[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 81 (Thursday, April 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25620-25623]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08951]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Announcement of Approved International Trade Administration Trade 
Mission

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration (ITA), is announcing one upcoming trade mission that 
will be recruited, organized, and implemented by ITA. This mission is: 
Trade Mission to Canada and Mexico--September 17-22, 2023. A summary of 
the mission is found below. Application information and more detailed 
mission information, including the commercial setting and sector 
information, can be found at the trade mission website: https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions. For each 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 (https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions-schedule) and other 
internet websites, press releases to general and trade media, direct 
mail, broadcast fax, notices by industry trade associations and other 
multiplier groups, and publicity at industry meetings, symposia, 
conferences, and trade shows.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Odum, Events Management Task 
Force, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20230; telephone (202) 482-
6397 or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

The Following Conditions for Participation Will Be Used for the Mission

    Applicants must submit a completed and signed mission application 
and supplemental application materials, including adequate information 
on their products and/or services, primary market objectives, and goals 
for participation that is adequate to allow the Department of Commerce 
to evaluate their application. If the Department of Commerce receives 
an incomplete application, the Department of Commerce may either: 
reject the application, request additional information/clarification, 
or take the lack of information into account when evaluating the 
application. If the requisite minimum number of participants is not 
selected for a particular mission by the recruitment deadline, the 
mission may be cancelled.
    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, are marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have 
at least fifty-one percent U.S. content by value. In the case of a 
trade association or organization, the applicant must certify that, for 
each firm or service provider to be represented by the association/
organization, the products and/or services the represented firm or 
service provider seeks to export are either produced in the United 
States or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have at 
least 51% U.S. content.
    A trade association/organization applicant must certify to the 
above for every company it seeks to represent on the mission. In 
addition, each applicant must:
     Certify that the products and services that it wishes to 
market through the mission would be in compliance with U.S. export 
controls and regulations;
     Certify that it has identified any matter pending before 
any bureau or office in the Department of Commerce;
     Certify that it has identified any pending litigation 
(including any administrative proceedings) to which it is a party that 
involves the Department of Commerce; and
     Sign and submit an agreement that it and its affiliates 
(1) have not and will not engage in the bribery of foreign officials in 
connection with a company's/participant's involvement in this mission, 
and (2) maintain and enforce a policy that prohibits the bribery of 
foreign officials.
    In the case of a trade association/organization, the applicant must 
certify that each firm or service provider to be represented by the 
association/organization can make the above certifications.

The Following Selection Criteria Will Be Used for the Mission

    Targeted mission participants are U.S. firms, services providers 
and trade associations/organizations providing or promoting U.S. 
products and services that have an interest in entering or expanding 
their business in the mission's destination country. The following 
criteria will be evaluated in selecting participants:
     Suitability of the applicant's (or in the case of a trade 
association/organization, represented firm's or service provider's) 
products or services to these markets;
     The applicant's (or in the case of a trade association/
organization, represented firm's or service provider's) potential for 
business in the markets, including likelihood of exports resulting from 
the mission; and
     Consistency of the applicant's (or in the case of a trade 
association/organization, represented firm's or service provider's) 
goals and objectives with the stated scope of the mission. Balance of 
company size and location may also be considered during the review 
process.

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    Referrals from a political party or partisan political group or 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. The 
Department of Commerce will evaluate applications and inform applicants 
of selection decisions on a rolling basis until the maximum number of 
participants has been selected.

Trade Mission Participation Fees

    If and when an applicant is selected to participate on a particular 
mission, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the amount of the 
designated participation fee below is required. Upon notification of 
acceptance to participate, those selected have 5 business days to 
submit payment or the acceptance may be revoked.
    Participants selected for a trade mission will be expected to pay 
for the cost of personal expenses, including, but not limited to, 
international travel, lodging, meals, transportation, communication, 
and incidentals, unless otherwise noted. Participants will, however, be 
able to take advantage of U.S. Government rates for hotel rooms. In the 
event that a mission is cancelled, no personal expenses paid in 
anticipation of a mission will be reimbursed. However, participation 
fees for a cancelled mission will be reimbursed to the extent they have 
not already been expended in anticipation of the mission.
    Trade mission members participate in trade missions and undertake 
mission-related travel at their own risk. The nature of the security 
situation in a given foreign market at a given time cannot be 
guaranteed. The U.S. Government does not make any representations or 
guarantees as to the safety or security of participants. The U.S. 
Department of State issues U.S. Government international travel alerts 
and warnings for U.S. citizens available at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/. Any question 
regarding insurance coverage must be resolved by the participant and 
its insurer of choice.

Definition of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise

    For purposes of assessing participation fees, an applicant is a 
small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) if it qualifies as a ``small 
business'' under the Small Business Administration's (SBA) size 
standards (https://www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards), 
which vary by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 
Code. The SBA Size Standards Tool (https://www.sba.gov/size-standards) 
can help you determine the qualifications that apply to your company.

Important Note About the Covid-19 Pandemic

    Travel and in-person activities are contingent upon the safety and 
health conditions in the United States and the mission countries. 
Should safety or health conditions not be appropriate for travel and/or 
in-person activities, the Department will consider postponing the event 
or offering a virtual program in lieu of an in-person agenda. In the 
event of a postponement, the Department will notify the public and 
applicants previously selected to participate in this mission will need 
to confirm their availability but need not reapply. Should the decision 
be made to organize a virtual program, the Department will adjust fees, 
accordingly, prepare an agenda for virtual activities, and notify the 
previously selected applicants with the option to opt-in to the new 
virtual program.
    Mission List: (additional information about trade missions can be 
found at https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions).

Trade Mission to Canada and Mexico--September 17-22, 2023

Summary

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration is organizing a trade mission to Canada and Mexico from 
September 17-22, 2023, that will include the Business Opportunities in 
the Americas Conference in Washington, DC on September 17-22, 2023.
    The United States, Canada, and Mexico share common interests in 
strengthening regional economic growth, prosperity and competitiveness, 
and understand that North American competitiveness underpins the future 
prosperity, security and sustainability of all three countries.
    Trade mission participants will arrive in Washington, DC to attend 
the opening reception for the Business Opportunities in the Americas 
Conference on September 17, which is also open to U.S. companies not 
participating in the trade mission. The U.S. Department of Commerce's 
Business Opportunities in the Americas Conference will focus on 
regional and industry-specific sessions, and will gather experts on 
market entry strategies, logistics, procurement, trade financing and 
other important topics.
    On Sunday, September 17, trade mission participants will 
participate in the Conference in one-on-one meetings (U.S. diplomats 
and/or industry specialists from 24 U.S. Embassies will be available) 
and a trade mission briefing in addition to a networking reception. On 
Monday, September 18, participants will engage in the main business 
conference that will include a plenary session in the morning, a 
networking lunch, workshops and one-one meetings with U.S. diplomats 
and/or industry specialists from 24 U.S. Embassies in the afternoon, 
and the main networking reception in the evening. On the last day of 
the Conference, Tuesday, September 19, participants will engage in 
workshops in the morning, a networking lunch, and one-one meetings 
throughout the day. Trade mission participants will travel on 
Wednesday, September 20 to engage in business-to-business (B2B) 
appointments on Thursday, September 21 with pre-screened potential 
buyers, agents, distributors or joint-venture partners, in the selected 
city/stop in Canada and/or Mexico.
    The U.S. Commercial Service Canada and/or Mexico also will be 
offering to arrange B2B meetings through November 30, 2023 on a first-
come, first-served basis in the various mission stops in Mexico and 
Canada for trade mission applicants that are waitlisted. U.S. exporters 
interested in business-to-business meetings or other services in these 
markets after November 30th should contact their local U.S. Export 
Assistance Center.
    One-on-one meetings will be pre-scheduled with the available U.S. 
diplomats and/or industry specialists from 24 U.S. Embassies in the 
Western Hemisphere region, as well as key service providers and other 
trade related resources. U.S. Embassies participating in the event are 
from the following countries: Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, 
Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, 
Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, 
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, The Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, and 
Uruguay.
    The mission is open to U.S. companies from industries with growing 
potential in Canada and Mexico. Best prospects sectors for U.S. 
companies in Canada and Mexico are: Aerospace and Defense; 
Agribusiness; Automotive; Construction; Cosmetics; Defense Equipment; 
Education and Training;

[[Page 25622]]

Electricity Sector; Energy; Environmental Technologies; Financial 
Technologies (Fintech) Industry; Healthcare Products & Services; 
Information and Communications Technology (ICT); Medical Devices; 
Mining and Minerals; Oil and Gas; Packaging; Machinery Industry; 
Plastics and Resins; Renewable Energy; Safety and Security; 
Transportation Infrastructure; Equipment and Services; and Travel and 
Tourism.

Proposed Timetable

    *Note: The final schedule and potential site visits will 
depend on the availability of host government and business officials, 
specific goals of mission participants, and ground transportation.

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Sunday, September 17, 2023........  Washington, DC.
                                    Afternoon: Registration, One-on-One
                                     Meetings Markets Briefing.
                                    Evening: Networking Reception.
Monday, September 18, 2023........  Washington, DC.
                                    Morning: Registration, Business
                                     Conference, Networking Break.
                                    Afternoon: Networking Lunch, One-on-
                                     One Meetings, and Workshops.
Tuesday, September 19, 2023.......  Washington, DC.
                                    Morning: Workshops and One-on-One
                                     Meetings.
                                    Afternoon: Networking Lunch and One-
                                     on-One Meetings.
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                          B2B Meetings Options
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Wednesday, September 20, 2023.....  Travel Day for B2B Meetings.
Thursday, September 21, 2023......  B2B Meetings in (up to two cities/
                                     markets): Option (A) Toronto,
                                     Canada. Option (B) Montreal,
                                     Canada. Option (C) Ottawa, Canada.
                                     Option (D) Calgary, Canada. Option
                                     (E) Mexico City, Mexico. Option (F)
                                     Guadalajara, Mexico. Option (G)
                                     Monterrey, Mexico.
Friday, September 22, 2023........  Travel Day. Return to the U.S.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the trade mission must 
submit an 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 thirty and maximum of fifty companies and/or trade 
associations will be selected to participate in the mission on a 
rolling basis. All selected participants will attend the business 
conference in Washington, DC and will have the opportunity to have 
business-to-business meetings in up-to two cities in Canada and/or 
Mexico.
    The number of firms that may be selected for each stop are as 
follows: 10 companies for Toronto; 5 companies for Montreal; 10 
companies for Ottawa and 4 companies for Calgary; 15 companies for 
Mexico City; 3 companies for Monterrey; and 3 companies for 
Guadalajara.

Fees and Expenses

    After a firm or trade association 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 fees are as follow:
    If only one stop is selected for B2B meetings, the participation 
fee will be $2,800 for a small or medium-sized enterprises (SME) [1] 
and $4,000 for large firms.
    If two stops are selected for B2B meetings, the participation fee 
will be $3,800 for a small or medium-sized enterprises (SME) [1] and 
$5,000 for large firms.
    The mission participation fee includes the Business Opportunities 
in the Americas Conference, registration fee of $650 per participant 
from each firm.
    There will be a $300 fee for each additional firm representative 
(large firm or SME) that wishes to participate in B2B meetings in any 
of the stops selected.
    If an applicant is selected to participate on a particular mission, 
a payment to the Department of Commerce in the amount of the designated 
participation fee is required. Upon notification of acceptance to 
participate, those selected have 5 business days to submit payment or 
the acceptance may be revoked. Participants selected for a trade 
mission will be expected to pay for the cost of personal expenses, 
including, but not limited to, international travel, lodging, meals, 
transportation, communication, and incidentals, unless otherwise noted. 
Participants will, however, be able to take advantage of U.S. 
Government rates for hotel rooms. In the event that a mission is 
cancelled, no personal expenses paid in anticipation of a mission will 
be reimbursed. However, participation fees for a cancelled mission will 
be reimbursed to the extent they have not already been expended in 
anticipation of the mission.
    If a visa is required to travel on a particular mission, applying 
for and obtaining such a visa will be the responsibility of the mission 
participant. Government fees and processing expenses to obtain such a 
visa are not included in the participation fee. However, the Department 
of Commerce will provide instructions to each participant on the 
procedures required to obtain business visas.
    Trade mission members participate in trade missions and undertake 
mission-related travel at their own risk. The nature of the security 
situation in a given foreign market at a given time cannot be 
guaranteed. The U.S. Government does not make any representations or 
guarantees as to the safety or security of participants. The U.S. 
Department of State issues U.S. Government international travel alerts 
and warnings for U.S. citizens available at https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings.html. Any question regarding 
insurance coverage must be resolved by the participant and its insurer 
of choice.

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 
Department of Commerce trade mission calendar (http://export.gov/trademissions) and other internet websites, 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

[[Page 25623]]

immediately and conclude no later than July 28th, 2023. The Department 
of Commerce will evaluate applications and inform applicants of 
selection decisions on a rolling basis until the maximum number of 
participants has been selected. Applications received after July 28th, 
2023, will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints 
permit.

Contacts

U.S. Trade Americas Team Contact Information

Diego Gattesco, Director/Trade Americas Team Leader--U.S. Commercial 
Service Wheeling, WV; [email protected]; Tel: 304-243-5493

CS Canada Contact Information

John Fleming, Deputy Senior Commercial Officer--U.S. Embassy Ottawa, 
Canada; [email protected] Tel: (613) 724-0048

CS Mexico Contact Information

Kenneth Duckworth, Commercial Officer--U.S. Embassy Mexico City, 
Mexico; [email protected] Tel: (52) (55) 7980-9576

Gemal Brangman,
Director, ITA Events Management Task Force.
[FR Doc. 2023-08951 Filed 4-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P