[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 29 (Friday, February 11, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7997-7998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02936]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Notice of Health and Safety Guidelines for Official ITA Trade 
Missions

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, intends to resume in-person trade missions, where 
possible, beginning March 2022. These trade missions will be organized 
and carried out with basic health and safety precautions in place for 
attendees in response to COVID-19.

Background

    The International Trade Administration (ITA) intends to resume in-
person trade missions, where possible, beginning March 2022. Since the 
beginning of the global pandemic, ITA has been closely monitoring 
COVID-19 developments and continues to plan in-person trade missions 
for future dates. As those mission dates approach, ITA will decide on 
each mission on a case-by-case basis to allow mission teams to evaluate 
the health and safety circumstances of the event and determine whether 
to move forward as-is, postpone, convert to virtual or hybrid, or 
cancel the mission. In the event that the mission is able to move 
forward in-person, the health and safety of all attendees remains ITA's 
top priority, and with any resumption of in-person events, ITA is 
announcing basic health and safety precautions that will highlight 
existing guidelines applicable to all trade mission attendees.
    In addition to the guidelines set forth herein, ITA is closely 
monitoring government mandates and policy changes, CDC guidelines, and 
public health announcements. As information pertaining to COVID-19 
continues to develop, we will adjust our approach as needed.
    In-person trade missions will be organized and carried out with 
precautions in place for the health and safety of all attendees in 
response to COVID-19, and with due regard to and, as appropriate, in 
alignment with then-current:

Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/index.html
Guidance issued by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force https://
www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/
For Commerce employees, the workplace safety plan found at https://www.commerce.gov/covid-19-information-hub
Recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

    At a minimum, ITA will continue to follow CDC Guidelines, as 
updated, including mask requirements and travel rules.

Requirements for Mission Participants

    Before departure and/or upon arrival, including at each mission 
stop, ITA will brief trade mission participants (i.e., private sector 
participants) on its current COVID-19 policies, as well as the relevant 
policies of local authorities.
    Mission participants are responsible for compliance with all COVID-
19-related requirements pertaining to travel to, within, and from trade 
mission destination(s), including vaccinations, and, when appropriate, 
testing, masking, and physical distancing. All mission participants 
will be expected to comply with regulations and guidelines in effect at 
the time of the event in the country, market, and facilities where 
mission events are being held. Note that federal regulations and 
guidelines may be applicable for events held in federally owned or 
federally leased facilities outside the United States.
    Mission participants must present a photo ID and proof that they 
meet the then-current CDC definition of being fully vaccinated at the 
time of entry to a mission event. Individuals who are not able to be 
fully vaccinated due to certain medical conditions, age, or closely 
held religious beliefs, or who elect not to provide this information, 
will be expected to follow all relevant protocols for individuals who 
are not fully vaccinated and must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 
test at the time of entry to a mission event, administered by an 
authorized health or medical provider, taken within the past three days 
prior to entry.\1\
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    \1\ ITA may require attestation of negative test at other times 
throughout the course of a trade mission, as appropriate.
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    Physical distancing practices will be implemented according to all 
venue and

[[Page 7998]]

local requirements. Where possible, there will be hand sanitizer 
stations.
    To create a safe environment for all attendees, participants who 
test positive for COVID-19 in transit to or during a trade mission are 
responsible for following the relevant regulations and guidelines, 
including any quarantine protocols, and are expected to cease 
participation in in-person events until a negative test is received or 
quarantine protocols are fulfilled. If a participant who has tested 
positive is deemed by ITA to pose a health risk to other participants, 
ITA may terminate their participation without refund.
    Any unused financial contributions made to the Department of 
Commerce for a trade mission that is cancelled will be refunded 
promptly. Financial contributions that have already been expended in 
anticipation of the mission and cannot be recouped by the Department of 
Commerce may not be refunded to the participants when a trade mission 
is cancelled. Given the unique circumstances presented by COVID-19, the 
same considerations apply in the event a participant must withdraw from 
a trade mission after testing positive for COVID-19. No personal 
expenses paid by the participants in anticipation of the trade mission 
will be reimbursed. Participants are responsible for all costs related 
to COVID-19 if contracted during or in transit to or from a trade 
mission.

Note on Federal Employees and Contractors

    On-site federal employees and contractors will be expected to 
comply with current local regulations and guidelines in the country, 
market, or facilities, publicly- or privately-owned or operated, where 
mission events are being held.
    All on-site federal employees and contractors will be expected to 
comply with applicable federal and departmental rules, requirements, 
and guidance relating to COVID-19 safety as issued by the Safer Federal 
Workforce Task Force (https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/) and in 
effect at the time of the event, including any quarantining or other 
protocols in the event that they test positive for COVID-19. ITA and 
other Department of Commerce employees will additionally be expected to 
adhere to the Department of Commerce Workplace Safety Plan as 
appropriate, including indoor mask requirements in areas of high or 
substantial COVID-19 transmission (https://www.commerce.gov/covid-19-information-hub).
    Federal employees and contractors participating in on-site events 
will be required to complete and maintain on their persons at all times 
a Certification of Vaccination. (Certification available at: https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/downloads/CertificationVaccinationPRAv7.pdf.) Federal employees and contractors 
who are not fully vaccinated or decline to provide information about 
their vaccination status must follow all relevant protocols for 
individuals who are not fully vaccinated and must provide proof of a 
negative COVID-19 test administered by an authorized health or medical 
provider taken within the past three days.

Gemal Brangman,
Director, ITA Events Management Task Force.
[FR Doc. 2022-02936 Filed 2-10-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P