International Trade Administration Mission Statement, 15737-15738 [E8-5935]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 58 / Tuesday, March 25, 2008 / Notices Notification Regarding Administrative Protective Orders This notice also serves as a reminder to parties subject to administrative protective order (‘‘APO’’) of their responsibility concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written notification of the return or destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and the terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation. This notice is published in accordance with section 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.214(f)(3). Dated: March 18, 2008. Stephen J. Claeys, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration. [FR Doc. E8–6042 Filed 3–24–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration International Trade Administration Mission Statement Department of Commerce, ITA. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES Mission Statement U.S. Health Care Trade Policy Mission to China, April 24–25, 2008. Mission Description: The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA) is organizing a Health-Care Trade Mission to China, April 23–25, 2008. The trade mission will focus on market access and target a broad range of health-care industries, such as the pharmaceutical, medical device, health insurance and health services industries, and will be led by Under Secretary of Commerce Christopher A. Padilla. ITA seeks to provide participating U.S. companies an opportunity to meet with key officials in China’s health ministries to discuss the direction and structure of China’s upcoming health-care reforms. The mission will likely take the form of 3– 4 meetings between the delegation and China’s Ministry of Health, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (formerly Ministry of Labor and Social Security), National Development and Reform Commission and possibly the Ministry of Finance or State Food and Drug Administration (subject to availability). In addition to these meetings, the agenda will include a VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:33 Mar 24, 2008 Jkt 214001 preparatory meeting between the delegation and the Under Secretary. Commercial Setting: This Trade Mission will take place following China’s planned announcement in late March outlining significant changes to its financing, regulation, and management of its health-care system. The U.S. pharmaceutical, medical device, health insurance and health services industries currently have many market access concerns with China, but the potential impact of the pending health-care reforms are the leading concern of many U.S. companies. The reforms China will undertake have the potential to significantly alter the market for U.S. health goods and services. Industry’s ability to engage with the Government of China on these reforms has been limited so far, and while it is understood that an outline of the reforms will be announced in March, industry still lack details and a forum to engage with key Chinese policy makers. This trade mission will provide that opportunity. This mission builds on previous DOC engagement with China’s health ministries under the auspices of the U.S.-China Health-Care Forum (HCF). The mission will supplement HCF cooperation between DOC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and China’s Ministry of Health and Ministry of Commerce. Overview of China’s Health Reform Situation: China has made improving health-care access to its citizens a priority in its Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2006–2010). China will announce reforms to improve the services provided by China’s health-care system, increase the number of insured citizens, reduce corruption and perverse profit incentives, and reduce the overall costs to the consumer. While details are not yet available, Chinese press and U.S. industry anticipate that reforms will lay out a plan for universal health coverage, will institute new health-care delivery systems, will reform hospital management and will change the way drugs are regulated. We expect the outline of the plan to be announced at the meeting of the National People’s Congress in March. The overall proposal is expected to focus only on principles and general direction, be supported by eight more detailed supplemental reform proposals and be implemented through a series of pilot programs. All of these pending reforms present a serious change in the market for U.S. health goods and services providers. U.S. health-care goods and services providers with a clear understanding of China’s policy environment have the potential to influence the policy PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 15737 direction and take advantage of what may be a dramatically growing Chinese health-care market. Mission Goals: The trade mission will facilitate dialogue between the U.S. health-care industry and Chinese policymakers to assist mission participants in gaining first-hand information about China’s upcoming health-care reforms and provide a forum for U.S. stakeholders to provide feedback to relevant Chinese Government ministries to encourage policy choices that increase market access for U.S. goods and services. The trade mission also will assist ITA in identifying areas of interest to China for future cooperation on these market access issues. Summary of Results Expected From the Mission • Improve U.S. health-care industries’ understanding of the pending healthcare reforms in China. • Discover areas of interest to China where future cooperation with U.S. Government and industry could further improve market access for U.S. goods and services. • Provide Chinese policymakers with U.S. industry feedback on the direction of the reforms. • Introduce U.S. industry to China’s new leadership. Mission Scenario: In China, the International Trade Administration will: • Organize a preparatory meeting between the delegation, the Under Secretary, and key U.S. Embassy officials. • Schedule 3–4 meetings with key Government of China ministries. (Subject to the availability of officials in the relevant ministries.) Proposed Mission Timetable Wednesday, April 23 Trade Mission Delegation Dinner with the Under Secretary. Thursday, April 24–Friday, April 25 Meeting with the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health. Meeting with the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Meeting with the Vice Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission. Meeting with the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Finance (Time permitting). Criteria for Participation • Relevance of the company’s business line to the mission scope and goals; • Potential for business in the selected markets; E:\FR\FM\25MRN1.SGM 25MRN1 15738 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 58 / Tuesday, March 25, 2008 / Notices mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES • Timeliness of the company’s completed application, participation agreement, and payment of the mission participation fee; • Certification that the company’s products and/or services are manufactured or produced in the United States or, if manufactured/produced outside of the United States, the products/services must be marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have U.S. content representing at least 51 percent of the value of the finished goods or services; • Diversity of health-care sectors represented; and • Rank/seniority of the designated company representative. Any partisan political activities of an applicant, including political contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection process. The mission will be promoted through the following venues: ITA’s Export Assistance Centers, the Health and Consumer Goods team, the Service Industries team, the Asia Pacific Team, the Trade Events List https:// www.export.gov; the Federal Register; relevant trade associations; past Commerce health-care policy event participants; and the Commerce Department trade missions calendar: https://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/ tmcal.html. Recruitment will begin immediately and will close on April 1, 2007. The trade mission participation fee will be U.S. $1,250 per company. Each participating organization will be allowed to send only one representative. The participation fee does not include the cost of travel, lodging, some ground transportation, or some meals. Participation is open to 15 qualified U.S. companies. Invited companies must submit the trade mission participation fee and completed participation agreement within one week of receipt of their invitation in order to secure their place in the mission. After that time, other companies may be invited to fill that spot. Applications received after the closing date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Cino, U.S. Department of Commerce, e-mail: anthony_cino@ita.doc.gov, telephone: VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:33 Mar 24, 2008 Jkt 214001 202–482–5679, facsimile: 202–482– 2266. Anthony Cino, Office of the Chinese Economic Area, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. [FR Doc. E8–5935 Filed 3–24–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–25–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Institute of Standards and Technology Notice of Inventions Available for Licensing National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce. ACTION: Notice of inventions available for licensing. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The inventions listed below are owned in whole or in part by the U.S. Government, as represented by the Secretary of Commerce. The U.S. Government’s interest in these inventions is available for licensing in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 207 and 37 CFR part 404 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally funded research and development. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical and licensing information on these inventions may be obtained by writing to: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Office of Technology Partnerships, Attn: Mary Clague, Building 222, Room A155, Gaithersburg, MD 20899. Information is also available via telephone: 301–975– 4188, fax 301–975–3482, or e-mail: mary.clague@nist.gov. Any request for information should include the NIST Docket number and title for the invention as indicated below. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NIST may enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (‘‘CRADA’’) with the licensee to perform further research on the invention for purposes of commercialization. The inventions available for licensing are: [NIST DOCKET NUMBER: 7–003] Title: Highly Charged Ion Modified Oxides (HCIMO) for Tunable Resistance. Abstract: Highly Charged Ion Modified Oxides (HCIMO) are achieved by irradiating a thin, high resistance oxide with highly charged ions (HCIs) and then depositing a conducting material of choice on top the irradiated oxide. The irradiation by HCIs preferentially ablates a region on the order of a cubic nanometer at each HCI’s impact site breaking a hole through the ultra-thin oxide. This is demonstrated PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 by preparing an insulating layer of aluminum oxide on a cobalt lower electrode layer, exposing the oxide to very dilute HCI radiation, and then depositing a cobalt upper layer. The data show a clear and systematic decrease in the resistance of the multilayer devices correlated to the HCI dose at very dilute doses. The nanometer dimensions of individual HCI impacts and the precise control over the dose combine to allow high precision selection of the material’s resistance over a wide range of values, currently demonstrated over three orders of magnitude. As HCI modification only occurs within a few nanometers of the surface and generally does not affect metals, no special measures are needed to protect surrounding device structures from HCI damage. Since the size of the material modification is determined by the properties of a single ion, precise alignment is not required, only uniform illumination of the device area by the HCI beam, greatly simplifying commercial integration of HCI irradiation. [NIST DOCKET NUMBER: 7–008] Title: A Four-Wave Mixing Source of Squeezed Light for Image Processing and Interferometry Abstract: The invention provides a source of squeezed light, generated using a 4-level, four-wave mixing scheme in rubidium vapor. Strong relative-number squeezing between two beams has been demonstrated; much stronger than previously seen in any four-wave mixing system. The scheme relies on a chi(3) nonlinearity, and a single-pass, no-cavity, experimental implementation which has relaxed phase matching requirements, as compared to chi(2) crystal sources, and easily produces squeezing in multiple spatial modes. Dated: March 18, 2008. Richard F. Kayser, Acting Deputy Director. [FR Doc. E8–6029 Filed 3–24–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–13–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RIN 0648–XG61 Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; General Provisions for Domestic Fisheries; Application for Exempted Fishing Permit National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\25MRN1.SGM 25MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15737-15738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5935]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


International Trade Administration Mission Statement

AGENCY: Department of Commerce, ITA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Mission Statement

U.S. Health Care Trade Policy Mission to China, April 24-25, 2008.

    Mission Description: The United States Department of Commerce, 
International Trade Administration (ITA) is organizing a Health-Care 
Trade Mission to China, April 23-25, 2008. The trade mission will focus 
on market access and target a broad range of health-care industries, 
such as the pharmaceutical, medical device, health insurance and health 
services industries, and will be led by Under Secretary of Commerce 
Christopher A. Padilla. ITA seeks to provide participating U.S. 
companies an opportunity to meet with key officials in China's health 
ministries to discuss the direction and structure of China's upcoming 
health-care reforms. The mission will likely take the form of 3-4 
meetings between the delegation and China's Ministry of Health, 
Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (formerly Ministry of 
Labor and Social Security), National Development and Reform Commission 
and possibly the Ministry of Finance or State Food and Drug 
Administration (subject to availability). In addition to these 
meetings, the agenda will include a preparatory meeting between the 
delegation and the Under Secretary.
    Commercial Setting: This Trade Mission will take place following 
China's planned announcement in late March outlining significant 
changes to its financing, regulation, and management of its health-care 
system. The U.S. pharmaceutical, medical device, health insurance and 
health services industries currently have many market access concerns 
with China, but the potential impact of the pending health-care reforms 
are the leading concern of many U.S. companies. The reforms China will 
undertake have the potential to significantly alter the market for U.S. 
health goods and services. Industry's ability to engage with the 
Government of China on these reforms has been limited so far, and while 
it is understood that an outline of the reforms will be announced in 
March, industry still lack details and a forum to engage with key 
Chinese policy makers. This trade mission will provide that 
opportunity.
    This mission builds on previous DOC engagement with China's health 
ministries under the auspices of the U.S.-China Health-Care Forum 
(HCF). The mission will supplement HCF cooperation between DOC and the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and China's Ministry of 
Health and Ministry of Commerce.
    Overview of China's Health Reform Situation: China has made 
improving health-care access to its citizens a priority in its Eleventh 
Five-Year Plan (2006-2010). China will announce reforms to improve the 
services provided by China's health-care system, increase the number of 
insured citizens, reduce corruption and perverse profit incentives, and 
reduce the overall costs to the consumer. While details are not yet 
available, Chinese press and U.S. industry anticipate that reforms will 
lay out a plan for universal health coverage, will institute new 
health-care delivery systems, will reform hospital management and will 
change the way drugs are regulated. We expect the outline of the plan 
to be announced at the meeting of the National People's Congress in 
March. The overall proposal is expected to focus only on principles and 
general direction, be supported by eight more detailed supplemental 
reform proposals and be implemented through a series of pilot programs.
    All of these pending reforms present a serious change in the market 
for U.S. health goods and services providers. U.S. health-care goods 
and services providers with a clear understanding of China's policy 
environment have the potential to influence the policy direction and 
take advantage of what may be a dramatically growing Chinese health-
care market.
    Mission Goals: The trade mission will facilitate dialogue between 
the U.S. health-care industry and Chinese policymakers to assist 
mission participants in gaining first-hand information about China's 
upcoming health-care reforms and provide a forum for U.S. stakeholders 
to provide feedback to relevant Chinese Government ministries to 
encourage policy choices that increase market access for U.S. goods and 
services. The trade mission also will assist ITA in identifying areas 
of interest to China for future cooperation on these market access 
issues.

Summary of Results Expected From the Mission

     Improve U.S. health-care industries' understanding of the 
pending health-care reforms in China.
     Discover areas of interest to China where future 
cooperation with U.S. Government and industry could further improve 
market access for U.S. goods and services.
     Provide Chinese policymakers with U.S. industry feedback 
on the direction of the reforms.
     Introduce U.S. industry to China's new leadership.
    Mission Scenario: In China, the International Trade Administration 
will:
     Organize a preparatory meeting between the delegation, the 
Under Secretary, and key U.S. Embassy officials.
     Schedule 3-4 meetings with key Government of China 
ministries. (Subject to the availability of officials in the relevant 
ministries.)

Proposed Mission Timetable

Wednesday, April 23

    Trade Mission Delegation Dinner with the Under Secretary.

Thursday, April 24-Friday, April 25

    Meeting with the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health.
    Meeting with the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Human Resources 
and Social Security.
    Meeting with the Vice Minister of the National Development and 
Reform Commission.
    Meeting with the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Finance (Time 
permitting).

Criteria for Participation

     Relevance of the company's business line to the mission 
scope and goals;
     Potential for business in the selected markets;

[[Page 15738]]

     Timeliness of the company's completed application, 
participation agreement, and payment of the mission participation fee;
     Certification that the company's products and/or services 
are manufactured or produced in the United States or, if manufactured/
produced outside of the United States, the products/services must be 
marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have U.S. content 
representing at least 51 percent of the value of the finished goods or 
services;
     Diversity of health-care sectors represented; and
     Rank/seniority of the designated company representative.
    Any partisan political activities of an applicant, including 
political contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection 
process.
    The mission will be promoted through the following venues: ITA's 
Export Assistance Centers, the Health and Consumer Goods team, the 
Service Industries team, the Asia Pacific Team, the Trade Events List 
https://www.export.gov; the Federal Register; relevant trade 
associations; past Commerce health-care policy event participants; and 
the Commerce Department trade missions calendar: https://
www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html.
    Recruitment will begin immediately and will close on April 1, 2007. 
The trade mission participation fee will be U.S. $1,250 per company. 
Each participating organization will be allowed to send only one 
representative. The participation fee does not include the cost of 
travel, lodging, some ground transportation, or some meals. 
Participation is open to 15 qualified U.S. companies. Invited companies 
must submit the trade mission participation fee and completed 
participation agreement within one week of receipt of their invitation 
in order to secure their place in the mission. After that time, other 
companies may be invited to fill that spot. Applications received after 
the closing date will be considered only if space and scheduling 
constraints permit.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Cino, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, e-mail: anthony_cino@ita.doc.gov, telephone: 202-482-5679, 
facsimile: 202-482-2266.

Anthony Cino,
Office of the Chinese Economic Area, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.
 [FR Doc. E8-5935 Filed 3-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-25-P
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