[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 142 (Monday, July 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44508-44509]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16909]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Consumer Goods Trade Policy Mission

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice to announce consumer goods trade policy mission to 
Beijing, China, November 8-9, 2004.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Office of Business Liaison; Room 5062; 
Department of Commerce; Washington, DC 20230; Tel: (202) 482-1360; Fax: 
(202) 482-4054.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Consumer Goods Trade Policy Trade Mission, Beijing, China

    November 8-9, 2004.

Mission Statement

I. Description of the Mission

    The International Trade Administration's Office of Consumer Goods, 
Office of China Economic Area, and U.S. Commercial Service is 
sponsoring a consumer goods trade policy mission to Beijing, China, 
November 8-9, 2004. This event will target sectors of the U.S. consumer 
goods industry involved in trade with China. Targeted trade policy 
mission participants will include representatives from U.S. firms 
specializing in consumer goods. The Department of Commerce's Assistant 
Secretary for Trade Development will lead the mission.

II. Commercial Setting for the Mission

    Many firms would like to expand their exports to the large Chinese 
consumer market. China is the top source of U.S. imports of many key 
consumer goods products, yet some U.S. firms feel they are not afforded 
the same market access to the Chinese market.
    The major issues, as expressed by U.S. consumer goods 
representatives, are as follows:
    Intellectual Property Rights--Since joining the World Trade 
Organization (WTO), China has strengthened its laws and regulations to 
comply with the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual 
Property Rights (TRIPs). Despite China's efforts to strengthen IPR 
protection, U.S. industry representatives continue to report instances 
of counterfeiting (particularly of brand names), copyright 
infringement, piracy, and inadequate/inconsistent enforcement of the 
regulations.
    Distribution and Trading Rights--China's WTO commitments call for 
the phasing-out (over a three-year period) of certain restrictions on 
foreign companies to market, transport, and service/support their 
products in the domestic Chinese market. They also call for continued 
efforts to liberalize import and export regulations. U.S. consumer 
goods industry representatives are hopeful that recently announced 
changes regarding these regulations will lead to increased market 
access.
    Standards--China's WTO commitments call for it to bring its 
technical regulations and standards into accordance with the WTO 
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. U.S. consumer goods industry 
representatives continue to report concerns regarding the progress of 
these reforms, particularly with respect to standards issues.
    Urban Motorcycle Restrictions--Most major Chinese cities have 
enacted restrictions on the use and ownership of motorcycles. Beijing 
was the first city to restrict the development of motorcycle usage in 
1989, followed by more and more urban areas, with the trend 
accelerating especially after 1996. Today, well over 100 large and 
medium sized cities have enacted various restrictions on the usage or 
ownership of motorcycles.

III. Goals for the Mission

    The objective of the mission is for representatives of the U.S. 
consumer goods industry to meet with Chinese officials to discuss the 
above issues (intellectual property rights, distribution and trading 
rights, standards, urban motorcycle restrictions) in an effort to 
expand their activities to provide products to the Chinese consumer 
market.

IV. Scenario for the Mission

    The Consumer Goods Trade Policy Mission will take place over a two-
day period of meetings in Beijing. The U.S. Commercial Service will 
provide market briefings and schedule appointments with appropriate 
government officials involved with the consumer goods industry. The 
purpose of the meetings would be for representatives of the U.S. 
consumer goods industry to meet with Chinese officials to discuss 
current issues relating to the aforementioned issues and U.S.-China 
bilateral trade of

[[Page 44509]]

consumer goods products, and to share ideas on ways to strengthen this 
relationship.

Timetable

    November 7--Arrive in Beijing (individual travel plans to be 
determined by participants); activities open.
    November 8--Briefing for mission delegates with Beijing 
consultative staff. Delegation participants expect to meet with 
officials from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), 
the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the Ministry of Information (MII), 
and the State Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection and 
Quarantine (AQSIQ).
    November 9 `` Delegation will continue meetings with officials from 
the aforementioned government agencies.
    November 10--Mission delegation will depart for the United States, 
or other destinations.

V. Criteria for Participation

     Relevance of the company's business line to mission goals. 
Participants must be U.S. citizens representing U.S. manufacturing or 
service firms in the consumer goods industry (exclusive of automobiles, 
consumer electronics, computers and accessories, and cosmetics).
     Participating firms must be incorporated or otherwise 
organized under the laws of the United States, and demonstrate that 
they are at least 51 percent U.S.-owned.
     Representatives of participating firms must have 
experience in dealing with China trade policy issues on behalf of their 
firms.
     Potential for expanding business in the Chinese market.
     Minimum of 8 and maximum of 20 participating in the 
mission.
     Provision of adequate information on the company's 
products and/or services and communication of the company's primary 
objectives to facilitate appropriate matching with government 
officials.
    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, 
including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Commerce 
Department's trade missions calendar--http://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html--and other Internet Web sites, press releases to the general 
and trade media, direct mail and broadcast fax, notices by industry 
trade associations and other multiplier groups, and at industry 
meetings, symposia, conferences, trade shows.
    Recruitment for the mission will begin no later than July 2004 and 
conclude no later than September 10, 2004.
    Participants in the Mission must agree to represent the interests 
of their firms only, and they may not represent the policies of the 
U.S. government.
    Any partisan political activities (including political 
contributions) of an applicant are entirely irrelevant to the selection 
process.

Costs

    $950 per participant. Budget breakdown available upon request.
    Contacts Information: John Vanderwolf, Charlie Rast, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Office of 
Consumer Goods, ITA/TD/TACGI/OCG, Room 3013, Fax: 202-482-1388, John 
Vanderwolf--Tel: 202-482-0348; E-mail: [email protected], 
Charlie Rast--Tel: 202-482-4034; E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: July 20, 2004.
Nancy Hesser,
Industry Sector Manager, Export Promotion Services.
[FR Doc. 04-16909 Filed 7-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P