Announcement of Approved International Trade Administration Trade Mission, 41371-41373 [2023-13436]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• International Trade Administration

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 121 (Monday, June 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41371-41373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13436]


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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 121 / Monday, June 26, 2023 / 
Notices

[[Page 41371]]



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: 
U.S. Aerospace & Defense Trade Mission to Romania & Poland, November 
12-17, 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 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 comply 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 countries. 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. 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.

[[Page 41372]]

Trade Mission Participation Fees

    If and when an applicant is selected to participate in 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.
    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/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).

U.S. Aerospace & Defense Trade Mission to Romania & Poland, November 
12-17, 2023

Summary

    The International Trade Administration (ITA), the trade promotion 
arm of the United States Department of Commerce, is organizing a U.S. 
Aerospace & Defense Trade Mission to Romania & Poland, November 12-17, 
2023. The objective for this mission is to advance U.S. national 
interests by giving U.S. companies an opportunity to provide aerospace 
and defense equipment, technology, and services to Romania and Poland, 
both impacted by the Russian invasion into Ukraine. Participating U.S. 
firms will gain market insights, make industry contacts, solidify 
business strategies, and advance specific projects, with the goal of 
increasing U.S. exports and services in the aerospace and defense 
sectors.
    The mission will introduce U.S. firms to aerospace and defense 
stakeholders in the region and assist U.S. companies in finding foreign 
business partners to export their products and services to Romania and 
Poland. The mission will include customized one-on-one business 
appointments with pre-screened potential buyers, agents, distributors, 
and joint venture partners. It will also include meetings with 
government officials and industry leaders, as well as networking 
events. In Romania, companies will also have an opportunity to 
participate in site visits to Aerospace/Defense Production Facilities 
or an R&D Center. For companies new to the market, this will be an 
opportunity to make initial contacts and learn more about the large 
defense market in Central and Southeast Europe.
    The mission will target up to fifteen (minimum 10) U.S. companies 
or trade associations that provide products and services related to a 
broad range of best prospective Aerospace & Defense subsectors in 
Romania & Poland.

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.


------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, November 12, 2023.........  [ssquf] Arrive in Bucharest.
                                    [ssquf] Welcome No-Host Dinner.
Monday, November 13, 2023.........  [ssquf] U.S. Embassy Briefing.
                                    [ssquf] Morning Conference
                                     ``Romanian Defense Strategy and
                                     Business Opportunities'' with
                                     Romanian Government Presentations.
                                    [ssquf] Networking Lunch.
                                    [ssquf] Trade Mission Meetings-
                                     Business to Government (B2G)
                                     Meetings.
                                    [ssquf] Evening Reception.
Tuesday November 14, 2023.........  [ssquf] AM--Site Visits to Aerospace/
                                     Defense Production Facilities or
                                     R&D Center and B2B Meetings.
                                    [ssquf] Networking Lunch.
                                    [ssquf] PM--Trade Mission Meetings-
                                     B2B.
                                    [ssquf] Closing Reception.
Wednesday November 15, 2023.......  [ssquf] AM--Travel to Warsaw,
                                     Poland.
                                    [ssquf] U.S. Embassy Briefing.
                                    [ssquf] Evening Reception.

[[Page 41373]]

 
Thursday November 16, 2023........  [ssquf] Full Day Matchmaking
                                     Meetings in Poland.
Friday November 17, 2023..........  [ssquf] Half Day Matchmaking
                                     Meetings in Poland.
                                    [ssquf] Program Concludes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 ten and maximum of fifteen companies 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 this trade 
mission will be $4,530 for small or medium-sized enterprises (SME); and 
$6,260 for large firms or trade associations.\1\ The fee for each 
additional firm representative (large firm or SME/trade organization) 
is $1,000 for two stops.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A firm or trade association/organization has the option to apply to 
participate in only one market. The participation fee for the Romania 
portion of the Trade Mission will be $2,910 for small or medium-sized 
enterprises (SMEs); and $3,730 for large firms or trade associations/
organizations. The fee for each additional firm representative (large 
firm or SME/trade organization) is $1,000. The participation fee for 
the Poland portion of the Trade Mission will be $1,620 for small or 
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and $2,530 for large firms or trade 
associations/organizations. The fee for each additional firm 
representative (large firm or SME/trade organization) is $1,000.
    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 U.S. Embassy rates for hotel rooms.

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 (https://export.gov/trademissions), 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 September 29th, 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 September 
29th, 2023, will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints 
permit.

Contacts

Diane Mooney--Project Manager, Director, U.S. Commercial Service, 
Seattle, Office: 206-553-7251, Email: [email protected]

Jason Sproule, Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial 
Service, Los Angeles, Office: 949-283-0690, Email: 
[email protected]

Frantz Eyssallenne--Recruitment Lead, International Trade Specialist, 
U.S. Commercial Service, Dallas--Fort Worth, Office: 469-424-7212, 
Email: [email protected]

April Redmon, Director, U.S. Commercial Service, Arlington, Office 703-
235-0103, Email: [email protected]

Gemal Brangman,
Director, ITA Events Management Task Force.
[FR Doc. 2023-13436 Filed 6-23-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P