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How To Apply mission participants may choose to 10%. Since the EU had already Applications can be downloaded from participate in a mission stop in implemented its FTA with Korea, U.S. the trade mission Web site or can be either: Japan and/or Taiwan. firms will now be in a stronger obtained by contacting Arica Young, Each trade mission stop will include competitive situation following KORUS Carlos Suarez or Enrique Tellez at the one-on-one appointments with implementation. U.S. Department of Commerce (see pre-screened potential buyers, agents, Korea’s projected 2012 GDP growth is forecasted at around 3.6%, but could contact details below.) Completed distributors and joint-venture partners, come in slightly lower given global applications should be submitted to and networking events. Trade mission economic sluggishness. Its commercial Arica Young, Carlos Suarez or Enrique participants electing to participate in banks maintain strong reserves, in case Tellez. the Trade Winds—Asia business forum may attend regional and industry- of a possible worldwide slowdown or Contacts specific sessions and consultations with difficulties within the Euro zone. Korea Arica N. Young, Commercial Service CS Senior Commercial Officers based in will continue to focus its development Trade Missions Program, Tel: 202– Asia. on key growth sectors. Patents and 482–6219, Fax: 202–482–9000, Email: This mission is open to U.S. trademarks issued by the Korean Patent [email protected] companies and trade associations from Office exceeded 362,000 filings in 2010. Carlos Suarez, US Commercial Service a cross section of industries with growth The increasing trend in local patent and Colombia, Tel: 57–1–2752519, Email: potential in The Philippines, Hong trademark filings reflects the move [email protected] Kong, Korea, Japan and Taiwan, toward more technology-intensive and Enrique Tellez, US Commercial Service including but not limited to: Aerospace capital-intensive industries and Panama, Tel: 507–317–5080, Email: and aviation, automotive electronics, services. [email protected] computer services & software, consumer Best market prospects for Korea goods, defense industry equipment, include: The aerospace Industry, Elnora Moye, food processing systems, education, specialty chemicals; cosmetics; defense Trade Program Assistant. electrical power systems, electronic industry equipment; education services; [FR Doc. 2012–29306 Filed 12–3–12; 8:45 am] components, energy (both new and new and renewable energy, BILLING CODE 3510–FP–P renewable, entertainment and media, entertainment and media, franchising; environmental technologies and medical equipment and devices, services, financial services, franchising, pollution control equipment; DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE healthcare & medical, hotel/restaurant semiconductors, and travel & tourism. equipment, housing products, industrial Administration Taiwan (Taipei) chemical, info. & comm. technology, With a population of 23 million, U.S. Trade Mission to Asia in information security services, logistics Taiwan is a thriving democracy, vibrant Conjunction With Trade Winds—Asia, development, machine tools and market economy, and a highly attractive The Philippines, Hong Kong, Korea, equipment, medical equipment and market, especially for U.S. firms. Japan and Taiwan, May 9–17, 2013 pharmaceuticals, outbound travel and In 2011, Taiwan was ranked as the tourism, pet products, pleasure boats AGENCY: International Trade tenth-largest trading partner in goods and accessories, pollution control with the U.S., putting it ahead of Administration, Department of equipment, port construction, retail, Commerce. markets such as India and Italy. It is also safety and security equipment, the sixth-largest agricultural market for ACTION: Notice. semiconductors, specialty chemicals, the U.S., and the fifth-largest source of telecommunications equipment, foreign students in U.S. higher Mission Description transportation infrastructure, travel and education. Taiwan is the world’s fourth- The United States Department of tourism services. largest holder of foreign exchange Commerce, International Trade Commercial Setting reserves, with over $385 billion in 2011. Administration, U.S. and Foreign The Taiwan economy softened slightly Commercial Service (CS) is organizing a Korea (Seoul) after 2010, but still enjoyed 4% GDP trade mission to Asia, that will include On March 15, 2012, the Korea-U.S. growth in 2011. Unemployment has the Trade Winds—Asia business forum Agreement (KORUS) went remained relatively low, and an in Seoul, Korea, May 2013. U.S. trade into force, becoming our nation’s largest appreciating currency makes U.S. goods mission members will participate in the Free (spell out) since and services attractive to Taiwan Trade Winds—Asia business forum in NAFTA. The agreement has the buyers. Seoul, Korea (which is also open to U.S. potential to increase U.S. to Taiwan’s real GDP increased by 4% in companies not participating in the trade Korea by approximately $10–12 billion, 2011, and this growth was mainly mission). Trade mission participants and it will be especially beneficial for driven by strong export growth and may participate in their choice of U.S. small and medium enterprises private-investment expansion. In mission stops. On the first leg of the (spell out). addition, the reductions and trade mission, prior to the Korean trade The amount of trade between, the U.S. exemptions from the Economic mission stop, participants may choose and Korea exceeded $100 billion for the Cooperation Framework Agreement to participate in a trade mission stop in first time ever. U.S. exports reached an (ECFA), which became effective on either: The Philippines and/or Hong all-time high of $43.5 billion and also January 1, 2011, helped spur Taiwan’s Kong. Trade mission participants may increased 12% over 2010 levels. exports to China. then choose to participate in a trade Korea is the United States’ seventh- However, Taiwan’s export growth mission stop in Korea, during which largest trading partner. The U.S. is the may be significantly impacted by the trade mission participants may third-largest exporter to Korea, with a New Taiwan dollar’s appreciation participate in the Trade Winds—Asia 9% market share. Key competitors against the U.S. dollar. Local private business forum. Following the trade include: China, with 16.8%; Japan, with consumption is expected to expand mission stop in Seoul, Korea, trade 15.3%; and the EU (27 nations), with continuously as a result of the recent

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economic recovery and low travel/tourism, along with hot new 5.6% of Hong Kong’s (2011) and unemployment. Improving ties with emerging sectors such as biotechnology, ranked the territory as the U.S.’s 10th China is expected to ease the current healthcare IT and nanotechnology. largest export market. Its major trading cross-strait and investment restrictions Most globally competitive American partners: Mainland China, United and encourage more foreign investments and international firms compete heavily States, EU, Japan, and Taiwan. Hong in Taiwan. With these changing factors, in the Japanese market, and partner with Kong has world-class infrastructure; a local officials forecast that economic Japanese firms worldwide. Savvy free flow of information; no restrictions growth for 2012 will be moderate, at an observers agree that an active on inward or outward investment; no annual rate of about 3.91%. engagement with the Japanese market foreign-exchange controls; no Taiwan’s best prospect sectors for remains critical to the success of nationality restrictions on corporate or U.S. exports include information American firms both large and small, sectoral ownership; a simple, low- communications and technologies, whether in Japan, in other world regime; and is a global financial hub. In safety and security equipment, markets, or even back home in the addition, Hong Kong citizens speak renewable energy technologies, United States. excellent English and the Hong Kong publishing services, education and Hong Kong Dollar is pegged to the U.S. Dollar. training services, travel and tourism, electronic components, pet products, Hong Kong, a Special Administrative The Philippines (Manila) and medical devices and equipment. Region of the People’s Republic of United States goods exports to the China (PRC) since its reversion in 1997, Philippines in 2011 were USD7.7 Japan (Tokyo) has proven resilient in past economic billion, up 4.5% (USD330 million) from Japan is the world’s third largest crises. Dominant and sustained drivers 2010, but down 12.3% from 2000. The economy, after the United States and of economic growth include private top export categories (2-digit HS) in China, with a GDP of roughly $5.9 consumption (retail), transportation and 2011 were: Electrical machinery, trillion. Japan is our fourth largest logistics, and business services, real machinery, cereals (wheat), optic and export market, receiving $66.2 billion in estate development (bolstered by medical instruments, and food waste goods and $47.6 billion in services from ongoing public infrastructure works), and animal feed (soybean residues). U.S. the United States in 2011. Japan is also and tourism. Hong Kong has benefited service exports to the Philippines the second largest foreign investor in the from continued totaled USD2.2 billion in 2011. United States, with more than $257 with mainland China’s strong economy. U.S. exports of agricultural products billion invested. In particular, Beijing’s policy of opening to the Philippines totaled USD2.1 Japan’s economy is highly efficient its service sector and gradually billion in 2011, the 11th-largest U.S. Ag and competitive and its reservoir of expanding the scope of the offshore export market. Leading categories industrial leadership and technicians, Renminbi (RMB—the PRC’s currency) include: Wheat, soybean meal, dairy well-educated and industrious work market in Hong Kong and the sustained products, and red meats fresh/chilled/ force, high savings and investment rates, high numbers of mainland Chinese frozen. and intensive promotion of industrial visitors (28 million in 2011) have U.S. exports of private commercial development and trade has produced a strengthened Hong Kong’s economy. services (i.e., excluding military and mature industrial economy. Japan has Hong Kong is an ideal platform for government) to the Philippines were few natural resources, and trade helps doing business in Asia, especially for USD2.2 billion in 2011 (latest data the nation earn the foreign exchange mainland China. Hong Kong is a free available), 17% more than the 2009 needed to purchase raw materials for its port that does not levy any customs level. The private-services category economy. Tokyo alone forms the core of tariffs and has limited excise duties. Its (business, professional, and technical an urban area that boasts a total strong rule of law and respect for services) and travel category accounted population of over 35 million, roughly property rights make it a strategic for most of U.S. service exports in 2010. equivalent to the New York and Los platform for U.S. companies, especially Philippine GDP growth slowed to Angeles metropolitan areas combined, small- and medium-sized firms, seeking 3.7% in 2011 following one-off factors and accounts for about one-third of to do business in Asia. Hong Kong’s in 2010 (election spending and heavy Japan’s total GDP. Consumers are highly statutory trade promotion body, the post-typhoon reconstruction); lower- sophisticated and discerning and are on Trade Development Council, seized than-targeted government expenditures; the vanguard of the latest technological upon this unique positioning to create and adverse developments globally. The developments, trends and fashions, the Pacific Bridge Initiative in late 2010, Government reverted to a deficit while the rapidly aging population is the first such agreement with a foreign reduction path in 2011 after opting for creating demand for new and innovative government affiliate explicitly higher deficits in 2008 to 2010 to help solutions across all areas of the supporting the United States. support economic growth and generate economy. All of this creates demand for Hong Kong’s enjoy close employment. However, the Government high-quality, innovative Made-in-USA links to mainland China and the rest of spent significantly below target, goods and services. And with the Asia. According to Hong Kong contributing to the economy’s weaker- continued strength of the Japanese yen Government statistics, there are 1,328 than-expected expansion. against the U.S. dollar, American goods subsidiaries of U.S. parent companies in and services have never been more Hong Kong, making the United States Mission Goals affordable for Japanese buyers. Best the largest source of subsidiaries in The goal of the Asia trade mission is prospect sectors include: Aerospace, Hong Kong. Among those U.S. to help participating firms gain market computer software, cosmetics/toiletries, subsidiaries, 840 are regional insights, make industry contacts, education and corporate training, headquarters or regional offices. Hong solidify business strategies, and advance electronic components, medical Kong’s key characteristics are its specific projects, with the goal of equipment, pharmaceuticals, renewable openness, and promotion of tourism, increasing U.S. exports to Korea, energy, safety and security, soil trade and investment. Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong and The remediation and engineering services, In 2011, U.S. exports to Hong Kong Philippines. The delegation will have telecommunications equipment, and were $27.3 billion, which constituted access to CS Senior Commercial Officers

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and Commercial Specialists during the Each additional mission stop will company has expressed an interest in mission, learn about the many business result in an additional participation fee visiting as part of this trade mission. opportunities in Asia, and gain first- of $1,000 for both small or medium • Consistency of the applicant’s goals hand market exposure. U.S. trade sized enterprises and large firms alike. and objectives with the stated scope of An additional representative will mission participants already doing the mission. business in Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Hong require an additional fee of $325 per Kong and the Philippines will have mission stop for both small or medium Diversity of company size, sector or opportunities to further advance sized enterprises and large firms alike. subsector, and location may also be business relationships and projects in Expenses for travel, lodging, meals, considered during the review process. those markets. and incidentals (e.g., local Referrals from political organizations transportation) will be the responsibility Scenario & Timetable and any documents containing of each mission participant. references to partisan political activities May 9–10 ... Trade Mission stops in Hong Conditions for Participation (including political contributions) will Kong and/or the Philippines • An applicant must submit a be removed from an applicant’s (Choice of one stop). completed and signed mission submission and not considered during May 11 ...... Travel Day to Korea. the selection process. May 13 ...... Korea: Asia Business Forum. application and supplemental May 14–15 Korea: Asia Business Forum, application materials, including Timeframe for Recruitment and consultations with CS Senior adequate information on the company’s Applications Commercial Officers and products and/or services, primary Trade Mission one-on-one market objectives, and goals for Mission recruitment will be meetings (Schedule will vary participation. Applicant should specify conducted in an open and public among participating firms, in their application and supplemental manner, including publication in the depending on their needs materials which trade mission stops Federal Register, posting on the and interests). they are interested in participating in. If May 16–17 Trade Mission stops in Japan Commerce Department trade mission and/or Taiwan (Choice of the Department of Commerce receives calendar, and other Internet Web sites, one stop). an incomplete application, the press releases to the general and trade Department may reject the application, media, direct mail and broadcast fax, Participation Requirements request additional information, or take notices by industry trade associations the lack of information into account and other multiplier groups and All parties interested in participating when evaluating the applications. in the U.S. and Foreign Commercial • announcements at industry meetings, Each applicant must also certify symposia, conferences, and trade shows. Service Trade Mission to Asia must that the products and services it seeks complete and submit an application to export through the mission are either Recruitment for the mission will package for consideration by the produced in the U.S., or, if not, begin immediately and conclude no Department of Commerce. All marketed under the name of a U.S. firm later than March 30, 2013. The U.S. applicants will be evaluated on their and have at least 51% U.S. content of Department of Commerce will review ability to meet certain conditions and the value of the finished product or applications and make selection best satisfy the selection criteria as service. In the case of a trade association decisions on a rolling basis beginning outlined below. or trade organization, the applicant December 17, 2012, until the minimum A minimum of 65 companies and/or must certify that, for each company to of 65 participants is selected. After trade associations will be selected to be represented by the trade association March 30, 2013, companies will be participate in the mission from the or trade organization, the products and considered only if space and scheduling applicant pool on a rolling basis. services the represented company seeks constraints permit. Additional delegates will be accepted to export are either produced in the based on available space. Each of the United States, or, if not, marketed under U.S. Contact Information trade mission stops (Japan, Taiwan, the name of a U.S. firm and have at least Bill Burwell, U.S. Export Assistance Hong Kong, the Philippines) is designed fifty-one % U.S. content. for participation of a maximum of 30 Center—Baltimore, participants. U.S. companies and/or Selection Criteria for Participation [email protected], Tel: 410–962– trade associations already doing Selection will be based on the 3097 business in, or seeking to enter Japan, following criteria: Leslie Drake, U.S. Export Assistance Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong and the • Suitability of the company’s (or, in Center—Charleston, WV, Philippines for the first time may apply. the case of a trade association or trade [email protected], Tel: 304–347– organization, represented companies’) Fees and Expenses 5123 products or services to each of the After a company has been selected to markets the company has expressed an Korea Contact Information participate in the mission, a payment to interest in visiting as part of this trade the Department of Commerce in the James Sullivan, U.S. Commercial mission. Service—Korea, form of a participation fee is required. • Company’s (or, in the case of a trade [email protected] For one mission stop, the association or trade organization, participation fee will be $2,450 for a represented companies’) potential for Mitch Larsen, U.S. Commercial small or medium-sized enterprise business in each of the markets the Service—Korea, (SME) 1 and $3,400 for large firms. [email protected] affiliates, and subsidiaries will be considered when 1 An SME is defined as a firm with 500 or fewer determining business size. The dual pricing reflects Elnora Moye, employees or that otherwise qualifies as a small the Commercial Service’s user fee schedule that Trade Program Assistant. business under SBA regulations (see http:// became effective May 1, 2008 (see http:// [FR Doc. 2012–29293 Filed 12–3–12; 8:45 am] www.sba.gov/services/contracting_opportunities/ www.export.gov/newsletter/march2008/ sizestandardstopics/index.html). Parent companies, initiatives.html for additional information). BILLING CODE 3510–FP–P

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