MITC
Trade Bulletin
The Maine
International Trade Center's Electronic News Service - A
Members Only Benefit
Monday, June 28, 2004
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Monday, June 28, 2004 |
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CONTENTS: U.S. and Morocco Sign Free Trade Agreement How Not to Be a Victim of Trade Fraud Croatia Environmental Officials Orientation Visit CIS and Eastern Europe Business Forum
Commercial Vehicle and Bus Trade Fair
USA PAVILION at SIAL PARIS 2004
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With Trade Day 2004 now behind us, over the next few weeks we will begin planning for future MITC seminars. Here are a few of the ideas for programs that we are considering:
If you have suggestions for seminar topics or country/region market briefings that you would like to see MITC offer in the coming year, please send your ideas to Program Manager Cheryl Rau by email (rau@mitc.com) or fax (207-541-7420). Enjoy your summer! EU
Retaliatory Tariffs
scheduled to
increase to 9% on July 1st.
The Senate approved the JOBS bill (S.1637) on May 11 with a vote of 92-5
that would reduce the top tax rate for manufacturers from 35% to 32% and
would also phase in a 9% tax deduction for domestic production. The
House has yet to pass its version of the JOBS bill. The Maine
International Trade Center has studied the effects of the EU Retaliatory
Tariffs and the Maine industries that are most affected by these tariffs
are footwear, industrial machinery, leather, seafood and paper.
Tariff Background:
On March 1, 2004, the EU began to impose retaliatory trade sanctions
on a number of U.S. products, as a result of the WTO ruling that the FSC/ETI
provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code constitute a prohibited
export subsidy and are in violation of WTO rules. After years of
litigation, in May 2003, the WTO Dispute Settlement Body authorized the
EU to impose sanctions on $4.043 billion worth of U.S. exports, if the
United States fails to comply with the WTO decision. The EU will
initially impose an additional duty of 5 percent on 1,608 U.S. products.
The duty will rise automatically by 1 percentage point each month until
it reaches a ceiling of 17 percent in March 2005. At that point, the EU
will make a determination on its next course of action if the United
States still has not complied with the WTO ruling.
The Administration and Congress continue to work towards
repealing the FSC/ETI provisions in order to achieve U.S. compliance
with the WTO ruling. For a Full
List of Products affected by the new EU tariffs (listed by eight-digit
CN codes):
U.S. and
Morocco Sign Free Trade Agreement
How Not to Be a Victim of Trade Fraud – Pottengal Mukundan, Director of the Commercial Crime Service of the International Chamber of Commerce, will conduct two briefings to help companies avoid falling prey to the dark side of international trade: cargo fraud, banking swindles, product counterfeiting, cybercrime, ship hijackings and piracy. “Exposing the Risks of International Trade Fraud” will take place in San Francisco and Seattle, July 15 and 16. For more information contact Grace Kim, (212) 703-5063. US Trade & Development Agency: Croatia Environmental Officials Orientation Visit, Summer 2004. A delegation of nine Croatian environmental officials and municipal authorities will visit the United States to view wastewater treatment plants and technology and other environmental technologies. During the orientation visit, the delegates will observe active wastewater facilities, coastal pollution plants, and public sewage systems. For more information, contact Olympia Brescia of Global Marketing and Communications by telephone at (781) 641-2900, email: obrescia@gmc-ideas.com. The U.S. Commercial Service in Jerusalem is organizing a unique furniture catalog show, August 17-19, 2004 that should be of interest to American furniture exporters. Our aim is to tap the roughly $100 million Palestinian furniture market, and, in addition, to explore interest in your product in the Israeli-Arab market, representing about one-fifth of the population of Israel. If you are an American furniture manufacturer or exporter and are interested in market opportunities in the West Bank/Gaza and the Israeli-Arab markets, this is an extremely low-cost and effective way for you to evaluate interest in your product. For more information, please visit: www.buyusa.gov/westbank/en/furniture.html CIS and Eastern Europe Business Forum – The 11th annual forum will take place November 4-6, 2004 at the University of Arizona in Tucson. For more information, contact Roza Simkhovich at roza@dakotacom.net, (520) 298-6599 or visit the site for last year’s conference at http://russian.arizona.edu/business
Acadian International Exposition 2004 – August 15-17, 2004, Halifax, Nova Scotia. This event offers a unique opportunity to expand your existing markets, find new markets for your products and services, develop business partnerships and new business contacts, in France, New England, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, Louisiana, Quebec and the rest of Canada. For more information contact Joseph Cottreau at expo2004@cdene.ns.ca Commercial Vehicle and Bus Trade Fair, Sept. 9-2, 2004, Moscow, Russia. Due to little competition from Russian truck manufacturers, growing freight volumes and an annual replacement demand for heavy trucks and trailers, conditions are favorable for new market entrants. Contact: Ken Cardelle at Kcardelle@iegexpo.com or see www.iegexpo.com Batimat (Construction Materials), September 13–16, 2004, St. Petersburg, Russia. The building products industry is currently one of the most rapidly developing sectors of the Russian economy. In addition, there is significant and increasing interest from Russian distributors in American building products. Batimat is one of two major trade shows devoted to building products in Northwest Russia. For more information contact: Alexander Kansky, US Commercial Service, St. Petersburg, +7 (812)-326-2581, alexander.kansky@mail.doc.gov FHC2004
Shanghai,
Sept 14-17, 2004, Shanghai, China.
The 12th international exhibition for the foods,
drink, hospitality, foodservice, bakery and retail industry.
Robert Chang, Tel: 415-433-3072, email: comtours@aol.com. International
Lighting Fair,
October 18-23, 2004, Guzhen, China. For more information, please visit
www.lightingcapital.cn. USA PAVILION at SIAL PARIS 2004, October 17-21, 2004, Paris, France. This event is a USDA-endorsed food products exhibition. For more information, please contact Sharon Cook, USDA Trade Show Office, (202)720-3425, www.fas.usda.gov All Asia Food Expo, New York City, October 2004. All Asia Food Expo is a trade event featuring Asian food and beverage products organized by Diversified Business Communications, which is based in Portland, Maine. For more information, visit: www.divbusiness.com or contact Julie Bernier at jbernier@divcom.com
China-Pharm,
November 17-20, Beijing, China. Pharmaceuticals,
Pharmaceutical Machinery and Equipment.
For more information, visit www.mdna.com/medical.html. Ingredients Russia, November 23-26, 2004, Moscow, Russia. Seventh annual international show and conference for the food processing sector. Present food ingredient products to key importers, distributors, and processors in a large, expanding market. For more information, please contact Tobitha Jones, USDA/FAS at (202)690-1182, Tobitha.Jones@usda.gov Zdravookhranenie 2004, November 29-December 3, 2004, Moscow, Russia. Russia’s largest healthcare industry exhibition with 800 exhibitors from 28 countries participating in 2003. The show features medical equipment, dental equipment and supplies, pharmaceuticals, biologically active food additives, cosmetology equipment, and equipment for fitness centers. The US Commercial Service will help American manufacturers identify possible partners in conjunction with this event. For more information, please contact Ludmila Maksimova, US Commercial Service Moscow, +7 (095) 737-5037, ludmila.maksimova@mail.doc.gov USA PAVILION at SIRHA 2005, January 22-26, 2005, Lyon, France. Partner to the National Restaurant Association Show held in Chicago, this USDA-endorsed Food Service and Gastronomic Trade Exhibition is one of the premier international events for the food service sector. For more information, please contact Sharon Cook, USDA Trade Show Office, (202)720-3425, www.fas.usda.gov
U.S. Department of Commerce’s Healthcare Technologies Trade Mission, September 13-17, 2004, to the Czech Republic, Hungary, and the Slovak Republic. Meet with prospective distributors, agents, and strategic alliance partners in these three dynamic markets - all European Union members as of May 2004. You will receive your own schedule of pre-screened, targeted appointments and further benefit from market briefings, business networking receptions, and follow-up assistance when you return. Participation is open to U.S. firms in a broad range of healthcare industry sectors. If you have general questions regarding the Trade Events List please contact Jonathan May at Jonathan.May@mail.doc.gov (202) 482-6220. http://www.export.gov/comm_svc/tradeevents.html Egypt Tastes America, September 20-18, 2004. USDA/FAS-Sponsored Export Showcase Trade Mission to Egypt marketing food and beverage products. Limited to 10 participants. For more information contact Shani at (202) 720-2075.
State of Maine 2004 Trade
Mission to
Italy and
Germany,
November 13-20, 2004. MITC is
organizing the
Governor’s 2004 trade mission, which features stops in Düsseldorf and
Milan. Trade mission benefits include matchmaking services, networking
receptions,
market briefings, and
Canadian-American Business Achievement Award - The Canadian American Business Council is pleased to request nominations for the 2004 Canadian American Business Achievement Award. Each year, the Council seeks information about innovative and successful alliances between Canadian and American firms to recognize the benefits that the partnerships bring to both countries – in jobs, innovation, and revenue creation. These efforts culminate in the presentation of the Award for Canadian-American Business Achievement, given to two companies, one Canadian and one American, whose joint enterprise has demonstrated strong business growth and remarkable innovation, as well as the capacity to provide the partners with a global advantage. The 2004 Canadian-American Business Achievement Award and Forum will be held October 27, 2004, in Montreal, Quebec. For more information on the nomination process, please contact Wade Merritt at MITC-Bangor, (207)990-3161 or merritt@mitc.com. Penobscot School in Rockland, Maine presents one-week foreign language workshops for children and three-week language courses for adults or children beginning July 5. Languages of instruction include Arabic, Japanese, French, Spanish, Italian, and Russian. Furthermore, the Penobscot School hosts three-week English immersion programs. This summer, the school is offering two sessions, July 3-24 and August 7-28. Participants will be hosted in the Rockland area. For more information on Penobscot School programs, please call 207-594-1084, access www.languagelearning.org, or visit 28 Gay Street in Rockland’s north end. French Brown Bag Lunches - The Language Exchange is joining forces with the Maine International Trade Center in offering this French Brown Bag Lunch series throughout the summer. If you are looking for additional opportunities to practice French, please come and join us for an hour of conversation every Friday. Bring an article of interest to you, a topic related to the Francophone world, or nothing at all, and join in the discussions! Time: 12 to 1 pm; Price: Free of Charge; Moderator: Valerie Guillet of The Language Exchange. Location: Longfellow Gardens, 487 Congress St. (behind Longfellow House and Maine Historical Society) on warm days. At the Trade Center, 511 Congress Street on rainy or cold days. Maine Maritime Academy’s (MMA) Loeb-Sullivan School of International Business and Logistics
will offer a series of executive workshops during the upcoming summer
months at various locations in Maine.
MITC MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE 10%
OFF OF WORKSHOP FEES.
The sessions are designed for the business professional seeking advanced
knowledge of contemporary international business issues. Vellenga to teach at Maine Maritime’s Loeb-Sullivan School, Castine, Maine, U.S.A. – Dr. Shashi Kumar, dean of Maine Maritime Academy’s (MMA) Loeb-Sullivan School of International Business and Logistics, recently announced the appointment of Dr. David Vellenga to the post of Distinguished Visiting Professor of Global Supply Chain Management. A respected logistics educator, Vellenga will join the faculty of the school’s undergraduate and graduate divisions in August. To learn more about Maine Maritime Academy’s Loeb-Sullivan School of International Business and Logistics, contact Kumar at 207-326-2454, or visit http://ibl.mainemaritime.edu
After learning about the new EU at this year’s Trade Day held on June 10th, follow up with a visit to EUROPA: Gateway to the European Union at http://europa.eu.int/index_en.htm. EUROPA is the portal site of the European Union. It provides up-to-date coverage of European Union affairs and essential information on European integration. Users can also consult all legislation currently in force or under discussion, access the websites of each of the EU institutions and find out about the policies administered by the European Union under the powers devolved to it by the Treaties. Statistics on the EU Accession Countries can also be seen on the page entitled: “Trade implications of EU enlargement: Facts and Figures”. The direct link to this page: http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/bilateral/regions/candidates/ff040204_en.htm
MITC
Trade Bulletin is
a
members
only
benefit. For information about MITC membership, please
visit our website or contact us today.
Bangor
Office:
207-990-3161 |
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School’s
out for summer, and our seminar series will begin again in September.
