MITC Trade Bulletin

This full-day program is an imperative course for the first-time exporter, as well as a useful primer for new staff. For more information and to register: http://www.mitc.com/PDF/WebEssentialsofExporting.pdf

Coming in December...

The World Affairs Council of Maine and the Maine International Trade Center present:
"Don't Fence Me In"
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. Ms. Jepson will be there to explain the project, and Deputy Consul General Guenter Wehrmann from the German Consulate in Boston will be a featured speaker. Governor Baldacci plans to personally present a copy of the film to Germany's "Haus der Geschichte" while visiting during the upcoming State of Maine Trade Mission in November. 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
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 from experts in international banking and freight forwarding, as well as an understanding of bank and freight forwarder involvement in the flow of documents and payment. For the registration brochure: http://www.mitc.com/PDF/WebLettersofCredit.pdf

MEMBER BENEFITS

Have you used your MITC discount to save on UPS rates?

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

European Union to Lift Trade Sanctions Against U.S. Exporters
Responding to recent U.S. corporate tax legislation that phases out provisions the World Trade Organization had previously ruled illegal, the EU has decided to lift the retaliatory tariffs it levied on U.S. exporters starting in March, 2004. However, U.S. companies will have to wait for the new U.S. tax law to go into effect on January 1, 2005 for the EU sanctions to be removed. Meanwhile, the EU will ask the WTO to review the so-called grandfathering clauses in the U.S. legislation. The issue is whether the US remains in violation because of special provisions that will leave the tax subsidy in place for contracts already signed on future deliveries of aircraft and other heavy goods. The WTO's review is likely to take about 90 days. 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):
http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_328/l_32820031217en00030012.pdf

Trade Events

APEC's Tenth Annual Business Outlook Conference is coming in November to the four Atlantic provinces. Join senior executives and planners from business, government and education for the best source of information on the economy of Atlantic Canada and new opportunities for Atlantic business.
November 15, 2004 - Halifax - World Trade and Convention Centre
November 16, 2004 - Charlottetown – Delta Prince Edward
November 17, 2004 - Moncton – Delta Beauséjour
November 19, 2004 - Saint John's – Fairmont Newfoundland
Registrants will have access to presentation materials for all four locations through a special conference website. Register Online or download a printable registration form at: www.apec-econ.ca/2005registration.htm.

Second Annual National Forum on Trade Policy December 9-10, 2004 in Durham, NC. The Maine International Trade Center is forming a delegation of five participants to attend the Second Annual National Forum on Trade Policy. Featured sessions include: prospects for U.S. trade exports; impact of international trade on national economies; findings of first bi-annual survey on off shoring and the implications for jobs; dislocated workers and community colleges on the front line; international procurement policy issues impacting states. For more information: http://faculty.fuqua.duke.edu/ciber/programs/nftp.html. If you are interested in joining the Maine delegation, please contact Richard Coyle, President, Maine International Trade Center at coyle@mitc.com.

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

April 2005 Tour: A Look at the Forests, Wood Industry and Shipping Ports of Russia's Far Eastern Region, April 4 – April 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

Telecom Israel 2004 Trade Show, November 8-12, 2004. The U.S. Commercial Service at the American Embassies covering Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, West Bank/Gaza and Morocco (optional), are combining resources to make it easier for you to explore sales opportunities in all six or seven markets at the U.S. Embassy booth at Telecom Israel 2004 Trade Show at the Tel Aviv Fair Grounds. Participation fee of $1,200 (plus additional $200 if Morocco is selected) includes the partner/customer search in all 6 or 7 markets. Please find Country Market Briefs, Program Details and Easy Registration at http://www.buyusa.gov/easternmed/telecom.html.

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.

Home Builders Expo 2004, November 24-26, 2004, Osaka, Japan. A major housing trade show in Asia. For more information, please contact: Kazuhisa Takabtake, Tel: +81-6-6315-5955, email: Kazuhisa.Takabatake@mail.doc.gov.

MEDICA 2004, November 24-27, 2004, Düsseldorf, Germany. The world’s largest international fair for medical equipment. For more information, please visit www.medica.de.

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.

Pollutec 2004, November 30 - December 3, 2004, Paris, France. France's premier environmental technologies trade show covering water and waste water treatment, air pollution control, solid waste and hazardous waste management, recycling, renewable and clean energies, soil and groundwater remediation, noise and engineering. For more information, please visit www.pollutec.com.

Natural Products Expo Asia 2004, December 1-3, 2004, Hong Kong. Over the past 10 years, Natural Products Asia has become the premiere worldwide natural products promotion event for U.S. exporters in the industry. For more information, please contact Monica McFarlane, Tel: (202) 482-3364, email: Monica.McFarlane@mail.doc.gov.

Americas Food and Beverage Show, December 2-3, 2004, Miami. For more information, contact Julio at (202)690-2494 or Julio.Maldonado@usda.gov or www.americasfoodandbeverage.com.

Food & Hotel Vietnam 2004, December 2-4, 2004. An international food & drink, hotel, restaurant, bakery & foodservice equipment, supplies & services exhibition in a rapidly growing market. Endorsed by the USDA. To join the U.S. pavilion or for further information contact Christopher McCuin, Overseas Exhibition Services Ltd., +44 207 862 2109, email: cmccuin@oesallworld.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.

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.

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/.

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.

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

TRADE MISSIONS

REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED!
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. For more information, contact Trade Mission Coordinator Carolina Quiroz-Boutaugh, (207) 990-3161, quiroz@mitc.com or http://www.mitc.com/Features/GermanyItalyTradeMission.html.

Oil and Gas Equipment and Services Trade Mission to Southeast Asia December 6-14, 2004. Pre-screened business appointments, strategic meetings with government and industry decision makers, and ground support from the U.S. Embassy will position your company to maximize opportunities in Asia's fast-growing markets for oil and gas equipment and services. Participants in this timely Commercial Service Trade Mission to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Singapore, and Hanoi, Vietnam, will also benefit from a bonus company promotion at the USA Pavilion at OSEA, 2004, the leading oil and gas trade show for the Asia/Pacific region. Spaces are filling up fast. For more information, please contact Matthew Wright, Tel: 202-482-2567, email: matthew.wright@mail.doc.gov.

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

New Anti-Counterfeiting and Anti-Piracy Initiative Announced
On October 4, Commerce Secretary Evans and other officials announced the "Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy" (STOP) initiative, the comprehensive Administration initiative to protect American innovation by halting the trade in counterfeit and pirated goods. Under STOP, the Commerce Department established a new hotline that provides a one-stop-shop for businesses to protect their intellectual property at home and abroad. 1-866-999-HALT provides businesses with the information they need to leverage the resources of the United States Government to protect their intellectual property rights. http://www.tcc.mac.doc.gov/cgi-bin/doit.cgi?204:72:539811846:40

Access Eastern Mediterranean Healthcare Program by the U.S. Department of Commerce enables you to reach hundreds of potential distributors, agents and strategic partners in the $2 billion medical equipment and supplies market of Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Turkey, Lebanon and West Bank/Gaza. The program participation fee is $1000 and will take place from mid February until mid March 2005. Full details, online registration and Country Market Briefs are available at www.buyusa.gov/easternmed/healthcare.html

Three reports on the wood products and forestry industry in Russia and Europe
·       USDA Foreign Agricultural Service GAIN (Global Agriculture Information Network) Report Russian Federation - Solid Wood Products - Outlook for Production and Trade of Forest Products in the Russian Far East, 2004, visit: http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200409/146107577.pdf
·       "Europe and Russia, Wood Products Industry Report, Trends & Outlook" 530-page report, published in April 2004 by International Wood Markets Research, Inc. For more information, visit www.woodmarkets.com
·       A new reference text, "The Russian Far East: A Reference Guide for Conservation and Development," provides detailed data on the state of the forests in the Russia's Far Eastern region. For more information, visit http://www.rfebook.com/.

Arabic, French, Italian, Russian and Spanish Immersions at Penobscot School this fall
All immersion days are held on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and the tuition is $88. Workshops (except Japanese Ikebana) are from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, and the tuition is $58. Italian Cooking classes are from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. For more information, please contact Penobscot School at 594-1084, or on the web at www.languagelearning.org. The School is located at 28 Gay Street in Rockland.

USEFUL WEBSITE

Alibaba.com promotes itself as the world's largest marketplace for global trade and the leading provider of online marketing services for importers and exporters.

Alibaba.com is an excellent site for buyers and sellers to find trade opportunities and promote their businesses online. Alibaba's web properties have over 4,830,000 registered members from more than 240 countries, growing at a rate of over 18,740 members each day. Alibaba.com was named "Best of the Web: B2B" 4 years in a row by Forbes magazine and selected as the most popular B2B website by readers of the Far Eastern Economic Review. Alibaba is headquartered in Hong Kong and has its operational base in Hangzhou, China. In addition Alibaba has branch offices in California, London, Shanghai, Beijing and over 13 regional sales offices throughout mainland China.

Please visit www.alibaba.com for more information.

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

Website: www.mitc.com

Bangor Office: 207-990-3161
Lewiston Office: 207-753-0574
Portland Office: 207-541-7400