[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 46 (Thursday, March 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16530-16533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04863]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Announcement of Approved International Trade Administration 
Business Development Mission

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration (ITA), is announcing one upcoming business development 
mission that will be recruited, organized, and implemented by ITA. This 
mission is: Taiwan Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) & Counter-UAS (C-
UAS) Business Development Mission-September 22-25, 2024. 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 are 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 canceled.
    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 51% 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, are 
marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have at least 51% U.S. 
content by value.
    A trade association/organization applicant must certify and agree 
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

[[Page 16531]]

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. 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 applicant's size and location may also be considered 
during the review process. 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.

Definition of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise

    For purposes of assessing participation fees, an applicant is a 
small and 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.
    Mission List: (additional information about trade missions can be 
found at https://www.trade.gov/trade-missions). Taiwan Uncrewed 
Aircraft Systems (UAS) & Counter-UAS (C-UAS) Business Development 
Mission--September 22-25, 2024.

Summary

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration (``ITA'') is organizing a Taiwan Uncrewed Aircraft 
Systems (UAS) and Counter-UAS (C-UAS) Business Development Mission from 
September 22 through September 25, 2024. The objective of this mission 
is to advance U.S. national interests and focus on meeting Taiwan 
market demand for UAS and C-UAS commercial and defense solutions.
    The business development mission will include 15-20 representatives 
from U.S. UAS and C-UAS manufacturers and service providers. The 
mission will facilitate connections to the Taiwan authorities and 
private sector customers, including defense, security, and police 
services, as well as critical infrastructure such as airports and 
manufacturing facilities.
    ITA will organize a tailored program for U.S. companies exploring 
opportunities in the Taiwan market and will leverage strong connections 
with U.S. interagency partners to lead discussions on trade, security, 
and technical aspects of doing business with Taiwan's defense industry. 
Mission participants will benefit from strong American Institute in 
Taiwan (AIT) connections to the Taiwan authorities and industry through 
public-to-private sector and business-to-business matchmaking and 
networking events, roundtables with Taiwan representatives and industry 
leaders, product presentations, and site visits to commercial and 
defense manufacturing facilities, all bolstered by the guidance and 
insights of ITA's commercial team.
    The business development mission is an opportunity for U.S. 
companies to explore market development opportunities in Taiwan, 
strengthen the U.S.-Taiwan trade relationship, showcase the technology, 
know-how, and capabilities that U.S. industry has to offer, and 
demonstrate U.S. interest in partnering with Taiwan to strengthen its 
self-defense capabilities. Mission participants will receive an 
enhanced ability to secure meetings and gain greater exposure to the 
Taiwan commercial and defense market.
    The Taiwan defense market has seen recent rapid growth spurred by 
regional tensions. U.S. manufacturers of defense equipment benefit from 
a long-standing relationship with the Taiwan authorities and defense 
industry leaders. However, U.S. companies participating in the Taiwan 
market face significant hurdles as new entrants, including finding 
local partners, navigating offset requirements and technology transfer, 
and growing competition from both domestic and international 
manufacturers.
    In 2021, the overall Taiwan aerospace and defense market was $9.2 
billion, with U.S. imports accounting for 39.5% of the market. U.S. 
arms sales to Taiwan have significantly aided in enabling Taiwan to 
maintain a sufficient self-defense capability. From 2019 to August 
2022, the U.S. Government notified Congress of more than $18.5 billion 
in Foreign Military Sales to Taiwan.
    With increased tensions in the Taiwan Strait, the Taiwan 
authorities have demonstrated a strengthened commitment to modernizing 
its military capabilities. Taiwan implemented a $24.6 billion defense 
budget in 2023--a nearly 10 percent increase over 2022--and has 
developed programs to catalyze the growth of specific defense and 
security capabilities, including UAS and C-UAS. In 2022, the Taiwan 
authorities announced an effort to develop and procure 3,200 UAS by 
mid-2024 with an eventual goal of several times that number within five 
years.
    Mission participants will benefit from the expertise and 
connections of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the American Institute 
in Taiwan, and U.S. interagency partners to the Taiwan authorities and 
defense industry leaders, facilitating meetings with decision-makers 
and procurement leaders.
    This business development mission seeks U.S. UAS and C-UAS 
equipment manufacturers and software providers exploring market 
development opportunities and companies intent on making connections to 
Taiwan commercial and defense firms and the Taiwan authorities. 
Relevant mission applicants include companies producing UAS products 
and parts for defense and commercial markets with applications 
including defense, national security, police services, disaster and 
emergency management, search and rescue, and critical infrastructure 
inspection. Relevant mission applicants for C-UAS products include 
companies engaged in software, hardware, and parts production for the 
detection, identification, tracking, and mitigation of UAS. Both soft 
and hard defeat platforms are applicable depending on the participant's 
goals for commercial and defense applications. Taiwan customers include 
defense, security, and police services, as well as critical 
infrastructure such as airports and energy and manufacturing 
facilities.

[[Page 16532]]

    Relevant mission applicant industry sectors include Uncrewed 
Aircraft Systems (UAS); Counter Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (C-UAS); 
Security Systems and Equipment; Command, Control, Communication & 
Information Systems; Radar; and Underwater Uncrewed Vehicles (UUV), Air 
Traffic Management Systems (ATM), and Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Traffic 
Management (UTM).
    Previous experience in foreign markets is preferred. Companies do 
not require previous experience in the Taiwan market.

Taiwan

    Taipei, Taiwan--Mission participants will travel to Taipei to 
participate in briefings, policy discussions, and roundtable sessions 
curated by ITA and AIT. Mission participants arriving in Taipei will be 
provided an overview of policy and industry priorities from AIT 
personnel as well as U.S. interagency specialists. Participants will 
gain insight into opportunities and challenges present in the Taiwan 
defense market from industry experts and meet with procurement 
officials from organizations such as the Ministry of National Defense 
(MND), National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology 
(NCSIST), the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC), and 
leading trade associations -specific entities and meetings to be 
confirmed.

Other Products and Services

    The foregoing analysis of defense-related opportunities in Taiwan 
is not intended to be exhaustive, but illustrative of the many 
opportunities available to U.S. businesses. Applications from companies 
selling products or services within the scope of this mission, but not 
specifically identified, will be considered and evaluated by the U.S. 
Department of Commerce. Companies whose products or services do not fit 
the scope of the mission may contact their local U.S. Export Assistance 
Center (USEAC) to learn about other business development missions and 
services that may provide more targeted export opportunities. Companies 
may go to http://help.export.gov/ or http://trade.gov to obtain such 
information.

Mission Goals

    The purpose of this business development mission is to advance U.S. 
national interests by developing export prospects for U.S. companies 
and to connect U.S. UAS and C-UAS companies with the rapidly growing 
Taiwan commercial and defense market. The mission will aid companies 
through guidance and expertise from the U.S. Commercial Service and 
connections to leaders in industry and the Taiwan authorities.
    Mission Goals include:
     Provide U.S. UAS and C-UAS companies the opportunity to 
explore the market potential for their products.
     Strengthen connections between U.S. companies and Taiwan 
aerospace and defense companies in a key market in East Asia by 
leveraging connections with interagency partners in the region and 
AIT's connections to the local defense industry, Taiwan authorities 
responsible for procurement, and leaders of critical infrastructure 
facilities.
     Leverage U.S. interagency partners to connect with 
prospective business development mission participating companies and 
with high-level representatives of the Taiwan authorities and industry 
officials to enhance U.S. participants' export potential.
     Connect participants with senior-level Taiwan authorities 
in a setting that facilitates progress on business development 
projects. For companies new to the market, this will be an opportunity 
to make initial contacts and learn more about Taiwan's market.
     Showcase the technology, know-how, and capabilities the 
U.S. private sector has to offer and demonstrate U.S. interest in 
partnering with Taiwan to bolster its security and resilience.
    The business development mission will be based in Taipei, Taiwan, 
where companies will have opportunities to connect with Taiwan's 
defense decision-makers at events hosted by AIT, local industry, and 
industry associations. Companies will participate in business-to-
business (B2B) and public-to-private matchmaking. An evening reception 
will be organized by AIT. The U.S. Commercial Service will be on-site 
and available to provide market information and offer logistics 
assistance throughout the mission.

Proposed Timetable

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


------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, September 22, 2024, Taipei   Business Development
                                     Mission Participants Arrive in
                                     Taipei, Taiwan.
                                     Welcome No Host Dinner with
                                     Business Development Mission
                                     Participants.
Monday, September 23, 2024, Taipei   AIT Island Team Briefing.
                                     Policy roundtables with
                                     AIT, USG (DOC), and industry.
                                     Site visits to commercial
                                     and defense manufacturers.
                                     Evening networking
                                     reception.
Tuesday, September 24, 2024,         Roundtable with Taiwan UAS
 Taipei.                             associations.
                                     Public-to-private sector
                                     meetings.
                                     One-on-one business
                                     matchmaking.
Wednesday, September 25, 2024,       One-on-One business
 Taipei.                             matchmaking.
                                     Evening networking
                                     reception.
                                     End of Mission.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the trade mission must 
complete and 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 15 and a maximum of 20 firms 
and/or trade associations will be selected to participate in the 
mission from the applicant pool.

Fees and Expenses

    After a firm or trade association has been selected to participate 
in the mission, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of 
a participation fee is required. The participation fee for the Taiwan 
UAS and C-UAS Mission will be $3600.00 for small or medium-sized 
enterprises (SME); \1\ and $5200.00

[[Page 16533]]

for large firms or trade associations. The fee for each additional firm 
representative (large firm or SME/trade organization) is $1000.00. 
Expenses for travel, lodging, meals, and incidentals will be the 
responsibility of each mission participant. Interpreter and driver 
services can be arranged for additional cost. Delegation members will 
be able to take advantage of AIT rates for hotel rooms.
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    \1\ For purposes of assessing participation fees, an applicant 
is a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) if it qualifies 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 business development 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 AIT 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. Taiwan 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.
    Business Development Mission members participate in 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.
    Travel and in-person activities are contingent upon the safety and 
health conditions in the United States and the mission economies. 
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.

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 Commerce 
Department 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 
immediately and conclude no later than April 26, 2024. The U.S. 
Department of Commerce will review applications and inform applicants 
of selection decisions on a rolling basis. Applications received after 
April 26, 2024, will be considered only if space and scheduling 
constraints permit.

Contacts

Project Lead

Luke Yanos, Senior Internacional Trade Specialist, Commercial Service 
Chicago, 872-327-8038, [email protected]
Jacqueline Roeder, International Trade Specialist, Commercial Service 
San Diego, 619-209-9233, [email protected]

U.S. Based Recruitment Lead

Paul Matino, Acting Director, Commercial Service Baltimore, 443-286-
1263, [email protected]
Jason Sproule, Aerospace & Defense Global Team Leader, Commercial 
Service Los Angeles, 949-283-0690, [email protected]
Stefanie Merchant, International Trade Specialist, Industry & Analysis 
Aerospace Team, 202-573-2772, [email protected]
Jeffrey Dutton, Commercial Officer, American Institute in Taiwan, +886 
2162-2633, [email protected]
Madison Yao, Commercial Specialist, American Institute in Taiwan, 
[email protected]
Christopher Ashe, Deputy Director, Global Markets, Office of East Asia 
and Oceania, [email protected]

Gemal Brangman,
Director, Trade Events Management Task Force.
[FR Doc. 2024-04863 Filed 3-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P