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Upcoming U.S. Commercial Service

Webinar: Canada Webinar Series: U.S. - Canada Non-Resident Importer Program
Venue: Your Computer
Date: June 17, 2009
Time: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EDT
Price: $35
Learn more/register: https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=9Q8I

This webinar will help U.S. small and medium-sized businesses use Canada's Non-Resident Importer (NRI) Program to gain a significant advantage in selling to Canadian markets. Canada is one of the most receptive and the single, largest export market for U.S. goods and services. On top of the gains from the North American Free Trade Agreement, U.S. firms who become a NPI can dramatically reduce shipping costs and customs clearances fees, as well as offer Canadian customers a single price which includes all shipping, duty, taxes and customs brokerage charges. A question and answer session follows the presentation. For more information, contact Linda.Abbruzzese@mail.doc.gov

Webinar: U.S. International Trade and Trade Enforcement Policy under the Obama Administration
Venue: Your Computer
Date: June 19, 2009
Time: 10:30 a.m. CDT (11:30 a.m. EDT)
Cost: $35
Learn more/register: http://www.buyusa.gov/northtexas/obamatradepolicy.html

This webinar, sponsored by the North Texas U.S. Export Assistance Center and the North Texas District Export Council, brings together a distinguished group of Washington D.C.-based trade experts to discuss how evolving international trade policies might affect U.S. importers and exporters. Topics include: trade enforcement priorities; impacts to U.S. and international manufacturing operations and service offerings; Obama's key trade players; status and potential impacts of pending trade legislation. Featured speakers are John Herrmann, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for International Trade, Energy and Environment on the National Security Council and Jennifer McCadney, Majority Trade Counsel, House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade (invited). Also speaking will be Bob Cassidy, former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative and the chief U.S. negotiator for China's accession to the World Trade Organization, Darryl Jackson, former Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security, and experts from the law firm of Kelly Dyre Warren LLP. A question and answer period will follow the presentation.

Webinar: Bureau of Industry and Security – Export Administration Regulations Compliance
Venue: Your Computer
Date: June 22, 2009
Time: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EDT
Cost: $35
Learn more/register: https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=9Q96

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) will discuss its program to measure Export Administration Regulations compliance using AES data and identify the most common reporting problems. Speakers Gerry Horner, Senior Trade and Industry Analyst and Business and Industry Analysts' Jennifer Watts and Ashley Miller will give instructions on how to prevent common errors and use AES data to determine whether elements of your compliance system such as training, auditing, cradle-to-grave and record keeping are effective. This webinar is for exporters, freight forwarders, software providers and 3rd party logistics companies and includes a question and answer session. For more information, contact Linda.Abbruzzese@mail.doc.gov

Webinar: World Bank Webinar--How to Identify, Track and Pursue World Bank Funded Projects
Venue: Your Computer
Date: June 24, 2009
Time: 2:00pm -3:30pm EST
Cost: $50
Learn more/register: http://www.buyusa.gov/environmental/wbwebinar.html

Learn how you can find, track and ultimately pursue global environmental tenders made possible through World Bank funding. Join this informative webinar presented by David Fulton, U.S. Department of Commerce Liaison to the World Bank, with support from the U.S. Commercial Service's Global Environmental Technologies Team. After the program, schedule your own one-on-one counseling session with the appropriate sector, market, and multilateral development bank specialist. For more information, call Bill Cline at (775) 784-5203, bill.cline@mail.doc.gov or Sandra Collazo at (703) 235-0333, sandra.collazo@mail.doc.gov or Jessica Arnold at (202) 482-2026, jessica.arnold@mail.doc.gov .

Event: Executive Trade Mission to Libya and Algeria
Venue: Tripoli, Libya and Algiers, Algeria
Date: November 4–8, 2009
Learn more/register: http://www.export.gov/northafricamission/

Libya and Algeria have fast-growing and increasingly market driven economies. With strong oil and gas exports bringing in foreign capital reserves, these countries are buying U.S. products and services at an increasing rate. With a business culture where deals are made on the strength of personal contacts, this trade mission will help U.S. companies make connections in both Libya and Algeria. Participants will benefit from one-on-one business matchmaking appointments with prospective agents, distributors, and end-users; meetings with government officials where appropriate; updates on major projects; Embassy briefings on doing business in the region, and networking events. The participation fee is $5,850 for a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) and $6,900 for large firms. Interpreters are included in the fee. For more information, contact our project officer at northafricamission@mail.doc.gov Deadline is Aug. 1, 2009.

Event: Access America - Build Your Client Base in China
Venue: Online Chinese-Language Directory for U.S. Service Firms and Economic Development Agencies
Date: Summer 2009 Launch
Learn more/register: http://www.buyusa.gov/midwest/accessamerica.html

The Access America Service Provider Directory is a new online, Chinese-language directory of U.S. companies and economic development agencies that provide customized services to Chinese companies looking to conduct business in the U.S. The Access America directory will reach thousands of Chinese clients seeking U.S. expertise in global logistics, trade finance, HR, site selection, tax, insurance, legal and regulatory issues, marketing, and other support services through web links and outreach from the U.S. Commercial Service offices in China and our U.S. and Chinese partners. Increase your firm's visibility in China by placing your listing in the directory, complete with company information, company logo, and contact details, all translated in Chinese, for a one-year subscription fee of $400. For more information contact Julie.Carducci@mail.doc.gov

Is Your Company Encountering a Foreign Trade Barrier?
The U.S. Department of Commerce's Trade Agreements Compliance Program helps U.S. exporters and investors overcome trade barriers and works to ensure that foreign countries comply with their trade agreement obligations to the United States. If your firm has a question about a trade barrier problem or investing overseas issue, call us at (202) 482-1191 or complete the following form at: http://tcc.export.gov/Report_a_Barrier/index.asp . We will evaluate the issue and respond to your company. For more information please visit http://tcc.export.gov/Additional_Info/About_TCC/index.asp

New Exporters: Sell Your Products Worldwide for Just $199
Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is offering companies that are new to exporting a special opportunity to advertise for just $199. One ad will reach buyers, distributors, and wholesalers in 176 countries—both in print and online. Experienced exporters can advertise for as little as $399. The deadline for the September-October issue is July 10th. For more information, contact your U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist, e-mail advertise@thinkglobal.us , call 1-800-581-8533 x822, or sign-up online at http://www.thinkglobal.us/199

The U.S. Commercial Service - Your Global Business Partner. With offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration uses its global Network and international resources to connect U.S companies with international buyers worldwide. If you have any questions about these initiatives, please contact your local U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist. To find the trade specialist nearest you please visit http://www.buyusa.gov/home/us.html .

REACH PRE-REGISTRATION AFTER DECEMBER 1, 2008

REACH is a European chemicals management structure which began in June, 2007, requiring the registration and safety evaluation of chemicals in European commerce at volumes over 1 metric ton per year. Chemicals representing a risk of harm to human health or the environment will be restricted or authorized (banned except for selected applications where risks are controlled).

The REACH system required companies which manufacture or import chemicals or products made from chemicals to “pre-register” them between June 1 and December 1, 2008, in order to group companies into “Shared Information Exchange Fora (SIEF)” where safety or hazard information on specific chemicals is shared. This is intended to reduce redundancy, pool resources and minimize the use of laboratory animals in toxicology testing.

Failure to pre-register results in two scenarios: immediate barring from the EU market, or temporary discontinuation of commercial activity until a “registration” can be submitted. Three weeks after submission of the registration dossier, commercial activity can resume unless a specifically prohibited by the European Chemical Agency (ECHA). The registration dossier is a comprehensive compilation of data which supports the safe use of the substance for the applications described therein. There is a staggered schedule of registration deadlines, with the highest volume substances due first (2010), and lower volumes due in 2013 or 2018.

If a company introduces a new chemical to the EU market, opens an EU market with an existing chemical or crosses the volume threshold of 1 metric ton per year per legal entity, late pre-registration is accepted up until 1 year prior to the registration deadline.

Some companies may not have pre-registered their chemical substances for REACH. Beyond the two scenarios described above, there may be situations allowing late pre-registration. These include:

• Review of REACH exemptions of selected substances or articles

• Consideration of who has been the importer-of-record, and who will be the importer-of-record in the future

• Examination of volumes of imported substance into various countries (various legal entities)

Tox Focus, LLC, is available to assist companies which have not pre-registered for REACH, with exploring strategic options for continued commercial activity in Europe . Please contact Dr. Barbara Vogt at barbara.vogt@toxfocus.com , or 203-355-2819.

Everything You Need To Know About REACH

U.S. Department of Commerce has published an updated version of the Trade Finance Guide: A Quick Reference for U.S. Exporters . This concise and easy-to-understand tool was created specifically to help U.S. small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) navigate the often difficult landscape of trade finance, a topic that is critical for successfully entering and succeeding in today's increasingly competitive global marketplace. Last year's guide generated strong interest from the public: Over 5,000 hard copies were distributed and the on-line version was downloaded 20,000 times from Commerce websites.

March 19, 2008 – Today's successful small and medium manufacturers are moving beyond traditional supply chains to build global value chains driven by creative collaboration with external partners. Four RSM McGladrey experts address key value chain topics via audiocasts on our Web site.

RSM McGladrey's recent study, Forging New Partnerships: How to Thrive in Today's Global Value Chain , developed in association with The Manufacturing Institute and the National Association of Manufacturers, identifies four key components of these value chains: innovation, international markets, workforce and financing. Now, clients and prospects can tune in to four new audiocasts in which RSM McGladrey experts provide insights on these key components.

Each audiocast represents value-added information for clients and prospects that will keep you top of mind during busy season. Forward this link to your favorite contacts and encourage them to visit RSM McGladrey.com for topics that will help them with their operations and business strategies.

Trade Finance Guide

A Quick Reference for U.S. Exporters has been written to help U.S. companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), learn the fundamentals of trade finance to turn their export opportunities into actual sales and to achieve the ultimate goal: to get paid for their export sales. Eleven concise, two-page chapters offer the basics of numerous financing techniques, from open accounts, to forfaiting, to government assisted foreign buyer financing.

Export Yellow Pages

The U.S. Department of Commerce released the 2007-multimedia buyers’ guide, The Export Yellow Pages (EYP), which highlights the goods and services of U.S. companies interested in export business. This publication also includes a U.S. Trade Assistance Directory that offers details to federal export programs.

2007 International Trade Survey -- Online presentation

International trade is critical for Connecticut businesses
Concerning information on markets and export rules

Press Release

* Survey Results (pdf 31kb)

Detailed Statistics on International Markets at Your Fingertips

WISER, the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research, is the leading provider of online international trade statistics in the U.S.

Wisertrade, the name given to the statistics database, is an invaluable tool for CBIA members conducting international business or seeking to penetrate international markets.

International trade growing in state
More than one in three Connecticut businesses are exporting goods or services to foreign countries, according to a survey released Tuesday by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association.

New Standards Portal Focuses on U.S.-China Trade

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in cooperation with the Standardization Administration of China (SAC), announced today the launch of a Standards Portal (www.StandardsPortal.org) that will facilitate the trade of goods and services between the United States and the People’s Republic of China.

Designed primarily for industry stakeholders and policy officials, the Standards Portal contains dual-language (Mandarin and English) educational materials on the structure, history, and operation of the U.S. and Chinese standards systems; a database of 2,000 standards (1,000 from each nation) considered vital to successful trade between the two nations; and access to nearly 300,000 other national, regional and international standards and guidelines.

CBIA Announces Partnership with the World Institute for
Strategic Economic Research
September 25, 2006 - The Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) today announced a partnership with the World Institute for Strategic Economic Research (WISER) to provide international trade statistics and export data relevant to Connecticut companies and the state’s business community.

International Trade Information