Representatives serving on the Paper and Paper Products ISAC provide advice on trade policy matters. Recently, members of the Paper and Paper Products ISAC have provided advice on a range of issues that included: international negotiations regarding recent World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations; new trade relations with China, Eastern Europe, and the Russia; trade and labor issues; environmental agreements; the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC); the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA); and, the Trans-Atlantic Business Dialogue. Under FTAA, the Committee recommended a work plan to open the paper and paper products sector. Furthermore, the Paper and Paper Products ISAC made a significant contribution to APEC by advancing the work of opening markets in the multilateral trading system. As a result of these efforts, the U.S. is able to determine the economic impact of tariff elimination in terms of shifts in production and consumption of forest products. 

Representatives serving on the ISAC on Paper and Paper Products have a voice in U.S. trade policy formulation through 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. The Department of Commerce, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), and other agencies work side-by-side with business leaders who serve 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 Paper and Paper Products ISAC
Committee members are U.S. citizens representing U.S. manufacturing or service firms in the paper and paper products industry, trade internationally, and 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: