[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 245 (Monday, December 22, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76305-76308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29884]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Trade Mission to Central America in Conjunction With the Trade
Americas--Opportunities in Central America Conference, June 21-26, 2015
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
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Mission Description
The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade
Administration (ITA) is organizing a trade mission to Central America,
in conjunction with the Trade Americas--Opportunities in Central
America Conference in Guatemala June 21-26, 2015. U.S. trade mission
delegation participants will arrive in Guatemala on or before June 21
to attend the networking reception to open the Trade Americas--
Opportunities in Central America Conference. Trade mission participants
will attend the Conference on June 22. Following the morning session of
the conference, trade mission participants will participate in one-on-
one consultations with U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS)
Commercial Officers and/or Economic/Commercial Officers from the
following U.S. Embassies in the region: Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and Nicaragua. The following day, June 23,
trade mission participants will engage in business to business
appointments with companies in Guatemala. A limited number of trade
mission participants will then travel to either, El Salvador, Honduras,
Costa Rica, Belize, or Nicaragua (choosing only one market) for
optional additional business-to-business appointments. Each business to
business appointment will be with a pre-screened potential buyer,
agent, distributor or joint-venture partner.
The Department of Commerce's Trade Americas--Opportunities in
Central America Region Conference will focus on regional and industry-
specific sessions, market entry strategies, logistics and trade
financing resources as well as pre-arranged one-on-one consultations
with US&FCS Commercial Officers and/or Department of State Economic/
Commercial Officers with expertise in commercial markets throughout the
region.
The mission is open to U.S. companies from a cross-section of
industries with growing potential in Central America, but is focused on
U.S. companies in best prospect sectors such as safety and security
equipment; automotive parts/service equipment; food processing &
packing equipment; renewable energy technologies, and hotel and
restaurant equipment.
The combination of the Trade Americas--Opportunities in Central
America Conference and business-to-business matchmaking opportunities
in Guatemala and one of the other optional Central American markets
will provide participants with access to substantive information about,
and strategies for, entering or expanding their business across the
Central America region.
Commercial Setting
The mission supports the federal government's Look South
initiative, which encourages U.S. companies to explore opportunities in
the United States' 11 free trade agreement partner (FTA) countries in
Latin America. The FTA in the region, CAFTA-DR, includes the following
five Central American countries: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras,
Nicaragua and Costa Rica. As a result of this FTA, 100 percent of U.S.
consumer and industrial goods exports
[[Page 76306]]
to the CAFTA-DR countries will no longer be subject to tariffs by 2015.
The CAFTA-DR region was the 14th largest U.S. export market in the
world in 2013, and the third largest in Latin America behind Mexico and
Brazil. The United States exported $29.5 billion in goods to the five
Central American countries. Export.gov/LookSouth includes ``Best
Prospect'' market snapshots in Central America.
Guatemala
The United States and Guatemala enjoy a strong and growing trade
relationship, especially under the U.S.-Central America-Dominican
Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The United States is
Guatemala's largest trading partner accounting for nearly 40 percent of
Guatemala's trade. U.S. products and services enjoy strong name
recognition in Guatemala, and U.S. firms have a good reputation in the
Guatemalan marketplace.
U.S. exports to Guatemala U.S. goods exports to Guatemala in 2013
were $5.5 billion, 95 percent higher than the level in 2005, the year
before CAFTA-DR entered into force. The leading sectors for U.S.
exports and investment are: Automotive Accessories, Auto Parts and
Service Equipment; Security and Safety Equipment; Travel and Tourism;
Petroleum Products; and Forestry and Woodworking Machinery.
Costa Rica
The United States is Costa Rica's main trading partner, accounting
for about 47 percent of Costa Rica's total imports. U.S. products enjoy
an excellent reputation for quality and price-competitiveness.
Proximity to the Costa Rican market is also a major advantage for U.S.
exporters who wish to visit or communicate with potential customers,
facilitating close contacts and strong relationships with clients, both
before and after the sale. U.S. goods exports to Costa Rica in 2013
were $7.2 billion. The leading sectors for U.S. exports and investment
are: Automotive Parts; Accessories and Service Equipment; Construction
Equipment; Travel and Tourism; Cosmetics; Franchising; and Solar Energy
Products.
El Salvador
The United States is El Salvador's leading trade partner. El
Salvador offers an open market for U.S. goods and services. Tariffs are
relatively low, and were reduced further with the implementation of the
Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement
(CAFTA-DR). The value-added tax (VAT) rate in El Salvador is 13
percent. El Salvador's strategic location in Central America makes it a
good platform for industrial and service investments aimed at re-
exports. U.S. goods exports to El Salvador in 2013 were $3.3 billion.
The leading sectors for U.S. exports and investment are: Automotive
Parts and Service Equipment; Construction; Franchising; and Travel and
Tourism.
Honduras
The United States is the chief trading partner for Honduras,
supplying 46.2 percent of Honduran imports. Located in the heart of
Central America, Honduras is the second largest country in the region.
Its deep-water port, Puerto Cort[eacute]s, is the first port in Latin
America to qualify under both the Megaports and Container Security
Initiatives (CSI), which now facilitate the screening of approximately
90 percent of transatlantic and transpacific cargo prior to importation
into the United States. U.S. goods exports to Honduras in 2013 were
$5.4 billion. The leading sectors for U.S. exports and investment are:
Automotive Parts/Service Equipment; Food Processing and Packaging
Equipment; Franchising; Safety and Security Equipment; and Travel &
Tourism Services.
Belize
U.S. remained Belize's principal trading partner. Belize is a
consumer nation and relies heavily on imports. The United States
provided over 44 percent of total Belizean merchandise imports in 2012.
U.S. goods exports to Belize in 2013 were $241.2 million. The leading
sectors for U.S. exports and investment are: Travel and Tourism;
Agriculture and Agribusiness; Petroleum; Information Communication
Technology and Renewable Energy and Green Technology.
Nicaragua
The United States is Nicaragua's largest trading partner, the
source of roughly a quarter of Nicaragua's imports and the destination
for approximately two-thirds of its exports (including free zone
exports). U.S. exports to Nicaragua totaled $1.1 billion in 2013. The
leading sectors for U.S. exports and investment are: Renewable Energy
Technology; Food Processing and Packaging Equipment; Hotel and
Restaurant Equipment; Medical and Dental Equipment; Building Products/
Construction Equipment; and Plastics.
Mission Goals
The goal of the mission is to help participating U.S. companies
gain market insights, make industry contacts, solidify business
strategies and identify potential partners, agents, distributors, and
joint venture partners in Guatemala and, if requested, their choice of
El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Belize, and Nicaragua, laying the
foundation for successful long-term ventures to take advantage of
market opportunities in Central America. The delegation will have
access to US&FCS Commercial Officers, Commercial Specialists, and
Department of State Economic/Commercial Officers during the mission,
learn about business opportunities, and gain first-hand market exposure
from the markets in the region. Trade mission participants already
doing business in Central America will have the opportunity to further
advance business relationships and explore new opportunities.
Mission Scenario
The mission will include registration for the Trade Americas--
Opportunities in Central America Conference, including conference
materials and admission to all sessions and networking events with
industry and government representatives; industry and country market
briefings; and logistical support. It also includes one-on-one
appointments with pre-screened potential business partners in Guatemala
and one other Central American market.
Mission Timetable
June 21 Travel Day/Arrival in Guatemala
Registration, Market Briefings, and Networking Reception
June 22 Guatemala
Morning: Registration and Trade Americas--Opportunities in Central
America Conference
Afternoon: U.S. Embassy Officer Consultations
Evening: Ambassador's Networking Reception
June 23 Guatemala
Business-to-Business Meetings
June 24 Travel Day--Return to the US or go to optional stop
Optional
June 25 Business-to-Business Meetings in (Choice of one market):
Option (A) Honduras
Option (B) Costa Rica
Option (C) El Salvador
Option (D) Belize
Option (E) Nicaragua
June 26 Return to the U.S.
Participation Requirements
All companies interested in participating in the U.S. Department of
Commerce Trade Mission to Central America must complete and submit an
[[Page 76307]]
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 25 and a maximum of 35 companies will be selected to
participate in the mission from the applicant pool based on market
suitability of their product or service. During the registration
process, applicants will be able to select their markets of choice and
will receive a brief market assessment for each selected market. All
selected participants will attend business-to-business meetings in
Guatemala. For those companies seeking to participate in additional
business-to-business meetings in another market on June 25, we will
select based on market suitability. The maximum number of companies
that may be selected for each country are as follows: 25 companies for
Guatemala, 5 companies for El Salvador; 5 companies for Belize; 20
companies for Costa Rica; 10 companies for Honduras; and 5 companies
for Nicaragua. U.S. companies already doing business in, or seeking to
enter the market in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Belize, Guatemala,
Honduras, and Nicaragua 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.
For business-to-business meetings in Guatemala (only one
market), the participation fee will be $2,100 for a small or medium-
sized enterprise (SME)\1\ and $3,100 for a large firm.
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\1\ An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer employees or
that otherwise qualifies as a small business under SBA regulations
(see http://www.sba.gov/services/contractingopportunities/sizestandardstopics/index.html). 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 http://www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/initiatives.html for additional information).
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For business-to-business meetings in Guatemala and one
other market (two markets), the participation fee will be $2,800 for a
small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) and $3,800 for a large firm.
The above trade mission fees include the $400 participation fee for
the Trade Americas--Opportunities in Central America Conference to be
held in Guatemala City on June 22, 2015. There will be a $200 fee for
each additional firm representative (SME or large firm) that wishes to
participate in business-to-business meetings after the conference on
Tuesday in Guatemala and on Thursday in any of the markets selected.
Expenses for travel, lodging, most meals, and incidentals will be
the responsibility of each mission participant.
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 for Participation: Selection will be based on
the following criteria:
Suitability of the company's products or services to each
of the markets the company has expressed an interest in visiting as
part of this trade mission.
Company's potential for business in each of the markets
the company has expressed an interest in visiting as part of this trade
mission.
Consistency of the applicant's goals and objectives with
the stated scope of the mission.
Referrals from political organizations and 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.
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 on www.export.gov, the Trade Americas
Web page at (http://export.gov/tradeamericas/tradeevents/trademissions/centralamericajune2015/index.asp), and other Internet Web sites, press
releases to the general and trade media, direct mail and broadcast fax,
notices by industry trade associations and other multiplier groups and
announcements at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade
shows.
Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no
later than March 20, 2015. The U.S. Department of Commerce will review
applications from the applicant pool and will make selection decisions
on a rolling basis beginning 14 days after publication of this Federal
Register notice, until the maximum of 35 participants are selected.
After March 20, 2015, companies will be considered only if space
and scheduling constraints permit.
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Central America contact
U.S. contact information information
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Jessica Gordon, International Trade Laura Gimenez, Commercial
Specialist. Officer
U.S. Export Assistance Center_Jackson, U.S. Commercial Service_El
MS. Salvador
[email protected]............... [email protected].
Tel: 601-373-0784......................
Diego Gattesco, Director............... Maria Rivera, Regional
U.S. Export Assistance Center_Wheeling, Commercial Specialist
WV. U.S. Commercial Service_El
[email protected]............... Salvador
Tel: 304-243-5493...................... [email protected].
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[[Page 76308]]
Elnora Moye,
Trade Program Assistant.
[FR Doc. 2014-29884 Filed 12-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P