[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52635-52637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20444]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[Docket No. ITA-2021-0004]


Healthcare Services Sector Export Market Landscape

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) seeks to support 
U.S. private-sector businesses and organizations engaged in export

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activities. As technologies and global needs evolve, Commerce must stay 
apprised of trends and changes to provide effective support to the 
private sector. Additionally, knowledge of challenges and gaps in 
support provided is critical to strengthening the United States' export 
potential. This notice is a general solicitation of comments from the 
public to assist Commerce's International Trade Administration (ITA) in 
gaining a better understanding from the public about the current state 
of, and future prospects for, the healthcare services sector in 
international markets.

DATES: Comments will be considered on a rolling basis but are due no 
later than 5 p.m. Eastern Time on November 8, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by ITA-2021-0004, by 
either of the following methods:
     Online Submission (Strongly Preferred): Submit all 
electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to 
https://www.regulations.gov and enter ITA-2021-0004 in the Search box. 
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter 
or attach your comments.
     Email: [email protected]. Comments submitted by 
email should be machine-readable and should not be copy-protected.
    Due to COVID-19 building closures, we are temporarily not accepting 
comments by mail. However, if you are unable to comment via 
regulations.gov, you may contact [email protected] for 
instructions on submitting your comment.
    Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or 
individual, or received after the end of the comment period may not be 
considered by ITA. All comments received are a part of the public 
record and will generally be posted for public viewing on http://www.regulations.gov/ITA-2021-0004 without change. For access to the 
docket to read background documents or comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov/ITA-2021-0004.
    All submissions received must include the agency name and docket 
number for this notice. Commenters should include the name of the 
person or organization filing the comment. All personal identifying 
information (for example, name, address) voluntarily submitted by the 
commenter may be publicly accessible. ITA will not accept anonymous 
comments.
    For those seeking to submit confidential business information (CBI) 
for Government use only, please clearly mark such submissions as CBI 
and submit an accompanying redacted version to be made public. CBI 
comments can be submitted either through http://www.regulations.gov/ITA-2021-0004 (strongly preferred) or by email.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Grunstra, International Trade 
Administration, at [email protected] or (202) 482-4431. 
Please direct media inquiries to ITA's Office of Public Affairs (202) 
482-3809 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: ITA's export promotion programs play a critical role in 
addressing challenges and filling gaps in currently offered services. 
As market conditions constantly change and challenges for U.S. 
exporters evolve, it is important to gather additional information. The 
information solicited by this notice will be used in support of ITA's 
core mission to create prosperity by strengthening the international 
competitiveness of U.S. industry, promoting trade and investment, and 
ensuring fair trade and compliance with trade laws and agreements. This 
mission arises from the authority of the Secretary of Commerce to 
``foster, promote, and develop the foreign and domestic commerce of the 
United States'' pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1512, and to ``draw the attention 
of private enterprises to opportunities for investment and development 
. . .'' around the world pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
and Executive Order 12163, dated September 29, 1979. To help develop 
its priorities and ensure coordination among its programs, ITA is 
seeking information on international healthcare services market 
strengths and growth potential, as well as policy and regulatory 
challenges in the healthcare services sector, including but not limited 
to the following elements.
    Scope: Healthcare services is a broad term that can encompass a 
range of solutions used to address a variety of healthcare issues. For 
the purpose of this request for public comment, ITA is focused on both 
established and emerging services that are being used to address and 
treat various healthcare needs in different international markets. This 
notice serves as a general solicitation for public comment and as an 
initial step in improving ITA's understanding of the current services 
exports landscape. The information sought can be organized into the 
following broad categories:
    (1) Current global market conditions in regard to healthcare 
services;
    (2) Related needs for healthcare services exports that affect 
success in international markets;
    (3) The effectiveness of the assistance ITA already offers and 
ideas for activities not currently offered.

Request for Written Comments

    Instructions: This notice is a general solicitation for public 
comments and further sets forth topics for discussion and comment. ITA 
seeks broad input from all interested stakeholders--including U.S. 
industry, researchers, academia, and civil society--on the 
international healthcare services sector. Commenters may provide 
information related to any or all of the following, or to any other 
aspect of the healthcare services sector that they consider relevant. 
To the extent commenters choose to respond to the specific questions 
asked, responses may be formatted as the commenter prefers.

A. Prospects for the Provision of International Healthcare Services

    1. With respect to healthcare services and healthcare services 
technology outside of the United States:
    a. Which markets present the greatest potential for growth in 
healthcare services exports, and what services or enabling technologies 
are most in demand in these markets?
    b. Which countries offer the most competition in the sector, and in 
which services or enabling technologies?
    c. What trade barriers exist, and what regulatory, standards, or 
other market condition changes would be most significant in 
facilitating U.S. healthcare services exports?
    d. How are healthcare services sold in international markets, e.g., 
through government procurement, directly to medical professionals, 
directly to private consumers, etc.?

B. Complementary Needs

    1. When examining which international export markets to enter, 
please explain the importance of the following:
    a. How do local licensing requirements and/or other certifications 
affect the ability to operate in various international markets?
    b. How important is the education/training of international 
personnel to success in exporting healthcare services and why?
    c. When entering a market, how do exporters find local 
representatives and employees (i.e., doctors, nurses, trained project 
managers, etc.), and how dependent are service offerings on finding 
suitable local partners?

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C. ITA Support

    1. To what extent would the following ITA activities assist 
exporters of healthcare services:
    a. How would ITA's collaboration directly with foreign governments 
to improve market preconditions and address market-specific challenges 
be useful?
    b. How would ITA's implementation of U.S. export promotion 
activities, including those already offered such as trade missions or 
match-making activities, be useful?
    c. What activities not currently offered would be helpful to U.S. 
exporters?

Monica Gorman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Manufacturing, Industry & Analysis, 
International Trade Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-20444 Filed 9-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P