Notice2022-02936
Notice of Health and Safety Guidelines for Official ITA Trade Missions
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 11, 2022
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentInternational Trade Administration
Abstract
The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, intends to resume in-person trade missions, where possible, beginning March 2022. These trade missions will be organized and carried out with basic health and safety precautions in place for attendees in response to COVID-19.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 29 (Friday, February 11, 2022)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 29 (Friday, February 11, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7997-7998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02936]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Notice of Health and Safety Guidelines for Official ITA Trade
Missions
AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade
Administration, intends to resume in-person trade missions, where
possible, beginning March 2022. These trade missions will be organized
and carried out with basic health and safety precautions in place for
attendees in response to COVID-19.
Background
The International Trade Administration (ITA) intends to resume in-
person trade missions, where possible, beginning March 2022. Since the
beginning of the global pandemic, ITA has been closely monitoring
COVID-19 developments and continues to plan in-person trade missions
for future dates. As those mission dates approach, ITA will decide on
each mission on a case-by-case basis to allow mission teams to evaluate
the health and safety circumstances of the event and determine whether
to move forward as-is, postpone, convert to virtual or hybrid, or
cancel the mission. In the event that the mission is able to move
forward in-person, the health and safety of all attendees remains ITA's
top priority, and with any resumption of in-person events, ITA is
announcing basic health and safety precautions that will highlight
existing guidelines applicable to all trade mission attendees.
In addition to the guidelines set forth herein, ITA is closely
monitoring government mandates and policy changes, CDC guidelines, and
public health announcements. As information pertaining to COVID-19
continues to develop, we will adjust our approach as needed.
In-person trade missions will be organized and carried out with
precautions in place for the health and safety of all attendees in
response to COVID-19, and with due regard to and, as appropriate, in
alignment with then-current:
Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/index.html">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/index.html</a>
Guidance issued by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force https://
www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/
For Commerce employees, the workplace safety plan found at <a href="https://www.commerce.gov/covid-19-information-hub">https://www.commerce.gov/covid-19-information-hub</a>
Recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public">https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public</a>
At a minimum, ITA will continue to follow CDC Guidelines, as
updated, including mask requirements and travel rules.
Requirements for Mission Participants
Before departure and/or upon arrival, including at each mission
stop, ITA will brief trade mission participants (i.e., private sector
participants) on its current COVID-19 policies, as well as the relevant
policies of local authorities.
Mission participants are responsible for compliance with all COVID-
19-related requirements pertaining to travel to, within, and from trade
mission destination(s), including vaccinations, and, when appropriate,
testing, masking, and physical distancing. All mission participants
will be expected to comply with regulations and guidelines in effect at
the time of the event in the country, market, and facilities where
mission events are being held. Note that federal regulations and
guidelines may be applicable for events held in federally owned or
federally leased facilities outside the United States.
Mission participants must present a photo ID and proof that they
meet the then-current CDC definition of being fully vaccinated at the
time of entry to a mission event. Individuals who are not able to be
fully vaccinated due to certain medical conditions, age, or closely
held religious beliefs, or who elect not to provide this information,
will be expected to follow all relevant protocols for individuals who
are not fully vaccinated and must provide proof of a negative COVID-19
test at the time of entry to a mission event, administered by an
authorized health or medical provider, taken within the past three days
prior to entry.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ITA may require attestation of negative test at other times
throughout the course of a trade mission, as appropriate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Physical distancing practices will be implemented according to all
venue and
[[Page 7998]]
local requirements. Where possible, there will be hand sanitizer
stations.
To create a safe environment for all attendees, participants who
test positive for COVID-19 in transit to or during a trade mission are
responsible for following the relevant regulations and guidelines,
including any quarantine protocols, and are expected to cease
participation in in-person events until a negative test is received or
quarantine protocols are fulfilled. If a participant who has tested
positive is deemed by ITA to pose a health risk to other participants,
ITA may terminate their participation without refund.
Any unused financial contributions made to the Department of
Commerce for a trade mission that is cancelled will be refunded
promptly. Financial contributions that have already been expended in
anticipation of the mission and cannot be recouped by the Department of
Commerce may not be refunded to the participants when a trade mission
is cancelled. Given the unique circumstances presented by COVID-19, the
same considerations apply in the event a participant must withdraw from
a trade mission after testing positive for COVID-19. No personal
expenses paid by the participants in anticipation of the trade mission
will be reimbursed. Participants are responsible for all costs related
to COVID-19 if contracted during or in transit to or from a trade
mission.
Note on Federal Employees and Contractors
On-site federal employees and contractors will be expected to
comply with current local regulations and guidelines in the country,
market, or facilities, publicly- or privately-owned or operated, where
mission events are being held.
All on-site federal employees and contractors will be expected to
comply with applicable federal and departmental rules, requirements,
and guidance relating to COVID-19 safety as issued by the Safer Federal
Workforce Task Force (<a href="https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/">https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/</a>) and in
effect at the time of the event, including any quarantining or other
protocols in the event that they test positive for COVID-19. ITA and
other Department of Commerce employees will additionally be expected to
adhere to the Department of Commerce Workplace Safety Plan as
appropriate, including indoor mask requirements in areas of high or
substantial COVID-19 transmission (<a href="https://www.commerce.gov/covid-19-information-hub">https://www.commerce.gov/covid-19-information-hub</a>).
Federal employees and contractors participating in on-site events
will be required to complete and maintain on their persons at all times
a Certification of Vaccination. (Certification available at: <a href="https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/downloads/CertificationVaccinationPRAv7.pdf">https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/downloads/CertificationVaccinationPRAv7.pdf</a>.) Federal employees and contractors
who are not fully vaccinated or decline to provide information about
their vaccination status must follow all relevant protocols for
individuals who are not fully vaccinated and must provide proof of a
negative COVID-19 test administered by an authorized health or medical
provider taken within the past three days.
Gemal Brangman,
Director, ITA Events Management Task Force.
[FR Doc. 2022-02936 Filed 2-10-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P
</pre></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 11, 2022.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.