[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4944-4945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01418]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


America Crece Industry Roundtable and Request for Public Comment

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Request for public comments and notice of a roundtable 
discussion on energy and other infrastructure opportunities in Latin 
America and the Caribbean under the America Crece initiative.

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[[Page 4945]]

SUMMARY: The International Trade Administration (ITA) of the Department 
of Commerce seeks individual comments from industry on government 
programs aimed at catalyzing U.S. private sector participation in 
commercial opportunities in energy and other infrastructure in Latin 
America and the Caribbean (LAC). Through this notice, ITA announces a 
request for written public comments and announces a roundtable 
discussion with industry representatives and U.S. government staff. 
This notice serves as an initial step in improving ITA's understanding 
of private sector interests and programmatic and policy needs in energy 
and other infrastructure sectors in the LAC region under the new 
America Crece initiative. This notice further sets forth topics for 
discussion and comment.

DATES: 
    Event: The roundtable will be held on February 20, 2020 from 9:00 
a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.
    Written Comments: To be ensured of consideration, written public 
comments must be received on or before February 28, 2020. Comments 
should not include any business confidential information.
    Event Registration: ITA will evaluate registrations based on the 
submitted information (see below) and inform applicants of selection 
decisions, which will be made on a rolling basis until 30 participants 
have been selected.

ADDRESSES: 
    Event: The roundtable will be held at the Department of Commerce, 
Commerce Research Library, 1401 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 
20230.
    Comments: Written comments should be sent by electronic mail 
addressed to [email protected]. Comments may also be 
submitted by mail addressed to: Attn: America Crece, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for the Western Hemisphere, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Ave. NW, 
Room 30019, Washington, DC 20230. Although comments may be submitted by 
mail, ITA prefers to receive comments via electronic mail.
    For alternatives to online or mail submissions, please contact 
Christian Herman, International Trade Specialist, ITA, at (202) 482-
5430

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  [email protected] or 
Christian Herman, International Trade Specialist, ITA, at (202) 482-
5430

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  In 2018, the government of the United 
States launched the America Crece (Growth in the Americas) initiative 
to foster coordinated, whole-of-government efforts in support of all 
U.S. energy and infrastructure engagement in the LAC region. This 
request for comment and event notification seeks public comment on 
priorities and strategies to enhance commercial engagement in energy 
and other infrastructure in the LAC region through programs under the 
umbrella of the America Crece initiative.
    The Department seeks individual input and views at the February 20, 
2020 roundtable regarding the LAC region, including the following 
topics:
     The principal foreign regulatory and policy barriers to 
growing sales and exports to the LAC region and how to prioritize these 
barriers for USG engagement.
     The principal foreign barriers to investment in the energy 
and infrastructure sectors in LAC countries.
     The challenges U.S. companies face in seeking and/or 
providing competitive financing for projects in the LAC region.
     Proactive solutions or actions that the U.S. government 
could pursue that would have an impact on catalyzing U.S. private 
sector participation in commercial opportunities in LAC.
     Insights from working with USG agencies--such as State, 
Commerce, Treasury, Energy, USTDA, EXIM, OPIC, USAID--in doing business 
in LAC, including assessments of the strengths and weaknesses of the 
U.S. government tools to promote U.S. businesses in the energy and 
infrastructure sectors in LAC countries.
    Event: The February 20, 2020 roundtable will provide an overview of 
the America Crece initiative and will include a discussion session 
during which participants will provide insights and feedback related to 
the initiative and energy and infrastructure in the LAC region. Due to 
limited space, the event is closed to press and observers. Industry 
participation is limited to 30 qualifying industry representatives.

Selection

    To attend, participants should submit the below information to 
[email protected] by February 18, 2020. I&A will evaluate 
registrations based on the submitted information (and based on the 
criteria below) on a rolling basis until 30 participants have been 
selected and inform applicants of selection decisions.
    Applicants are encouraged to send representatives at a sufficiently 
senior level to be knowledgeable about their organization's 
capabilities, interests and challenges in the LAC region.
    Registrations should include the following information in their 
registration email:
     Name of attendee and short bio.
     Organization and brief organization description.
     A statement self-certifying how the organization meets 
each of the following criteria:
    1. It is not majority owned by a foreign government entity (or 
entities).
    2. Its existing products or services are either produced in the 
United States, or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and 
have demonstrable U.S. content as a percentage of the value of the 
finished product or service and/or it is a major investor in projects 
in LAC in which companies with such products may compete.
    3. It has already exported from the United States to or invested in 
the LAC region.
    4. In the case of a trade association, academic or research 
institution, the applicant will only be representing companies during 
the roundtable that satisfy each of the criteria above.
    Selection will be based on the following criteria:
     Suitability of the company's (or in the case of another 
organization, represented companies' or constituents') existing 
products or services to commercial opportunities in the energy and 
infrastructure sectors in the LAC region.
     Suitability of the company's (or in the case of another 
organization, represented companies' or constituents') experience 
pursuing commercial opportunities in the LAC region.
     Suitability of the representative's position and biography 
to be able to engage in the conversation.

    Dated: January 23, 2020.
Man Cho,
Deputy Director, Office of Energy and Environmental Industries.
[FR Doc. 2020-01418 Filed 1-27-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P