Mission Statement, 10892-10894 [E9-5531]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• International Trade Administration

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 48 (Friday, March 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10892-10894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-5531]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Mission Statement

AGENCY: Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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    Mission Statement, Executive Trade Mission to Chile and Peru, June 
1-5, 2009.

Mission Description

    The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service is organizing an 
Executive Trade Mission to Santiago, Chile, and Lima Peru, June 1-5, 
2009, to be led by Walter Bastian, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the 
Western Hemisphere. The mission will focus on helping U.S. companies 
launch or increase their export business in these key South American 
markets. It will also help participating firms gain market information, 
make business and industry contacts, and solidify business strategies, 
towards the goal of increasing U.S. exports to these important Free 
Trade Agreement (FTA) partners. The mission will include business-to-
business matchmaking appointments with local companies, as well as 
market briefings and networking events. The mission will be comprised 
of U.S. firms representing a cross section of U.S. industries with 
growing potential in the target markets, including, but not limited to 
the following sectors: construction, electric power generation, food 
processing and packaging, environmental protection, information 
technology, mining, oil and gas, safety and security, and 
telecommunications.

Commercial Setting

Chile

    As the United States and Chile FTA continues into its fifth year, 
commercial trade, both in products and services, has been a resounding 
success. In 2008, bilateral trade between the United States and Chile 
reached US$20.3 billion, a 216% increase over bilateral trade levels 
before the U.S.-Chile FTA took effect. Even more impressively, U.S. 
exports to Chile in 2008 showed a 345% increase over pre-FTA levels.
    Chile remains one of the most stable and prosperous developing 
nations, enjoying a reputation for political stability, economic 
freedom, and comparatively low poverty. Chile continues to pursue 
market-oriented strategies, expand global commercial ties, and actively 
participate in international issues and hemispheric free trade.
    Chile offers a unique opportunity for U.S. exporters interested in 
expanding their businesses in one of the most open, stable and 
attractive markets in Latin America. Reflecting growing trade 
relations, Chile's ranking as a top U.S. export market rose to 25th in 
2008, from 35th place in 2003.

Peru

    Peru represents an expanding market for U.S. goods and services. In 
response to eased market access conditions, U.S. exports to Peru have 
doubled over four years, reaching an estimated US$6 billion in 2008. 
This trend should be reinforced as a result of the U.S. Peru Trade 
Promotion Agreement (referred to as the U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement, 
or FTA), which entered into force February 1, 2009, leveling the 
playing

[[Page 10893]]

field for U.S. companies seeking access to the Peruvian market.
    The FTA makes 80 percent of U.S. consumer and industrial products 
eligible for duty-free entry into Peru, with the remaining tariffs 
phased-out over ten years. It also specifies enhanced access to 
services markets and greater protection of intellectual property 
rights. The U.S. International Trade Commission estimates that the FTA 
will boost annual U.S. exports to Peru by US$1.1 billion.
    Peru has achieved some of the highest economic growth rates in 
Latin America, averaging above five percent annually during the past 
seven years. The United States, Peru's leading trading partner, 
purchased 20 percent of Peru's exports and supplied 21 percent of the 
country's imports in 2008. Bilateral trade has tripled over the past 
decade, exceeding US$12 billion in 2008, with Peru the 40th largest 
export market for U.S. goods.

Mission Goals

    This trade mission is designed to help U.S. firms initiate or 
expand their exports to Chile and Peru by providing business-to-
business introductions and market access information.

Mission Scenario

    The mission will stop in Santiago, Chile, and Lima Peru. In each 
city, participants will meet with pre-screened potential buyers, 
agents/distributors, and other business partners. They will also attend 
market briefings by U.S. Embassy officials, as well as networking 
events offering further opportunities to speak with local business and 
industry decision-makers.

Proposed Mission Timetable

Monday, June 1, 2009.........  Santiago, Chile
                               Market Briefing, Matchmaking
                                Appointments, Networking Reception.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009........  Matchmaking Appointments.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009......  Travel to Peru.
Thursday, June 4, 2009.......  Lima, Peru
                               Market Briefing, Matchmaking
                                Appointments, Networking Reception.
Friday, June 5, 2009.........  Matchmaking Appointments.
 

Participation Requirements

    All parties interested in participating in the Executive Trade 
Mission to Chile and Peru 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 seven 
U.S. companies and maximum of 15 companies will be selected to 
participate in the mission from the applicant pool. U.S. companies 
already doing business with Chile and Peru as well as U.S. companies 
seeking to enter these countries for the first time may apply.

Fees and Expenses

    After a company 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 participation fee will be $5,575 for large firms 
and $3,500 for a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).\*\ The fee for 
each additional firm representative (large firm or SME) is $450. 
Expenses for travel, lodging, most meals, and incidentals will be the 
responsibility of each mission participant. The same fee structure 
applies to representatives of U.S.-based firms stationed in Chile, 
Peru, or neighboring countries.
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    \*\An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer employees or 
that otherwise qualifies as a small business under SBA regulations 
(see https://www.sba.gov/services/contractingopportunities/
sizestandardstopics/). Parent companies, affiliates, and 
subsidiaries will be considered when determining business size. The 
dual pricing reflects the Commercial Service's user fee schedule 
that became effective May 1, 2008 (see https://www.export.gov/
newsletter/march2008/initiatives.html for additional information).
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Conditions for Participation

     An applicant must submit a completed and signed mission 
application and supplemental application materials, including adequate 
information on the company's products and/or services, primary market 
objectives, and goals for participation. If the Department of Commerce 
receives an incomplete application, the Department may reject the 
application, request additional information, or take the lack of 
information into account when evaluating the applications.
     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, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm 
and have at least 51 percent U.S. content of the value of the finished 
product or service.
    Selection Criteria: Selection will be based on the following 
criteria, listed in decreasing order of importance:
     Suitability of the company's products or services for the 
Chilean and Peruvian markets
     Applicant's potential for business in Chile and Peru, 
including likelihood of exports resulting from the mission
     Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with 
the stated scope of the trade mission
    Referrals from political organizations and any documents containing 
references to partisan political activities (including political 
contributions) will be removed from an applicant's submission and not 
considered during the selection process.

Timeframe for Recruitment and Applications

    Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner. 
Outreach will include publication in the Federal Register, posting on 
the Commerce Department trade mission calendar (https://www.ita.doc.gov/
doctm/tmcal.html) and other Internet Web sites, press releases to 
general and trade media, broadcast fax, notices by industry trade 
associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry 
meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows.
    The mission will open on a first come first served basis. 
Recruitment will begin immediately and close April 17, 2009. 
Applications received after April 17, 2009, will be considered only if 
space and scheduling constraints permit. Applications are available on-
line on the mission Web site at https://www.export.gov/andeanmission. 
They can also be obtained by contacting the Mission Project Officers 
listed below.

Contacts

Louis Quay, Commercial Service Trade Missions Program, Tel: 202-482-
3973, E-mail: Louis.Quay@mail.doc.gov.
Jessica Arnold, Commercial Service Trade Missions Program, Tel: 202-

[[Page 10894]]

482-2026, E-mail: Jessica.Arnold@mail.doc.gov.

Sean Timmins,
Trade Specialist, Global Trade Programs, Commercial Service Trade 
Missions Program.
 [FR Doc. E9-5531 Filed 3-12-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P