GUTIERREZ ANNOUNCES PARTICIPANTS
IN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
MISSION TO CHINA

Washington, DC - Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez today announced the business leaders who will participate in his Business Development Mission to Beijing and Shanghai, China, from November 13-17. The mission will highlight export opportunities for U.S. businesses by helping the participants develop business and government contacts, solidify business strategies and obtain market access information.

The delegation will be comprised of 25 U.S. firms representing a broad cross-section of U.S. industries. Mission participants will meet with key government officials, business leaders and potential business partners. The mission will also provide a platform for policy and commercial issues that U.S. companies face in the Chinese market, such as intellectual property rights protection, transparency and rule of law.

"China is already America's fourth-largest export market, and it is still one of the fastest-growing markets for U.S. goods and services. That means there are outstanding export opportunities in China, which could bring in billions of dollars for U.S. companies," said Gutierrez. "The business leaders on this trade mission come from a broad cross-section of U.S. businesses. As they learn more about how to seize new opportunities in China, they will be able to expand their businesses and create more American jobs."

The goal of the mission is to help U.S. firms expand their exports to China, with a focus on assisting experienced American exporters to enter the Chinese market for the first time and helping U.S. companies already operating in China to increase their current level of exports.

Total U.S. exports to China in 2005 were $41.8 billion, an increase of 20.5 percent over 2004. Through July 2006, U.S. exports have grown 35.7 percent over the same period last year.

"Huge opportunities exist in China, but so do some major challenges," continued Gutierrez. "This mission is designed to help U.S. companies to identify the opportunities and address the challenges."

While the U.S. and China have made progress in the bilateral trade relationship by expanding market access for U.S. goods and services, increasing transparency, and improving enforcement of intellectual property rights, problems do remain in each of these areas. As progress continues, China represents an opportunity for American businesses to offer their products to more than a billion consumers.



For more information, visit www.export.gov/chinamission.

For a list of participants, click here.