[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15737-15738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5935]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


International Trade Administration Mission Statement

AGENCY: Department of Commerce, ITA.

ACTION: Notice.

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Mission Statement

U.S. Health Care Trade Policy Mission to China, April 24-25, 2008.

    Mission Description: The United States Department of Commerce, 
International Trade Administration (ITA) is organizing a Health-Care 
Trade Mission to China, April 23-25, 2008. The trade mission will focus 
on market access and target a broad range of health-care industries, 
such as the pharmaceutical, medical device, health insurance and health 
services industries, and will be led by Under Secretary of Commerce 
Christopher A. Padilla. ITA seeks to provide participating U.S. 
companies an opportunity to meet with key officials in China's health 
ministries to discuss the direction and structure of China's upcoming 
health-care reforms. The mission will likely take the form of 3-4 
meetings between the delegation and China's Ministry of Health, 
Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (formerly Ministry of 
Labor and Social Security), National Development and Reform Commission 
and possibly the Ministry of Finance or State Food and Drug 
Administration (subject to availability). In addition to these 
meetings, the agenda will include a preparatory meeting between the 
delegation and the Under Secretary.
    Commercial Setting: This Trade Mission will take place following 
China's planned announcement in late March outlining significant 
changes to its financing, regulation, and management of its health-care 
system. The U.S. pharmaceutical, medical device, health insurance and 
health services industries currently have many market access concerns 
with China, but the potential impact of the pending health-care reforms 
are the leading concern of many U.S. companies. The reforms China will 
undertake have the potential to significantly alter the market for U.S. 
health goods and services. Industry's ability to engage with the 
Government of China on these reforms has been limited so far, and while 
it is understood that an outline of the reforms will be announced in 
March, industry still lack details and a forum to engage with key 
Chinese policy makers. This trade mission will provide that 
opportunity.
    This mission builds on previous DOC engagement with China's health 
ministries under the auspices of the U.S.-China Health-Care Forum 
(HCF). The mission will supplement HCF cooperation between DOC and the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and China's Ministry of 
Health and Ministry of Commerce.
    Overview of China's Health Reform Situation: China has made 
improving health-care access to its citizens a priority in its Eleventh 
Five-Year Plan (2006-2010). China will announce reforms to improve the 
services provided by China's health-care system, increase the number of 
insured citizens, reduce corruption and perverse profit incentives, and 
reduce the overall costs to the consumer. While details are not yet 
available, Chinese press and U.S. industry anticipate that reforms will 
lay out a plan for universal health coverage, will institute new 
health-care delivery systems, will reform hospital management and will 
change the way drugs are regulated. We expect the outline of the plan 
to be announced at the meeting of the National People's Congress in 
March. The overall proposal is expected to focus only on principles and 
general direction, be supported by eight more detailed supplemental 
reform proposals and be implemented through a series of pilot programs.
    All of these pending reforms present a serious change in the market 
for U.S. health goods and services providers. U.S. health-care goods 
and services providers with a clear understanding of China's policy 
environment have the potential to influence the policy direction and 
take advantage of what may be a dramatically growing Chinese health-
care market.
    Mission Goals: The trade mission will facilitate dialogue between 
the U.S. health-care industry and Chinese policymakers to assist 
mission participants in gaining first-hand information about China's 
upcoming health-care reforms and provide a forum for U.S. stakeholders 
to provide feedback to relevant Chinese Government ministries to 
encourage policy choices that increase market access for U.S. goods and 
services. The trade mission also will assist ITA in identifying areas 
of interest to China for future cooperation on these market access 
issues.

Summary of Results Expected From the Mission

     Improve U.S. health-care industries' understanding of the 
pending health-care reforms in China.
     Discover areas of interest to China where future 
cooperation with U.S. Government and industry could further improve 
market access for U.S. goods and services.
     Provide Chinese policymakers with U.S. industry feedback 
on the direction of the reforms.
     Introduce U.S. industry to China's new leadership.
    Mission Scenario: In China, the International Trade Administration 
will:
     Organize a preparatory meeting between the delegation, the 
Under Secretary, and key U.S. Embassy officials.
     Schedule 3-4 meetings with key Government of China 
ministries. (Subject to the availability of officials in the relevant 
ministries.)

Proposed Mission Timetable

Wednesday, April 23

    Trade Mission Delegation Dinner with the Under Secretary.

Thursday, April 24-Friday, April 25

    Meeting with the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health.
    Meeting with the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Human Resources 
and Social Security.
    Meeting with the Vice Minister of the National Development and 
Reform Commission.
    Meeting with the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Finance (Time 
permitting).

Criteria for Participation

     Relevance of the company's business line to the mission 
scope and goals;
     Potential for business in the selected markets;

[[Page 15738]]

     Timeliness of the company's completed application, 
participation agreement, and payment of the mission participation fee;
     Certification that the company's products and/or services 
are manufactured or produced in the United States or, if manufactured/
produced outside of the United States, the products/services must be 
marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have U.S. content 
representing at least 51 percent of the value of the finished goods or 
services;
     Diversity of health-care sectors represented; and
     Rank/seniority of the designated company representative.
    Any partisan political activities of an applicant, including 
political contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection 
process.
    The mission will be promoted through the following venues: ITA's 
Export Assistance Centers, the Health and Consumer Goods team, the 
Service Industries team, the Asia Pacific Team, the Trade Events List 
http://www.export.gov; the Federal Register; relevant trade 
associations; past Commerce health-care policy event participants; and 
the Commerce Department trade missions calendar: http://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html.
    Recruitment will begin immediately and will close on April 1, 2007. 
The trade mission participation fee will be U.S. $1,250 per company. 
Each participating organization will be allowed to send only one 
representative. The participation fee does not include the cost of 
travel, lodging, some ground transportation, or some meals. 
Participation is open to 15 qualified U.S. companies. Invited companies 
must submit the trade mission participation fee and completed 
participation agreement within one week of receipt of their invitation 
in order to secure their place in the mission. After that time, other 
companies may be invited to fill that spot. Applications received after 
the closing date will be considered only if space and scheduling 
constraints permit.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Cino, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, e-mail: [email protected], telephone: 202-482-5679, 
facsimile: 202-482-2266.

Anthony Cino,
Office of the Chinese Economic Area, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.
 [FR Doc. E8-5935 Filed 3-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-25-P