[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 245 (Monday, December 22, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76305-76308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29884]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Trade Mission to Central America in Conjunction With the Trade 
Americas--Opportunities in Central America Conference, June 21-26, 2015

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration (ITA) is organizing a trade mission to Central America, 
in conjunction with the Trade Americas--Opportunities in Central 
America Conference in Guatemala June 21-26, 2015. U.S. trade mission 
delegation participants will arrive in Guatemala on or before June 21 
to attend the networking reception to open the Trade Americas--
Opportunities in Central America Conference. Trade mission participants 
will attend the Conference on June 22. Following the morning session of 
the conference, trade mission participants will participate in one-on-
one consultations with U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS) 
Commercial Officers and/or Economic/Commercial Officers from the 
following U.S. Embassies in the region: Costa Rica, El Salvador, 
Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and Nicaragua. The following day, June 23, 
trade mission participants will engage in business to business 
appointments with companies in Guatemala. A limited number of trade 
mission participants will then travel to either, El Salvador, Honduras, 
Costa Rica, Belize, or Nicaragua (choosing only one market) for 
optional additional business-to-business appointments. Each business to 
business appointment will be with a pre-screened potential buyer, 
agent, distributor or joint-venture partner.
    The Department of Commerce's Trade Americas--Opportunities in 
Central America Region Conference will focus on regional and industry-
specific sessions, market entry strategies, logistics and trade 
financing resources as well as pre-arranged one-on-one consultations 
with US&FCS Commercial Officers and/or Department of State Economic/
Commercial Officers with expertise in commercial markets throughout the 
region.
    The mission is open to U.S. companies from a cross-section of 
industries with growing potential in Central America, but is focused on 
U.S. companies in best prospect sectors such as safety and security 
equipment; automotive parts/service equipment; food processing & 
packing equipment; renewable energy technologies, and hotel and 
restaurant equipment.
    The combination of the Trade Americas--Opportunities in Central 
America Conference and business-to-business matchmaking opportunities 
in Guatemala and one of the other optional Central American markets 
will provide participants with access to substantive information about, 
and strategies for, entering or expanding their business across the 
Central America region.

Commercial Setting

    The mission supports the federal government's Look South 
initiative, which encourages U.S. companies to explore opportunities in 
the United States' 11 free trade agreement partner (FTA) countries in 
Latin America. The FTA in the region, CAFTA-DR, includes the following 
five Central American countries: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, 
Nicaragua and Costa Rica. As a result of this FTA, 100 percent of U.S. 
consumer and industrial goods exports

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to the CAFTA-DR countries will no longer be subject to tariffs by 2015. 
The CAFTA-DR region was the 14th largest U.S. export market in the 
world in 2013, and the third largest in Latin America behind Mexico and 
Brazil. The United States exported $29.5 billion in goods to the five 
Central American countries. Export.gov/LookSouth includes ``Best 
Prospect'' market snapshots in Central America.

Guatemala

    The United States and Guatemala enjoy a strong and growing trade 
relationship, especially under the U.S.-Central America-Dominican 
Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The United States is 
Guatemala's largest trading partner accounting for nearly 40 percent of 
Guatemala's trade. U.S. products and services enjoy strong name 
recognition in Guatemala, and U.S. firms have a good reputation in the 
Guatemalan marketplace.
    U.S. exports to Guatemala U.S. goods exports to Guatemala in 2013 
were $5.5 billion, 95 percent higher than the level in 2005, the year 
before CAFTA-DR entered into force. The leading sectors for U.S. 
exports and investment are: Automotive Accessories, Auto Parts and 
Service Equipment; Security and Safety Equipment; Travel and Tourism; 
Petroleum Products; and Forestry and Woodworking Machinery.

Costa Rica

    The United States is Costa Rica's main trading partner, accounting 
for about 47 percent of Costa Rica's total imports. U.S. products enjoy 
an excellent reputation for quality and price-competitiveness. 
Proximity to the Costa Rican market is also a major advantage for U.S. 
exporters who wish to visit or communicate with potential customers, 
facilitating close contacts and strong relationships with clients, both 
before and after the sale. U.S. goods exports to Costa Rica in 2013 
were $7.2 billion. The leading sectors for U.S. exports and investment 
are: Automotive Parts; Accessories and Service Equipment; Construction 
Equipment; Travel and Tourism; Cosmetics; Franchising; and Solar Energy 
Products.

El Salvador

    The United States is El Salvador's leading trade partner. El 
Salvador offers an open market for U.S. goods and services. Tariffs are 
relatively low, and were reduced further with the implementation of the 
Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement 
(CAFTA-DR). The value-added tax (VAT) rate in El Salvador is 13 
percent. El Salvador's strategic location in Central America makes it a 
good platform for industrial and service investments aimed at re-
exports. U.S. goods exports to El Salvador in 2013 were $3.3 billion. 
The leading sectors for U.S. exports and investment are: Automotive 
Parts and Service Equipment; Construction; Franchising; and Travel and 
Tourism.

Honduras

    The United States is the chief trading partner for Honduras, 
supplying 46.2 percent of Honduran imports. Located in the heart of 
Central America, Honduras is the second largest country in the region. 
Its deep-water port, Puerto Cort[eacute]s, is the first port in Latin 
America to qualify under both the Megaports and Container Security 
Initiatives (CSI), which now facilitate the screening of approximately 
90 percent of transatlantic and transpacific cargo prior to importation 
into the United States. U.S. goods exports to Honduras in 2013 were 
$5.4 billion. The leading sectors for U.S. exports and investment are: 
Automotive Parts/Service Equipment; Food Processing and Packaging 
Equipment; Franchising; Safety and Security Equipment; and Travel & 
Tourism Services.

Belize

    U.S. remained Belize's principal trading partner. Belize is a 
consumer nation and relies heavily on imports. The United States 
provided over 44 percent of total Belizean merchandise imports in 2012. 
U.S. goods exports to Belize in 2013 were $241.2 million. The leading 
sectors for U.S. exports and investment are: Travel and Tourism; 
Agriculture and Agribusiness; Petroleum; Information Communication 
Technology and Renewable Energy and Green Technology.

Nicaragua

    The United States is Nicaragua's largest trading partner, the 
source of roughly a quarter of Nicaragua's imports and the destination 
for approximately two-thirds of its exports (including free zone 
exports). U.S. exports to Nicaragua totaled $1.1 billion in 2013. The 
leading sectors for U.S. exports and investment are: Renewable Energy 
Technology; Food Processing and Packaging Equipment; Hotel and 
Restaurant Equipment; Medical and Dental Equipment; Building Products/
Construction Equipment; and Plastics.

Mission Goals

    The goal of the mission is to help participating U.S. companies 
gain market insights, make industry contacts, solidify business 
strategies and identify potential partners, agents, distributors, and 
joint venture partners in Guatemala and, if requested, their choice of 
El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Belize, and Nicaragua, laying the 
foundation for successful long-term ventures to take advantage of 
market opportunities in Central America. The delegation will have 
access to US&FCS Commercial Officers, Commercial Specialists, and 
Department of State Economic/Commercial Officers during the mission, 
learn about business opportunities, and gain first-hand market exposure 
from the markets in the region. Trade mission participants already 
doing business in Central America will have the opportunity to further 
advance business relationships and explore new opportunities.

Mission Scenario

    The mission will include registration for the Trade Americas--
Opportunities in Central America Conference, including conference 
materials and admission to all sessions and networking events with 
industry and government representatives; industry and country market 
briefings; and logistical support. It also includes one-on-one 
appointments with pre-screened potential business partners in Guatemala 
and one other Central American market.

Mission Timetable

June 21 Travel Day/Arrival in Guatemala
    Registration, Market Briefings, and Networking Reception
June 22 Guatemala
    Morning: Registration and Trade Americas--Opportunities in Central 
America Conference
    Afternoon: U.S. Embassy Officer Consultations
    Evening: Ambassador's Networking Reception
June 23 Guatemala
    Business-to-Business Meetings
June 24 Travel Day--Return to the US or go to optional stop

Optional

June 25 Business-to-Business Meetings in (Choice of one market):
    Option (A) Honduras
    Option (B) Costa Rica
    Option (C) El Salvador
    Option (D) Belize
    Option (E) Nicaragua
June 26 Return to the U.S.

Participation Requirements

    All companies interested in participating in the U.S. Department of 
Commerce Trade Mission to Central America must complete and submit an

[[Page 76307]]

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 25 and a maximum of 35 companies will be selected to 
participate in the mission from the applicant pool based on market 
suitability of their product or service. During the registration 
process, applicants will be able to select their markets of choice and 
will receive a brief market assessment for each selected market. All 
selected participants will attend business-to-business meetings in 
Guatemala. For those companies seeking to participate in additional 
business-to-business meetings in another market on June 25, we will 
select based on market suitability. The maximum number of companies 
that may be selected for each country are as follows: 25 companies for 
Guatemala, 5 companies for El Salvador; 5 companies for Belize; 20 
companies for Costa Rica; 10 companies for Honduras; and 5 companies 
for Nicaragua. U.S. companies already doing business in, or seeking to 
enter the market in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Belize, Guatemala, 
Honduras, and Nicaragua 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.
     For business-to-business meetings in Guatemala (only one 
market), the participation fee will be $2,100 for a small or medium-
sized enterprise (SME)\1\ and $3,100 for a large firm.
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    \1\ 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/contractingopportunities/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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     For business-to-business meetings in Guatemala and one 
other market (two markets), the participation fee will be $2,800 for a 
small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) and $3,800 for a large firm.
    The above trade mission fees include the $400 participation fee for 
the Trade Americas--Opportunities in Central America Conference to be 
held in Guatemala City on June 22, 2015. There will be a $200 fee for 
each additional firm representative (SME or large firm) that wishes to 
participate in business-to-business meetings after the conference on 
Tuesday in Guatemala and on Thursday in any of the markets selected.
    Expenses for travel, lodging, most meals, and incidentals will be 
the responsibility of each mission participant.

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, request additional information, or take the lack of 
information into account when evaluating the applications.
     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 for Participation: Selection will be based on 
the following criteria:
     Suitability of the company's products or services to each 
of the markets the company has expressed an interest in visiting as 
part of this trade mission.
     Company's potential for business in each of the markets 
the company has expressed an interest in visiting as part of this trade 
mission.
     Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with 
the stated scope of the mission.
    Referrals from political organizations and 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.

Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

    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/tradeevents/trademissions/centralamericajune2015/index.asp), 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 
announcements at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade 
shows.
    Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no 
later than March 20, 2015. The U.S. Department of Commerce will review 
applications from the applicant pool and will make selection decisions 
on a rolling basis beginning 14 days after publication of this Federal 
Register notice, until the maximum of 35 participants are selected.
    After March 20, 2015, companies will be considered only if space 
and scheduling constraints permit.

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                                             Central America contact
        U.S. contact information                   information
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Jessica Gordon, International Trade      Laura Gimenez, Commercial
 Specialist.                              Officer
U.S. Export Assistance Center_Jackson,   U.S. Commercial Service_El
 MS.                                      Salvador
[email protected]...............  [email protected].
Tel: 601-373-0784......................
Diego Gattesco, Director...............  Maria Rivera, Regional
U.S. Export Assistance Center_Wheeling,   Commercial Specialist
 WV.                                     U.S. Commercial Service_El
[email protected]...............   Salvador
Tel: 304-243-5493......................  [email protected].
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[[Page 76308]]

Elnora Moye,
Trade Program Assistant.
[FR Doc. 2014-29884 Filed 12-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P