[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40849-40850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15837]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Mission Statement; Manufacturing and Technology Trade Mission to 
Australia; November 17-21, 2008

AGENCY: Department of Commerce, ITA.

ACTION: Notice.

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Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is organizing a 
Manufacturing and Technology Trade Mission to Sydney and Melbourne, 
Australia, November 17-21, 2008, to be led by the Assistant Secretary 
for Trade Promotion or another U.S. Department of Commerce senior 
official.
    The mission will help participating firms gain market information, 
make business and government contacts, solidify business strategies, 
and advance specific projects, towards the goal of increasing U.S. 
exports to Australia. The mission will include business-to-business 
matchmaking appointments with local companies, as well as meetings with 
key government officials, and American and local chambers of commerce. 
The delegation will be comprised of U.S. firms representing a cross 
section of U.S. industries with growing potential in Australia, 
including, but not limited to, automotive parts; building and 
construction, including green building; energy production, including 
renewable energy, coal production, and mineral extraction; 
transportation, including intelligent transportation systems; and water 
resources.

Commercial Setting

    Macro measures of opportunity in the Australian market include high 
per capita income, rising terms of trade, and substantial purchasing 
power, in addition to the favorable foreign exchange rate, which gives 
a strong boost to U.S. exports. Australia ranks as the United States' 
15th largest export market, and the Australia-U.S. Free Trade Agreement 
(AUSFTA) has enhanced our long and successful trading relationship by 
eliminating tariffs on nearly all manufactured and agricultural goods. 
U.S. goods and services exports to Australia reached $29 billion in 
2007, an increase of 10 percent over 2006, and first-quarter figures 
for 2008 (provided by the Bureau of Economic Analysis) show continued 
growth.
    The following sectors hold considerable promise for U.S. firms:
    Automotive: Australia's $12 billion automotive aftermarket provides 
excellent opportunities for U.S. suppliers of specialty products, 
accessories, and necessary parts such as tires, carburetors, engine 
parts, piston rings, fuel injection products, transmission and ignition 
products, lubricants and fuel pumps, and body repair tools.
    Construction: Imports dominate Australia's $1.3 billion market for 
construction machinery, of which U.S. imports account for $578.3 
million. AUSFTA's elimination of import duty on construction machinery 
from the United States, together with a favorable exchange rate, puts 
U.S. imports in a stronger competitive position, as the import duty 
rate from other countries is five percent. The Australian government 
allocated $18.6 billion in the 2007 budget to improve the country's 
inland transport system over the next five years. Australia's expanding 
``green'' building market also offers opportunities for U.S. suppliers 
of innovative technologies.
    Energy: Power generation is an important sector in Australia, 
including around 81 billion in generation, transmission and 
distribution assets. Coal-fired generators account for the bulk of 
electricity generated. In 2000, the Australian government provided a 
stimulus by requiring electricity retailers to source an additional two 
percent of their supply from renewable or specified waste sources. In 
December 2007, the new Australian government ratified the Kyoto 
Protocol and has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 
percent on 2000 levels by 2050. Australia's federal government is 
expected to develop grants and policy initiatives to help increase the 
number of renewable energy projects substantially.
    Mining: Australia is among the world's leading exporters of black 
coal, diamonds, iron ore, lead, rutile, zinc and zirconium, gold; 
aluminum, and bauxite. The United States is Australia's major supplier 
of mining equipment, claiming 35 percent of the import market share. 
Continuing high mineral prices throughout 2007 have led to further 
exploration across the country. In 2006-2007 private enterprises spent 
55 percent more ($3.1 billion) on mineral exploration than in the 
previous fiscal year.
    Oil and gas: Australia continues to be a good market for U.S. oil 
and gas equipment and service suppliers. Increasing demand for 
petroleum products (particularly liquefied natural gas) is fueling the 
exploration, development and production of both

[[Page 40850]]

existing and new fields across Australia. The United States is the 
major supplier of pumps, valves, gauges, and other types of oil and gas 
equipment demanded by Australia's $2.5 billion market for technology 
for upstream and downstream projects.
    Water resources: Australia spends an estimated $4.2 billion on 
water and wastewater treatment annually, 70 percent on water collection 
and distribution and 30 percent on product quality and treatment. 
Imports supply approximately 60 percent of the market, for which the 
United States is the third largest supplier. Water storage levels 
remain critically low in many areas, and all levels of government are 
grappling with strategies aimed at securing future water supply.

Mission Goals

    The Manufacturing and Technology Trade Mission to Australia will 
help U.S. firms initiate or expand their exports to Australia's leading 
industry sectors by providing business-to-business introductions, 
market access information, and information on U.S. Government trade 
financing programs.

Mission Scenario

    The mission will include stops in Sydney and Melbourne. In each 
city, participants will meet with government officials, potential 
buyers, agents/distributors, and partners. They will also attend market 
briefings by Embassy officials, as well as networking events offering 
further opportunities to speak with local business and government 
representatives.

                       Proposed Mission Timetable
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Monday, November 17, 2008..............  Mission begins in Sydney;
                                          Market briefing; Business
                                          matchmaking; Networking
                                          reception.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008.............  Business matchmaking.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008...........  Travel to Melbourne. Evening
                                          reception.
Thursday, November 20, 2008............  Briefing; Business matchmaking.
Friday, November 21, 2008..............  Business matchmaking.
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Criteria for Participation and Selection

    All parties interested in participating in the Manufacturing and 
Technology Trade Mission 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 maximum of 22 
companies will be selected to participate in the mission from the 
interested applicants. U.S. companies already doing business with 
Australia as well as U.S. companies seeking to enter Australia for the 
first time may apply.

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. The participation fee will be $5,580 for large firms 
and $3,500 for a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).* The fee for 
each additional firm representative (large firm or SME) is $850. 
Expenses for travel, lodging, most meals, and any incidentals will be 
the responsibility of each mission participant. The option to 
participate in the mission is also being offered to U.S.-based firms 
with an established presence in Australia or neighboring countries; the 
same fee structure applies.
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    * An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer employees or 
that otherwise qualifies as a small business under SBA regulations 
(see http://www.sba.gov/services/contracting opportunities/
sizestandardstopics/index.html). Parent companies, affiliates, and 
subsidiaries will be considered when determining business size. The 
dual pricing reflects the Commercial Service's user fee schedule 
that became effective May 1, 2008 (see http://www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/initiatives.html for additional information).
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Conditions for Participation

     An applicant must submit a completed and signed mission 
application and supplemental application materials, including adequate 
information on the company's products and/or services, primary market 
objectives, and goals for participation. If the Department of Commerce 
receives an incomplete application, the Department may reject the 
application, or request additional information.
     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, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm 
and have at least 51 percent U.S. content of the value of the finished 
product or service.
    Selection Criteria: Selection will be based on the following 
criteria:
     Suitability of the company's products or services in 
Australia.
     Applicant's potential for business in Australia, including 
likelihood of exports resulting from the mission
     Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with 
the stated scope of the trade mission.
    Referrals from political organizations and any documents containing 
references to partisan political activities (including political 
contributions) will be removed from an applicant's submission and not 
considered during the selection process.

Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner. 
Outreach will include publication in the Federal Register, posting on 
the Commerce Department trade mission calendar (http://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html) and other Internet web sites, 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. 
Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and close September 
26, 2008. Applications are available on-line on the Australia Trade 
Mission Web site at http://www.export.gov/australiamission. They can 
also be obtained by contacting the Mission Project Officers listed 
below. Applications received after September 26, 2008, will be 
considered only if space and scheduling permit.

Contacts

    Mr. Louis Quay, Global Trade Programs, Commercial Service Trade 
Missions Program, Tel: 202-482-3973, E-mail: 
[email protected].

Jessica Arnold,
International Trade Specialist, Commercial Service Trade Missions 
Program.
[FR Doc. E8-15837 Filed 7-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P