Sponsored by:

Upcoming Programs:

Governor's International Community Breakfast

Thursday January 11, 2007 ~ 7:00 am - 9:00 am

Holiday Inn By the Bay, Portland, ME

Negotiating the Chinese Way: How to Succeed in China

Thursday January 25, 2007 ~ 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Auburn Public Library, Auburn

AMCHAM CHIEF CALLS FOR SOUTH KOREA-US FREE TRADE DEAL

SEOUL, Dec 28 Asia Pulse - South Korea and the United States should reach an agreement on free trade as soon as possible since the ongoing bilateral talks are too good a chance to pass up, the new head of the American business community here said Thursday. So far, the two countries have held five rounds of free trade agreement (FTA) talks since June, but no breakthrough has been made to sign an accord by the end of March. http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/061228/16/45ofo.html

CANADA LOG EXPORT RULES SPARK NAFTA COMPLAINT

A U.S. forestry firm accused Canada on Wednesday of violating the North American Free Trade Agreement by restricting log exports from private land on the Pacific Coast. Merrill & Ring Forestry LP, which owns land on the British Columbia coast, is upset that it has to offer its logs for sale to sawmills in the province before they can sold on the export market.

http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/story/ROC.20061227.2006-12-27T231654Z_01_N27469832_RTRIDST_0_BUSINESS-LOGGING-TRADE-COL/GIStory/

INDIA, ISRAEL INK AGREEMENT TO COOPERATE IN TRADE STANDARDS

India and Israel have signed a cooperation agreement in the field of standards, technical regulations and sanitary measures.  The agreement, signed by Indian commerce and industry minister Kamal Nath and visiting Israeli deputy prime minister Eli Yishai, provides for cooperation in harmonization of national standards with international standards requirements, facilitation for establishing scientific and technical collaboration and elimination of technical barriers to trade.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/726862.cms

US STEEL IMPORTS MAY HIT RECORD IN 2006 DUE TO UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES, INDUSTRY GROUP SAYS

The United States is likely to import a record amount of steel this year, a sign that it needs to address unfair trade practices by China and other Asian exporters, the American Iron and Steel Institute said.  Based on preliminary data released Wednesday by the Census Bureau, the industry trade group said that steel imports could reach 46 million tons in 2006, above the previous record of 41.5 million tons set in 1998.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16332281.htm\

NEWLY CONFIDENT GERMANY TAKES OVER EU PRESIDENCY

For Germany, 2006 was a year of unexpected successes: Its’ economy started booming after years of stagnation, its’ soccer team reached the semifinal of the World Cup, and its’ untested new leader Angela Merkel proved herself to be a stateswoman to be reckoned with. Now, expectations are high that Germany will be able to translate that momentum into results when it takes over the leadership of the European Union and the chairmanship of the Group of Eight industrial powers on Jan. 1. Full Article

CHINA’S TRADE BUDDY, CORPORATE AMERICA

U.S. officials left China Friday with little to show after a two-day trade summit. And that's probably just fine with some of the big U.S. companies like General Motors and Caterpillar that already do business there.  It's not surprising that retailers such as Wal-Mart (Charts) wouldn't be particularly interested in seeing the Chinese yuan gain in value against the dollar - something U.S. officials have said repeatedly they'd like to see - since that would make the goods the world's biggest retailers buys from China more expensive.

Trade Mission to the China International Boat Show, Shanghai

The Maine International Trade Center, in cooperation with the U.S. Commercial Service, will lead a trade mission of Maine companies to the 11th Annual China International Boat Show (Shanghai, China, March 31 - April 8, 2007). FMI: http://www.floridaexporter.com/events.html?todo=item&orig_id=126 or 11th China International Boat Show

*** Limited grants available for Maine Manufacturers. FMI contact Stephen Franck, MITC, franck@mitc.com or 207-753-0574.

CHINA RoHS

On March 1, 2007, China’s Administrative Measures on the Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic Information Products (China RoHS) will take effect. At that time, marking and material disclosure must be in place on products sold in China. This webinar will provide an overview of these regulations, as well as what steps US companies can take to comply.  FMI:

http://export.gov/static/ChinaROHS_flyer.pdf

US PRIVACY AND SECURITY SOLUTIONS CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION

Let the Commercial Service help you connect with Canada's security opportunities

Take advantage of the strong growth in the Canadian privacy and security sector and gain first-hand knowledge of Canadian government policies and requirements necessary to develop business opportunities in Canadian national security. FMI:

http://www.buyusa.gov/canada/en/apsceform.html

Virtual Trade Missions-USCS

The Virtual Matchmaker Program offers the busy executive a cost-effective way to explore an overseas market and meet international business prospects and market experts.  Virtual Matchmakers are industry specific and allow companies the opportunity to get answers to their market questions in an interactive, two-hour video conference.  FMI:

http://www.export.gov/salesandmarketing/virtual_trade_mission.asp

IFEX - INTERNATIONAL FOOD EXHIBITION,  PHILIPPINES 2007, 18-20 May, 2007

Fresh & Processed Food, Organic & Natural Products. The country’s 283 food exporters, manufacturers, and consolidators hit the mark in accompanying 1,332 buyers—1,118 of which are from various local regions, while 214 are from

CS Healthcare Trade Mission - Brazil and Chile -- Health Care Services, Medical Equipment, Chile & Brazil, April 23-27, 2007

The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, U.S. Commercial Service, Office of Global Trade Programs, in conjunction with the Global Healthcare Team, is organizing a Healthcare Technologies Mission to Santiago, Chile and Sao Paulo, Brazil, April 23-27, 2007, with an optional one-day spin-off stop to Belo Horizonte, Brazil on April 30, 2007.  FMI: http://www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_trade_events.asp?EventID=22054

Louisiana Trade Mission to the XVIII Latin American Petroleum Show in Caracas, Venezuela, June 25, 2007- June 30, 2007

The Latin American Petroleum Show (LAPS) has, for over 30 years, been the single most important international oil and gas event in Venezuela, and one of the most important oil exhibitions in the Western Hemisphere. The event has traditionally sold out months in advance, with over 90% of past exhibitors renewing participation. For more information please visit: http://www.buyusa.gov/neworleans/

Import Compliance and Upcoming Code Changes:

U.S Customs and Border Protection : (General Information) www.cbp.gov

The U.S. International Trade Commission Tariff Database Link : http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/other/dataweb

Proposed Amendments to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States :

http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/docs/tata/hts/APPXC.pdf

Coalition of New England Companies for Trade: Website for logistics deparments http://www.conect.org

Journal of Commerce: Website for ocean freight logistics information www.joc.com

Maine International Trade Center 511 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101