[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 241 (Monday, December 16, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68393-68395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-27013]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Announcement of Trade Mission to the Caribbean Region in
Conjunction With the Trade Americas--Business Opportunities in the
Caribbean Region Conference
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade
Administration (ITA) is announcing the following upcoming trade mission
that will be recruited, organized, and implemented by ITA:
Trade Mission to the Caribbean Region in conjunction with the Trade
Americas--Business Opportunities in the Caribbean Region Conference--
May 31-June 5, 2020
A summary of the mission is found below. Application information
and more detailed mission information, including the commercial setting
and sector information, can be found at the trade mission website:
http://export.gov/trademissions.
Recruitment for the mission will be conducted in an open and public
manner, including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the
Commerce Department trade mission calendar (http://export.gov/trademissions) and other internet websites, press releases to general
and trade media, direct mail, broadcast fax, notices by industry trade
associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry
meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gemal Brangman, Trade Promotion
Programs, Industry and Analysis, International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC
20230; telephone (202) 482-3773.
The Following Conditions for Participation Will Be Used for Each
Mission
Applicants must submit a completed and signed mission application
and supplemental application materials, including adequate information
on their products and/or services, primary market objectives, and goals
for participation. If the Department of Commerce receives an incomplete
application, the Department may either: Reject the application, request
additional information/clarification, or take the lack of information
into account when evaluating the application. If the requisite minimum
number of participants is not selected for the mission by the
recruitment deadline, the mission may be cancelled.
Each applicant must also certify that the products and services it
seeks to export through the mission are either produced in the United
States, or, if not, are marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have
at least fifty-one percent U.S. content by value. In the case of a
trade association or organization, the applicant must certify that, for
each firm or service provider to be represented by the association/
organization, the products and/or services the represented firm or
service provider seeks to export are either produced in the United
States or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have at
least 51% U.S. content by value.
A trade association/organization applicant must certify to the
above for all of the companies it seeks to represent on the mission.
In addition, each applicant must:
Certify that the export of the products and services that
it wishes to market through the mission would be in compliance with
U.S. export controls and regulations;
Certify that it has identified any matter pending before
any bureau or office in the Department of Commerce;
Certify that it has identified any pending litigation
(including any administrative proceedings) to which it is a party that
involves the Department of Commerce; and
Sign and submit an agreement that it and its affiliates
(1) have not and will not engage in the bribery of foreign officials in
connection with a company's/participant's involvement in this mission,
and (2) maintain and enforce a policy that prohibits the bribery of
foreign officials.
In the case of a trade association/organization, the applicant must
certify that each firm or service provider to be represented by the
association/organization can make the above certifications.
The Following Selection Criteria Will Be Used for the Mission
Targeted mission participants are U.S. firms, services providers,
and trade associations/organizations providing or promoting U.S.
products and services, that have an interest in entering or expanding
their business in the mission's destination countries. The following
criteria will be evaluated in selecting participants:
Suitability of the applicant's (or in the case of a trade
association/organization, represented firms' or service providers')
products or services to these markets;
The applicant's (or in the case of a trade association/
organization, represented firms' or service providers') potential for
business in the markets, including likelihood of exports resulting from
the mission; and
Consistency of the applicant's (or in the case of a trade
association/organization, represented firms' or service providers')
goals and objectives with the stated scope of the mission.
Balance of company size and location may also be considered during
the review process. Referrals from a political party or partisan
political group or any information, including on the application,
containing references to political contributions or other partisan
political activities will be excluded from the application and will not
be considered during the selection process. The sender will be notified
of these exclusions.
Trade Mission Participation Fees
If and when an applicant is selected to participate on a particular
mission, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the amount of the
designated participation fee below is required. Upon notification of
acceptance to participate, each applicant selected has 5 business days
to submit payment or the acceptance may be revoked.
Participants selected for a trade mission will be expected to pay
for the cost of personal expenses, including, but not limited to,
international travel, lodging, meals, transportation, communication,
and incidentals, unless otherwise noted. Participants will, however, be
able to take advantage of U.S. Government rates for hotel rooms. In the
event that a mission is cancelled, no personal expenses paid in
anticipation of a mission will be reimbursed. However, participation
fees for a cancelled mission will be reimbursed to the extent they have
not already been expended in anticipation of the mission.
[[Page 68394]]
If a visa is required to travel on a particular mission, applying
for and obtaining such a visa will be the responsibility of the mission
participant. Government fees and processing expenses to obtain such a
visa are not included in the participation fee. However, the Department
of Commerce will provide instructions to each participant on the
procedures required to obtain business visas. Trade Mission members
participate in trade missions and undertake mission-related travel at
their own risk. The nature of the security situation in a given foreign
market at a given time cannot be guaranteed. The U.S. Government does
not make any representations or guarantees as to the safety or security
of participants. The U.S. Department of State issues U.S. Government
international travel alerts and warnings for U.S. citizens available at
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings.html. Any
question regarding insurance coverage must be resolved by the
participant and its insurer of choice.
Definition of Small and Medium Sized Enterprise
For purposes of assessing participation fees, an applicant is a
small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) if it qualifies under the Small
Business Administration's (SBA) size standards (https://www.sba.gov/document/support--table-size-standards), which vary by North American
Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code. The SBA Size Standards
Tool [https://www.sba.gov/size-standards/] can help you determine the
qualifications that apply to your company.
Mission List: (additional information about the mission can be
found at http://export.gov/trademissions).
Trade Mission to the Caribbean Region in Conjunction With the Trade
Americas--Business Opportunities in the Caribbean Region Conference,
Dates: May 31-June 5, 2020
Summary
The U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade
Administration, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State, is
organizing a trade mission to the Caribbean region that will include
participation in the Trade Americas--Business Opportunities in the
Caribbean Region Conference in Bridgetown, Barbados on May 31-June 1,
2020.
The conference will focus on region-specific sessions, market
access, fair trade, disaster preparedness and recovery, logistics, and
trade financing resources as well as prearranged one-one-one
consultations with US&FCS Commercial Officers and/or Department of
State Economic/Commercial Officers with expertise in markets throughout
the region. The mission is open to U.S. companies from a cross-section
of industries with growth potential in the Caribbean region, but is
focused on U.S. companies in best prospects sectors such as automotive
parts and services, construction equipment/road building machinery/
building products/infrastructure projects, medical equipment and
devices/pharmaceuticals, ICT, energy equipment and services, safety and
security equipment, hotel and restaurant equipment, franchising,
manufacturing equipment, yachting industry/maritime services/sailing
equipment, marine ports, aviation/airports, waste management, and water
treatment and supply. All selected trade mission participants will
attend the conference in Barbados and will have business-to-business
meetings in up to two markets in the region, selecting from: Barbados/
Eastern Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica,
Suriname, The Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The combination of participation in the Trade Americas--Business
Opportunities in the Caribbean Region Conference and business-to-
business matchmaking appointments in the Caribbean region markets, will
provide participants with access to substantive information about and
strategies for entering or expanding their business across the
Caribbean region. The United States holds a dominant supplier position
in the Caribbean region.
Proposed Timetable
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Saturday, May 30, 2020................. Travel Day/Arrival in Barbados.
Optional Local Tour/
Activities.
Sunday, May 31, 2020................... Barbados. Afternoon:
Registration, Briefing and
U.S. Embassy Officer
Consultations. Evening:
Networking Reception.
Monday, June 1, 2020................... Barbados. Morning: Registration
and Trade Americas--U.S.-
Caribbean Business Conference.
Afternoon: U.S. Embassy
Officer Consultations.
Evening: Networking Reception.
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Optional
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Tuesday, June 2, 2020.................. Barbados/Eastern Caribbean
Region Business-to-Business
Meetings or Travel day.
June 3-5, 2020......................... Travel day or Business-to-
Business Meetings in: Option
(A) Dominican Republic. Option
(B) Guyana. Option (C) Haiti.
Option (D) Jamaica. Option (E)
Suriname. Option (F) The
Bahamas. Option (H) Trinidad &
Tobago.
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Participation Requirements
All parties interested in participating in the U.S. Department of
Commerce Trade Mission to the Caribbean Region must complete and submit
an application package for consideration by the Department of Commerce.
All applicants will be evaluated on their ability to meet certain
conditions and best satisfy the selection criteria as outlined below.
A minimum of 20 and a maximum of 30 companies will be selected to
participate in the mission on a first-come first-serve basis. During
the registration process, applicants will be able to select what
countries for which they would like to receive a brief market
assessment. Once they receive their brief market assessment report,
they will be able to select up to two markets to which they would like
to travel for their business to business meetings.
All selected participants will attend the conference in Barbados
and will have business-to-business meetings in up to two markets in the
region.
The number of companies that may be selected for each country are
as follows: 20 Companies for Barbados/Eastern Caribbean; 30 companies
for the Dominican Republic; 5 companies for Guyana; 5 companies for
Haiti; 5 companies for Jamaica; 5 companies for Suriname; 5 companies
for The Bahamas; and 5 companies for Trinidad and Tobago.
[[Page 68395]]
The Trade Mission is open to U.S. companies already doing business
in the region that are seeking to expand their market share and to
those U.S. companies new to the region.
Fees and Expenses
After a company has been selected to participate on the mission, a
payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of a participation
fee is required.
For business-to-business meetings in one market, the participation
fee will be $2,300 for a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)* and
$3,500 for a large firm.
For business-to-business meetings in two markets, the participation
fee will be $3,300 for a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) * and
$4,500 for a large firm.
The mission participation fee includes a brief market assessment
for the countries that were selected in the registration process,
market briefings, networking receptions, lunch and coffee breaks during
the conference, interpretation and transportation associated with the
business-to-business meetings in the region, and U.S. Embassy officer
consultations.
The Trade Americas--Business Opportunities in the Caribbean Region
Conference registration fee is $650 for one participant from each firm.
There will be a $300 fee for each additional firm representative
(large firm or SME) that wishes to participate in business-to-business
meetings.
Timeframe for Recruitment and Application
Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner,
including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce
Department trade mission calendar on www.export.gov, the Trade Americas
web page at http://export.gov/tradeamericas/index.asp, and other
internet websites, press releases to the general and trade media,
direct mail and broadcast fax, notices by industry trade associations
and other multiplier groups and announcements at industry meetings,
symposia, conferences, and trade shows.
Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no
later than Friday, April 17, 2020. The U.S. Department of Commerce will
review applications and make selection decisions on a rolling basis
until the maximum of 30 participants are selected. After April 17,
2020, companies will be considered only if space and scheduling
constraints permit.
Contacts
U.S. Trade Americas Team Contact Information:
Delia Valdivia, Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial
Service--Los Angeles (West), CA, [email protected], Tel: 310-
597-8218
Diego Gattesco, Director, U.S. Commercial Service--Wheeling, WV,
[email protected], Tel: 304-243-5493
Caribbean Region Contact Information:
Bryan Larson, Regional Senior Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial
Service--U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic,
[email protected]
Sheila Diaz, Senior Commercial Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service--
U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, [email protected]
Tiara Hampton-Diggs,
Program Specialist, Trade Promotion Programs.
[FR Doc. 2019-27013 Filed 12-13-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P