[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 126 (Thursday, June 30, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42654-42656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15486]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Healthcare Business Development Mission to China October 23-28, 
2016

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, is organizing an executive-led Healthcare Business 
Development Mission to China with an emphasis on the Sector. The 
mission is proposed at the Deputy Secretary level with participation 
from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to ensure adequate 
access to Chinese government officials.
    The purpose of the mission is open access to Chinese government 
health officials and to introduce U.S. firms and trade associations to 
the Chinese Healthcare market as well as assist U.S. companies to find 
business partners and export their products and services to China. The 
mission is intended to include representatives from U.S. companies and 
U.S. trade associations with members that provide high end, innovative 
medical devices (especially imaging), healthcare technology equipment, 
innovative pharmaceuticals, hospital management or senior care 
management solutions, and medical education or training, hospital 
cooperation (i.e. management and education), as well as pharmaceuticals 
and senior care segments.
    Healthcare is an important issue for both the China. Today, China's 
annual healthcare spending is about $590.2 billion or 5.7% of its GDP. 
Commerce and health are not mutually exclusive, as workers become ill 
and as the cost of healthcare and insurance increases there is a direct 
impact on business through the loss of worker productivity and skilled 
workers, and reduced output. With fewer healthy workers earning 
incomes, businesses will also be harmed by decreased size and 
purchasing power of consumers. Families and individuals will be 
burdened with the impact of reduced incomes, increased health costs, 
and increased likelihood of long term care. As the world's two largest 
economies, how the two sides approach healthcare in the future has the 
potential to impact global macro-economic stability and future economic 
growth.
    In recent years China has prioritized the reform of its healthcare 
system, to ensure citizens have good quality and affordable care, 
especially given the trends in the population and the increase in 
various health issues. The aging population, chronic disease and lack 
of fitness for children create challenges and burdens on establishing 
an effective healthcare system. Incidence of non-communicable disease 
(NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes has rapidly 
increased. Economic growth is also impeded because NCDs hit workers in 
their prime years of productivity--creating long term chronic 
conditions, withdrawal from the workforce, diminished family resources 
and early death. Tackling the prevalence and significance of NCDs is 
challenging. The causes are rooted in the universal trends of aging and 
rapid urbanization, demographic factors which will only increase in the 
future.

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    Facing similar challenges and possessing common goals to achieve a 
successful healthcare ecosystem, the United States and China are well 
positioned to share experiences and find solutions to existing problems 
through uniting government and private sector forces at the 
intersection of commerce and healthcare. Areas of mutual collaboration 
in the healthcare could focus on improving patient access and services 
delivery, as well as areas of cooperation to benefit the health and 
lives of the population. As China reforms its' healthcare system and 
endeavors to create an innovative medical device and pharmaceutical 
industry it risks the alienation of foreign firms in the market. This 
trade mission will offer U.S. firms not only the opportunity to market 
their products and services, but also to explore ways that U.S. 
industry can support China's efforts to reform their healthcare system 
through win-win bilateral healthcare cooperation.
    The trade mission will include one-on-one business appointments 
with pre-screened potential buyers, agents, distributors and joint 
venture partners; meetings with national and regional government 
officials, chambers of commerce, and business groups; and networking 
receptions for companies and trade associations representing companies 
interested in expansion into the Chinese markets. Meetings will be 
offered with government authorities (such as the National Health and 
Family Planning Commission, China Food and Drug Administration, 
Ministry of Human Resources and Social Services, and Ministry of Civil 
Affairs) that can address questions about policies, tariff rates, 
incentives, regulations, etc.

Schedule

Sunday, October 23

[ssquf] Business Delegation arrives Beijing
[ssquf] Business Delegation Meet and Greet/Icebreaker

Monday, October 24

[ssquf] China Economic and Market briefing by U.S. Embassy staff on 
programs and opportunities in the Healthcare Sector
[ssquf] Business Delegation Meeting with Vice Minister of National 
Health and Planning Commission
[ssquf] Lunch hosted by Healthcare Association
[ssquf] Business Delegation Meeting with Vice Minister of China Food 
and Drug Administration
[ssquf] Business Delegation Meeting with Vice Minister of Ministry of 
Human Resources and Social Services

Tuesday, October 25

[ssquf] Business Delegation Meeting with Vice Minister of Ministry of 
Civil Affairs
[ssquf] Business Delegation Meeting with Commissioner of China 
Insurance Regulatory Commission
[ssquf] Business Delegation Business-to-Business Meetings
[ssquf] Mission Reception Hosted By U.S. Ambassador Baucus

Wednesday, October 26

[ssquf] Airport Transfer to Beijing (PEK) Airport
[ssquf] Morning Travel to Chongqing (post will recommend a specific 
flight, however flight is not included in the mission cost)
[ssquf] Airport Transfer from Chongqing Airport
[ssquf] Lunch Briefing by U.S. Consulate Chengdu staff on programs and 
opportunities in the Healthcare Sector
[ssquf] Business Delegation Meeting with Chongqing Government 
Leadership
[ssquf] Hospital Site Visit or Evening tourism event

Thursday, October 27

[ssquf] Healthcare Association event (Healthcare Symposium, co-host 
with Chongqing Government)
[ssquf] Business Delegation Networking Luncheon
[ssquf] Business Delegation Business-to-Business Meetings
[ssquf] CG-hosted Dinner for US companies and USGs

Friday, October 28

[ssquf] Business Delegation Meeting with Chongqing Health Bureau
[ssquf] Lunch Wrap-up Meeting
[ssquf] Afternoon--Delegates free to depart

Web site

    Please visit our official mission Web site for more information: 
http://export.gov/trademissions/eg_main_023185.asp.

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the trade mission must 
complete and submit an application package for consideration by the 
DOC. All applicants will be evaluated, on a rolling basis, on their 
ability to meet certain conditions and best satisfy the selection 
criteria as outlined below. A minimum of 12 and maximum of 18 firms 
and/or trade associations or organizations will be selected to 
participate in the mission from the applicant pool.

Fees and Expenses

    After a trade association/organization 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 for 
the Trade Mission will be $10,500 for a small or medium-sized 
enterprise (SME); \1\ and $12,500 for a large firm and trade 
association/organization. The fee for each additional firm 
representative (large firm or SME/trade organization) is $3500. 
Expenses for travel, lodging, meals, and incidentals will be the 
responsibility of each mission participant. Interpreter and driver 
services can be arranged by the CS for additional cost. Delegation 
members will be able to take advantage of U.S. Embassy rates for hotel 
rooms.
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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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Application

    All interested firms and associations may register via the 
following link: https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/TM/7R0L.

Exclusions

    The mission fee does not include any personal travel expenses such 
as lodging, most meals, local ground transportation, except as stated 
in the proposed timetable, and air transportation from the U.S. to the 
mission sites and return to the United States. Business visas may be 
required. Government fees and processing expenses to obtain such visas 
are also not included in the mission costs. However, the U.S. 
Department of Commerce will provide instructions to each participant on 
the procedures required to obtain necessary business visas.

Timeline 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 (http://export.gov/trademissions) and 
other internet Web sites, press releases to general and trade media, 
direct mail, 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 conclude no later than 1 July 2016. The

[[Page 42656]]

U.S. Department of Commerce will review applications and make selection 
decisions on a rolling basis. Applications received after 1 July 2016, 
will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

Contacts

Mr. Dennis Simmons, Commercial Officer, U.S. Embassy Beijing [verbar] 
U.S. Department of Commerce, Beijing, China, Tel: +(86)1-8531-3445, 
[email protected]
Mr. Eric Hsu, Principal Commercial Officer, U.S. Consulate Chengdu 
[verbar] U.S. Department of Commerce, Chengdu, China, Tel: +(86) 28-
8518-3992, [email protected]
Ms. Yolinda Qu, International Trade Specialist, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Office of China and Mongolia, Washington, DC, Tel: (202) 482-
0007, [email protected]

Frank Spector,
Trade Missions Program.
[FR Doc. 2016-15486 Filed 6-29-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P