MITC Trade Bulletin

The World Affairs Council of Maine and the Maine International Trade Center present:
"Don't Fence Me In"
Wednesday, December 1, 2004
6:00 p.m. at Portland High School Auditorium

The film is a documentary about the German POW camp in Houlton, Maine from 1944-46, as well as a reunion of former prisoners in October 2003. The documentary, created by Caribou High School students and their teacher Brenda Jepson, has aired on Maine PBS and has been accepted to the U.S. National Archive. The Program is free and open to the general public and interested students and teachers. For more information, contact Lorna Endreson, World Affairs Council of Maine, at 207-780-4552 or lendreson@wacmaine.org.

Letters of Credit
Thursday, December 2, 2004
1:00 - 4:30 in Lewiston

Getting an international order is only the beginning…Letters of Credit (L/Cs) are one of the safest ways of ensuring that your company will be paid. This practical half-day seminar provides a detailed review of the different types and applications of L/Cs and an overview of bank and freight forwarder involvement in the flow of documents and payment. For the registration brochure: http://www.mitc.com/PDF/WebLettersofCredit.pdf

China Market Briefing: Are You China Ready?

Tuesday, December 7, 2004

9:00 - 12:00 in Portland

China's rapidly evolving marketplace presents significant opportunities and challenges for U.S. firms that are doing or want to do business there. Learn the best ways to leverage the opportunities while mitigating the risks. You'll also get an overview of the U.S. Commercial Service's China Business Information Center—a valuable resource for U.S. businesses that features country-specific information, key industry information, exporting steps and tips, leads, trade events, do's and don'ts, and other tools you can use to succeed in China. For more information: http://www.mitc.com/PDF/Flyer-RegistrationForm.pdf

Introduction to Global Sourcing

Tuesday, December 14, 2004

12:00 - 4:30 in Bangor

Whether you’re a specialty retailer interested in adding some international flavor to your lines or a manufacturer seeking to source quality components to lower production costs, this program will assist you in taking the first steps. Program topics will include the strategic decision on sourcing, how to find a reputable and reliable manufacturer of quality products or components, and the logistics to get the products or components from their plant to yours. For the registration brochure: http://www.mitc.com/PDF/WebGlobalSourcing.pdf

MEMBER BENEFITS

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As a benefit to MITC members, UPS offers discounts of up to 25% on UPS Worldwide Express letters or packages. Ship using your company account and just let them know that you're a MITC member to receive the special discount. To take advantage of this MITC member benefit, call UPS at 1-866-279-7485.

TRADE ALERTS

New Penalties for U.S. Exports
The World Trade Organization imposed penalties November 26, 2004 on U.S. exports in response to legislation aimed at protecting American steelmakers. In Geneva, the 148-nation WTO, which referees global commerce, approved punitive taxes long sought by the European Union and other countries because of a law they say unfairly protects U.S. steel companies and other industries. EU trade chief Peter Mandelson said the sanctions could be applied early next year. The 2000 law, known as the Byrd amendment, lets the U.S. government fine foreign companies that it judges to be selling goods in America at below-market prices. The revenue is paid to U.S. companies to help them better compete. The value of the sanctions hasn’t been determined, but trade officials estimated them at more than $150 million a year. That compares with the $2 billion in sanctions the EU threatened in its successful bid to force the United States to lift illegal tariffs on foreign steel last year.

Congress Passes Trade Bill
The Senate passed the wide-ranging Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 on November 19, 2004 and the bill will now go to the president to be signed into law. The bill traditionally is a catch-all of corrections to U.S. trade laws and tariffs that lawmakers consider non-controversial. Among provisions in the law:
- Allows importers that are filing automated periodic duty payments to separate specific entries that they are protesting with Customs.
- Authorizes integrated inspection areas on the U.S.-Canada border to be used by customs officers of both countries.
- Allows inspection and customs clearance of imports before they depart foreign countries.
- Authorizes foreign countries to station customs and agriculture inspectors in the U.S.
- Provides additional benefits for imported goods under the Caribbean, Andean and African free-trade agreements.
- Extends normal trade relations to Laos.

- Extends Permanent NTR (PNTR) status to Armenia.

Trade Events

USDA/FAS South Asian Buyers Mission, January 21, 2005 in Seattle, January 26, 2005 in Miami. One-on-One meetings with buyers from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. For more information, please contact Shani Zebooker, Tel: (202)720-2075, email: Shani.Zebooker@usda.gov.

Map India 2005, Delhi, India, February 7-9, 2005. Map India 2005 is the 8th annual international conference and exhibition in the field of geographic information technologies like GIS, GPS, aerial photography and remote sensing. Map India aims to provide a platform for the convergence, sharing and use of technologies and experiences in the geospatial domain. This event provides a unique platform for the exchange of ideas between map producers, users, academic institutions, industry, technology developers and policy makers. Some 1,200 high-profile delegates from all over India and about 300 delegates from overseas are expected to participate. For more information, go to: www.mapindia.org

Trade Event in Kazakhstan, February 7, 2005. BISNIS, the U.S. Commercial Service Almaty, the American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan and the U.S. Liaison Executive Director's Office at the EBRD will be organizing an event in Almaty, Kazakhstan for U.S. companies and distributors of U.S. goods & services on business opportunities in Central Asia. Speakers will include representatives from the the U.S. Commercial Service Almaty, the American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan, EBRD, BISNIS Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and other US Government agencies. The event will be followed by one-on-one meetings with the speakers, enabling you to discuss your projects with each speaker separately. Please contact Philip H. de Leon, Tel: (202) 482-2109, Fax: (202) 482-2293, E-Mail: Philip_de_Leon@ita.doc.gov, BISNIS Homepage: http://www.bisnis.doc.gov

Trade Event in Tajikistan, February 9, 2005. BISNIS, the U.S. Liaison Executive Director's Office at the EBRD and the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan will give presentations on doing business in Tajikistan and help arrange meetings with local companies interested in working with U.S. companies. There will also be sufficient time for individual meetings between businesses and the potential for meetings with Tajik officials interested in promoting U.S. investment in Tajikistan. This will be a timely event in Dushanbe as the situation has dramatically improved over the past few years and Tajikistan is seen as a strong potential partner in the Afghanistan reconstruction efforts. Please contact Philip H. de Leon, Tel: (202) 482-2109, Fax: (202) 482-2293, E-Mail: Philip_de_Leon@ita.doc.gov, BISNIS Homepage: http://www.bisnis.doc.gov

2005 Tour: A Look at the Forests, Wood Industry and Shipping Ports of Russia's Far Eastern Region, April 4-15, 2004, presented by International Wood Markets, Vancouver, Canada, gvl@woodmarkets.com. For more information visit http://bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/bisdoc/0409RFEwoodtour.pdf

Trade Shows

CHINABRAND 2005, American Trade Show for China Name Brands, January 20-23, 2005, Jacob Javits Convention Center, New York, USA. The American Trade Show for China Name Brands open to professionals and to the general public. Professionals who should strongly consider attending include Traders, Import/Exporters, Wholesalers, Retailers, Distributors, Mail order marketers, Manufacturers, Anyone interested in doing business with China. For more information, www.chinabrandshow.com or contact: Genertec International Advertising and Exhibition Co., Ltd., Tel: +86-10-68991425/1423/1426, Fax: +86-10-68991084/1428, Email: exhi@vip.sina.com

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.

Expo Promueble, Furniture Suppliers Trade Show, January 27-30, 2005, Mexico City. Expo Promueble 2005 is the 11^th annual show for wood and furniture suppliers in Mexico. It is a great opportunity for exhibitors who are seeking to sell and distribute wood products, machinery, suppliers, equipments, tools and any other products related to the woodworking industry. For more information: www.promueble.com.mx

Fruit Logistica, February 10-12, 2005, Berlin, Germany. For more information, please visit www.fruitlogistica.com.

Canadian Food & Beverage Show, February 20-22, 2005, Toronto, Canada. For more information, contact Teresina at (202)720-9423 or Teresina.Chin@usda.gov.

International BouwBeurs 2005 - Housing Trade Show, February 21-26, 2005, Utrecht, Netherlands. The Bouw & ICT (construction & IT) trade fair will be held in parallel. For the building trade, the International Bouwbeurs is the largest trade fair in the Netherlands: over 1,000 exhibitors; 100,000 visitors and 1.5 million stand visits in total. Find more information at http://sites.vnuexhibitions.com/sites/vnuexhibitions/nl/index.asp

BioFach, February 24-27, 2005, Nuremberg, Germany. For more information on this organic foods trade event, please visit www.biofach.de.

Fi Asia-China, March 1-3, 2005, Shanghai, China. For more information on this food ingredient show, please visit http://asiachina2005.fi-events.com/.

FOODEX JAPAN 2005, March 8-11, 2005, Tokyo, Japan. There is space still available in the USA Pavilion. For more information, please visit www.digi-k.com/fxuspav/ or contact Teresina Chin, Tel: (202)720-9423, email: Teresina.Chin@usda.gov.

ANTAD, March 12-14, 2005, Guadalajara, Mexico. For more information on this food show, please contact Teresina at (202)720-9423 or Teresina.Chin@usda.gov.

International Food and Drink Exhibition, March 13-16, 2005, London, U.K. For a jolly good time, visit the website at www.ife.co.uk/page.cfm.

Food and Hotel Korea, March 16-18, 2005, Seoul, Korea. For more information, please visit www.fhko.com/.

U.S. Softwoods China Promotion Week 2005
Interzum Guangzhou International Furniture Show, Guangzhou: March 18-21

Wood Mac China 2005, Shanghai: March 22-25

Beijing Ancient Wood Building Tour: March 25-27

For information, please contact Craig Larsen, President, SEC, Tel: (503) 248-0406, Fax: (503) 248-0399, e-mail: clarsen@softwood.org

SIAL Montreal, April 13-15, 2005, Montreal, Canada. For more information on this food show, please contact Teresina at (202)720-9423 or Teresina.Chin@usda.gov.

IFIA JAPAN 2005 and Healthy Foods Expo, April 26-28, 2005, Tokyo, Japan. Asia’s largest food ingredients and additives event. For more information, please visit www.ifiajapan.com/en/ifia/.

Andean Marketplace 2005 Caracas, Venezuela May 9-10, 2005; Bogota, Colombia May 12-13, 2005; Quito, Ecuador May 16-17, 2005; Lima, Peru May 19-20, 2005; Follow-on show: La Paz, Bolivia May 23-24, 2005. These International Catalog Exhibitions offer a proven way for you to gain first-hand market insights and trade leads. Andean Marketplace 2005 will help position U.S. businesses to take advantage of opportunities arising from the proposed Andean Free Trade Agreement, which is designed to increase trade, lower trade barriers, boost the buying power of Andean consumers, and fuel demand for high-end U.S. imports. Please contact U.S. Department of Commerce Project Officer Louis Quay (202-482-3973) for more information.

INTERPHEX JAPAN 2005 & International Bio Expo Japan, May 18-20, 2005, Tokyo, Japan. Asia’s largest exhibition covering the whole spectrum of the pharmaceutical industry, along with International Bio Expo Japan, representing the Asian biotechnology industry. For more information, please contact James DeFalco at 203-840-5359, email: jdefalco@reedexpo.com.

Miami Hotel & Restaurant Show, July 13-15, 2004, Expo Center Miami. For more information, please call (305)529-9217.

TRADE MISSIONS

Explore BC, Vancouver, Canada, February 15-16, 2005. The International Trade Administration of U.S. Department of Commerce, Commercial Service in Vancouver is organizing a multiple industry trade event in Vancouver, February 15 &16, 2005. The participating U.S. companies will benefit from briefings by local experts on the Canadian market, a networking reception and pre-scheduled, one-on-one meetings with potential agents/distributors or manufacturers representatives in their industry. For more information, please visit http://www.trade.gov/doctm/explorebc_0205.html

REPCAN 2005, Toronto, Canada, June 14-15, 2005. The International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service in Canada will host REPCAN 2005, a multi-sector matchmaking event on June 14-15, 2005. This event is designed to provide U.S. small-to-medium sized, export-ready, companies (SMEs) in all industry sectors with an efficient, cost-effective, opportunity to enter the Canadian market and establish profitable commercial relations with prospective agents, distributors, end-users and joint venture partners. REPCAN 2005 also provides SMEs with an ideal opportunity to become familiar with business opportunities in Canada, our number one export market in the world, and to gain practical international business experience in an environment that offers the potential for high returns when working with the U.S. Commercial Service. For more information, please visit http://www.trade.gov/doctm/repcan_2005_0605.html

Press Releases

Trade Compliance Center helping American Exporters
The Trade Compliance Center (TCC) section of the DOC's Market Access and Compliance unit is a one-stop shop for coordinated efforts to make America's trade agreements work for American exporters, big and small. Here is a sampling of beneficial results obtained on behalf of U.S. companies during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2004.
China - Following extensive U.S. Government advocacy, the United States and China reached an agreement during World Trade Organization consultations regarding China's tax refund policy for integrated circuits. China's VAT refund policy had favored semiconductors designed in China, causing U.S. exporters of integrated circuits to pay up to five times as much tax as local Chinese producers. The resolution will ensure full market access and national treatment for U.S. integrated circuits in China, an export market worth more than $2 billion to American manufacturers and workers.
Japan - U.S. building material exporters raised concerns regarding recently implemented regulations designed to protect human health. U.S. exporters were concerned that compliance would be costly and that only Japanese laboratories would be able to certify building materials as compliant with these regulations. With Compliance Team, Post, and USDA guidance, a U.S. firm successfully completed the application process and became the first foreign entity to receive approval to certify building materials as being regulation compliant.
Thailand - A new Thai regulation was issued in 2002 that imposed minimum capital investment requirements on foreign investors. The U.S. business community believed that the regulation was in violation of the United States-Thai Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations, under which United States and Thai investors should receive equal treatment. Following Compliance Team and USTR advocacy, the Thai cabinet approved a new regulation exempting U.S. investors from the requirement for a five-year period. It is expected that, before the exemption period expires, a United States-Thai free trade agreement governing this issue will be in place.

December Language Immersions at Penobscot School
Penobscot School, Rockland’s non-profit center for language learning and international exchange will have three language immersion days for intermediate level students in Italian, Spanish and French in December. On December 4, Carolina Da Pieve will lead the Spanish immersion. Also on December 4, Roberta Bianucci will have an Italian immersion. Sarah Gourdel’s French Immersion will be on December 11. All three immersions are from 10 AM to 4 PM. The intermediate level is appropriate for those with two previous years of study. The fee is $88 and includes lunch. For more information or to register, call Penobscot School at 594-1084 or visit their website: www.languagelearning.org

USEFUL WEBSITE

Check import tariff rates for your products online!

U.S. International Trade Commission - 2004 Tariff Database for Imports

Easily find U.S. tariff information and U.S. import data for any product. This site includes planned staged tariff reductions (where applicable) and 3-year (plus year-to-date) import data. Searches can be performed by the first part of an HTS category number or by any part of a product description.

http://dataweb.usitc.gov/scripts/tariff2004.asp

MITC Trade Bulletin is a members only benefit. For information about MITC membership, please visit our website or contact us today.

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