISTORY |
The Industry Consultations Program (ICP) emerged from the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. Under section 135 of the Trade Act of 1974 (1974 Trade Act, 19 U.S.C. 2155), Congress established a private-sector advisory system to ensure that U.S. trade policy and trade negotiation objectives adequately reflect U.S. commercial and economic interests. Congress wanted to ensure that industry has a voice in U.S. trade policy formulation. Based on the program's success, it was renewed and expanded by the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 and the Trade and Omnibus Competitiveness Act of 1988.
The ICP is comprised of 17 Industry Sector Advisory Committees (ISACs), 4 Industry Functional Committees (IFACs), a Committee of Chairs, and over 400industry representatives. Three of the ISACs have an environmental representative: Chemicals and Allied Products (ISAC 3), Lumber and Wood Products (ISAC 10), and Paper and Paper Products (ISAC 12).
The functions of the ISACs and IFACs are to provide the President with advice on objectives and bargaining positions for multilateral trade negotiations, bilateral trade negotiations, and other trade-related policy matters. The Committees provide bipartisan, industry input in the development of trade policy objectives. The Committees' efforts result in strengthening the U.S. negotiating position by enabling the United States to display a united front when it negotiates trade agreements with other nations.
The ISACs provide advice and information on issues that affect specific sectors of the U.S. industry, such as market access problems; barriers to trade; tariff levels; discriminatory foreign procurement practices; information, marketing and advocacy needs of their sector; and, other important trade issues.
The IFACs focus on cross-cutting issues that affect all industry sectors, such as customs matters, product standards, and intellectual property rights. Other functional issues, such as government procurement and subsidies, are handled in ad hoc meetings. Each ISAC may also select a member to serve on each IFAC so that a broad range of industry perspectives is represented.
Committees meet an average of four to six times a year, some more often depending on the work of the committees, in Washington, D.C.
Members are responsible for all travel expenses incurred to attend the meetings.
The Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative have joint responsibility for operating the Advisory Committees of the Industry Consultations Program, and with other agencies, work side-by-side with business leaders who serve as advisors to the Government.
