[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 174 (Monday, September 8, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52025-52027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20756]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Notice and Call for Applications for the International Buyer 
Program for the Period January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and Call for Applications for the International Buyer 
Program for the period January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth objectives, procedures and application 
review criteria associated with support for domestic trade shows by the 
International Buyer Program (IBP) of the U.S. Department of Commerce 
(DOC). This announcement covers selection for International Buyer 
Program participation for calendar year 2010 (January 1, 2010 through 
December 31, 2010).
    The International Buyer Program was established to bring 
international buyers together with U.S. firms by promoting leading U.S. 
trade shows in industries with high export potential. The International 
Buyer Program emphasizes cooperation between the DOC and trade show 
organizers to benefit U.S. firms exhibiting at selected events and 
provides practical, hands-on assistance such as export counseling and 
market analysis to U.S. companies interested in exporting. The 
assistance provided to show organizers includes worldwide overseas 
promotion of selected shows to potential international buyers, end-
users, representatives and distributors. The worldwide promotion is 
executed through the offices of the DOC U.S. and Foreign Commercial 
Service (hereinafter referred to as the Commercial Service) in more 
than 70 countries representing the United States' major trading 
partners, and also in U.S. Embassies in countries where the Commercial 
Service does not maintain offices. The DOC expects to select 
approximately 40 trade shows for the January 1, 2010 through December 
31, 2010 period from among applicants to the program. Shows selected 
for the International Buyer Program will provide a venue for U.S. 
companies interested in expanding their sales into international 
markets. Successful show organizer applicants will be required to enter 
into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the DOC. The MOA constitutes 
an agreement between the DOC and the show organizer specifying which 
responsibilities are to be undertaken by the DOC as part of the 
International Buyer Program and, in turn, which responsibilities are to 
be undertaken by the show organizer. Anyone requesting application 
information will be sent a sample copy of the MOA along with the 
application and a copy of this Federal Register Notice. The 
responsibilities to be undertaken by the DOC will be carried out by the 
Commercial Service.

DATES: Applications must be received within 60 days after the 
publication date of this Federal Register Notice.

ADDRESSES: International Buyer Program, Global Trade Programs, U.S. and 
Foreign Commercial Service, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., Ronald Reagan Center, 
Suite 800M--Mezzanine Level--Atrium North, Washington, DC 20004. 
Telephone (202) 482-4207; Facsimile: (202) 482-7800; E-mail: 
[email protected] (for deadline purposes, facsimile and e-mail 
applications will be accepted as interim applications, to be followed 
by signed original applications to be received within five (5) business 
days after the application deadline). To ensure that applications are 
timely received by the deadline, applicants are strongly urged to send 
applications by hand delivery service.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Blanche Ziv, Manager, International 
Buyer Program, Global Trade Programs, U.S. and Foreign Commercial 
Service, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., Ronald Reagan Center, Suite 800M--
Mezzanine Level--Atrium North, Washington, DC 20004; Telephone (202) 
482-4207; Facsimile: (202) 482-7800; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commercial Service is accepting 
applications for the International Buyer Program for trade events 
taking place between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2010. A 
participation fee of $8,000 for shows of five days or less is required. 
For trade shows more than five days in duration, or requiring more than 
one International Business Center, a participation fee of $14,000 is 
required. For trade shows ten days or more in duration, and/or 
requiring more than two International Business Centers, the 
participation fee will be negotiated, but shall not be less than 
$19,500.
    Under the International Buyer Program, the Commercial Service seeks 
to bring together international buyers with U.S. firms by selecting and 
promoting in international markets U.S.

[[Page 52026]]

domestic trade shows covering industries with high export potential. 
Selection of a trade show is valid for one event, i.e., a trade show 
organizer seeking selection for a recurring event must submit a new 
application for selection for each occurrence of the event. Even if the 
event occurs more than once in the 12-month period covered by this 
announcement, the trade show organizer must submit a separate 
application for each event.
    The Commercial Service expects to select approximately 40 events 
from among applicants to the program for the January 1, 2010 and 
December 31, 2010 period. The Commercial Service will select those 
events that are determined to most clearly meet the Commercial 
Service's statutory mandate to promote U.S. exports, especially those 
of small- and medium-sized enterprises, and that best meet the 
selection criteria articulated below.
    The DOC selects trade shows to be International Buyer Program 
partners that it determines to be leading international trade shows 
appropriate for participation by U.S. exporting firms and for promotion 
in overseas markets by U.S. Embassies and Consulates. Selection as an 
International Buyer Program partner does not constitute a guarantee by 
the U.S. Government of the show's success. International Buyer Program 
partnership status is not an endorsement of the show organizer except 
as to its international buyer activities. Non-selection should not be 
viewed as a finding that the event will not be successful in the 
promotion of U.S. exports.
    Exclusions: Trade shows that are either first-time or horizontal 
(non-industry specific) events will not be considered.
    General Selection Criteria: The Commercial Service will select 
shows to be International Buyer Program partners that, in the judgment 
of the Commercial Service, best meet the following criteria:
    (a) Intellectual Property Rights Protection: The trade show 
organizer includes in the terms and conditions of its exhibitor 
contracts provisions for the protection of intellectual property rights 
(IPR); has procedures in place at the trade show to address IPR 
infringement, which, at a minimum, provides information to help U.S. 
exhibitors procure legal representation during the trade show; and 
agrees to assist the DOC to reach and educate U.S. exhibitors on the 
Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP!), IPR protection measures 
available during the show, and the means to protect IPR in overseas 
markets, as well as in the United States.
    (b) Export Potential: The trade show promotes products and services 
from U.S. industries that have high export potential, as determined by 
DOC sources, e.g., Commercial Service best prospects lists and U.S. 
export statistics (certain industries are rated as priorities by our 
domestic and international commercial officers in their Country 
Commercial Guides, available through the Web site, http://www.export.gov).
    (c) International Interest: The trade show meets the needs of a 
significant number of overseas markets and corresponds to marketing 
opportunities as identified by the posts in their Country Commercial 
Guides (e.g., best prospect lists). Previous international attendance 
at the show may be used as an indicator.
    (d) Scope of the Show: The event must offer a broad spectrum of 
U.S. made products and services for the subject industry. Trade shows 
with a majority of U.S. firms as exhibitors are given priority.
    (e) U.S. Content of Show Exhibitors: Trade shows with exhibitors 
featuring a high percentage of U.S. products or products with a high 
degree of U.S. content will be preferred. Generally, to have ``U.S. 
content,'' products and services to be exhibited should be: (i) 
Produced or manufactured in the United States; or, (ii) if produced or 
manufactured outside of the United States, 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 product or service being exported. U.S.-
sourced inputs that may be considered as contributing to U.S. content, 
to the extent that they are incorporated into the finished product or 
service being exported, may include but are not limited to: Materials; 
components; packaging; labor; production equipment and factory 
overhead; research and development; design; intellectual property; 
warehousing; distribution; sales; administration and management; 
advertising; and marketing and promotion.
    (f) Stature of the Show: The trade show is clearly recognized by 
the industry it covers as a leading event for the promotion of that 
industry's products and services both domestically and internationally, 
and as a showplace for the latest technology or services in that 
industry.
    (g) Exhibitor Interest: There is demonstrated interest on the part 
of U.S. exhibitors in receiving international business visitors during 
the trade show. A significant number of U.S. exhibitors should be new-
to-export (NTE) or seeking to expand their sales into additional export 
markets.
    (h) Overseas Marketing: There has been a demonstrated effort to 
market prior shows overseas. In addition, the applicant should describe 
in detail the international marketing program to be conducted for the 
event, and explain how efforts should increase individual and group 
international attendance. (Planned cooperation with Visit USA 
Committees overseas is desirable. For more information on Visit USA 
Committees go to: http://www.tia.org/International/VUSA.html.)
    (i) Logistics: The trade show site, facilities, transportation 
services, and availability of accommodations at the site of the 
exhibition must be capable of accommodating large numbers of attendees 
whose native language will not be English.
    (j) Cooperation: The applicant demonstrates a willingness to 
cooperate with the Commercial Service to fulfill the program's goals 
and adhere to the target dates set out in the MOA and in the event 
timetables, both of which are available from the program office (see 
the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION'' section above). Past experience in the 
International Buyer Program will be taken into account in evaluating 
the applications received for the January 1, 2010, through December 31, 
2010, period.
    (k) Delegation Incentives: Show organizers should list or identify 
a range of incentives to be offered to delegations and/or delegation 
leaders recruited by the Commercial Service overseas posts. Examples of 
incentives to international visitors and to organized delegations 
include, but are not limited to: Waived or reduced admission fees; 
special organized events, such as receptions, meetings with association 
executives, briefings, and site tours; and complimentary accommodations 
for delegation leaders. Waived or reduced admission fees are required 
for international attendees who are members of Commercial Service 
recruited delegations under this program. Delegation leaders also must 
be provided complimentary admission to the event.
    Legal Authority: The Commercial Service has the legal authority to 
enter into MOAs with show organizers (partners) under the provisions of 
the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (MECEA), as 
amended (22 U.S.C. sections 2455(f) and 2458(c)). MECEA allows the 
Commercial Service to accept contributions of funds and services from 
firms for the purposes of furthering its mission. The statutory program

[[Page 52027]]

authority for the Commercial Service to conduct the International Buyer 
Program is 15 U.S.C. 4724.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the 
information collection requirements of the application to this program 
under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.) (OMB Control No. 0625-0151). Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall a 
person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection 
of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid 
OMB Control Number.

    Dated: September 2, 2008.
Blanche Ziv,
Manager, International Buyer Program, U.S. and Foreign Commercial 
Service, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce.
[FR Doc. E8-20756 Filed 9-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P