[Federal Register: March 25, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 58)]
[Notices]
[Page 15737-15738]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25mr08-33]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
International Trade Administration Mission Statement
AGENCY: Department of Commerce, ITA.
ACTION: Notice.
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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
http://www.export.gov; the Federal Register; relevant trade
associations; past Commerce health-care policy event participants; and
the Commerce Department trade missions calendar: http://
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