July 8:  China’s Natural Products Regulations

Date:    July 8, 2008
Time:   11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon EDT
Place:  Your Office
Cost:    $75 (credit-card payment)

Market growth rates are impressive, but U.S. exporters overwhelmingly find China a challenging market in the area of natural products (health foods, nutritional supplements, etc.). Find out why and what to do about it! In-depth discussion on regulatory requirements, market-access barriers, and ways to persevere and succeed! Brought to you by the U.S. Commercial Service’s Healthcare Technologies and Agribusiness Teams. For additional information and registration, please click here or copy/paste the following Web address into your browser: http://www.buyusa.gov/asianow/chinanaturalproducts.html.

July 8:  Impact of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) on Chemical-Related Businesses

                             Agricultural Chemicals, Cosmetics/Toiletries,
                            Drugs/Pharmaceuticals, Industrial Chemicals,
                                             Plastics Materials/Resins

Date:   July 8, 2008
Time:   1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EDT
Place:  Your Office (Web-based)
Cost:    $35 participation fee

U.S. exporters will learn how key elements of these agreements can impact their chemical-related businesses.  Key FTA negotiators will speak on the topics of tariffs, rules of origin, standards, import licensing, rules of origin, intellectual property rights and investments.

Speakers:

The webinar will be introduced by William G. Sutton, Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services (MAS) at the International Trade Administration.

• Tariffs:  Raimundo Prat, International Trade Specialist, MAS/Office of Materials and Machinery
• Standards: Christine Brown, International Trade Specialist, Trade Compliance Center
• Rules of Origin and Import Licensing:  Katrice Kelly, International Trade Specialist, MAS/Office of Trade Policy Analysis
• Intellectual Property (Patents/Trade Secrets):  James Housel, Patent Attorney, Patent and Trade Mark Office
• Investment Issues:  Jeff Kozlowicki, International Trade Specialist, Office of Multilateral Affairs.

For additional information and registration, please visit www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_trade_events.asp?EventID=28223 or contact:

Ms. Linda Abbruzzese
International Trade Specialist
U.S. Commercial Service
Phone:    (202) 482-1086
E-mail:    Linda.Abbruzzese@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov  

July 8:  India Coal & Mining Webinar

On July 8, 2008, our sister U.S. Commercial Service office in Pittsburgh, PA, in conjunction with Mining Media, is hosting a webinar that will highlight the Indian coal and mining market.  This is an excellent opportunity for U.S. companies to develop a better understanding of mining prospects in India.

India is a growing market for mining related equipment and services.  This webinar will include a specialist from the U.S. Commercial Service in India who will provide participants with an overview of:

• India’s current commercial environment
• India’s mining industry
• Demand for U.S. mining equipment and services
• Market entry strategies and challenges
• Assistance available to U.S. exporters

Date:    Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Time:    9:00 a.m. EDT
Place:   Your computer (Web-based)
Cost:     $35 participation fee

For additional information and registration, please visit www.buyusa.gov/pittsburgh/798.html. 

July 10:  Opportunities in India’s Machinery, Metals, and Chemicals Sectors

Participants in this webinar will get an overview of these high-performing industry sectors and hear how U.S. exporters are successfully tapping market opportunities.  Also, learn about upcoming trade missions to India.

The Principal Commercial Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Calcutta, Ms. Aileen Nandi, will be the main speaker of the webinar.

Date:    Thursday, July 10, 2008
Time:    9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. EDT
Place:   Your computer (Web-based)
Cost:     Free of charge

To register for this webinar, please go to https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=8Q6R.

For additional information, please contact:

Ms. Linda Abbruzzese
International Trade Specialist
U.S. Commercial Service
Phone:    (202) 482-1086
E-mail:    Linda.Abbruzzese@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov

July 14:  China’s Coal and Mining Markets Webinar

                           Coal, Construction Equipment, Mining Industry Equipment

On July 14, 2008, our sister U.S. Commercial Service office in Pittsburgh, PA, in conjunction with Mining Media, is hosting a webinar that will highlight the Chinese coal and mining market.  This is an excellent opportunity for U.S. companies to develop a better understanding of mining prospects in China. 

China is a growing market for mining related equipment and services.  This webinar will include staff from the U.S. Commercial Service at the U.S. embassy in Beijing as well as private sector representatives that will also highlight related coal and mining opportunities in China.

The webinar will include specialists from the U.S. Commercial Service in China who will provide participants with an overview of:

• the current commercial environment,
• the current status and future direction of the mining and coal industries,
• demand for U.S. mining and coal related equipment and services,
• market-entry strategies and challenges, and
• assistance available to U.S. exporters.

Date:      Monday, July 14, 2008
Time:      8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. EDT
Place:     Your computer (Web-based)
Cost:       $35

For additional information and registration, please visit www.buyusa.gov/pittsburgh/chinacoalandmining.html.  

July 15:  Update on Mexico’s National Infrastructure Program — Upcoming Business Opportunities

Date:      Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Time:      2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT
Place:     Your computer (Web-based)
Cost:       Free of charge

This webinar will update U.S. companies on Mexico’s National Infrastructure Program involving $250 billion in business opportunities.  Projects in ports, airports, highways, power, oil and gas, and the environment will offer a valuable business pipeline for American primary/subcontractors and suppliers in these sectors.

CS Mexico will provide an overview of the opportunities for U.S. companies, information on the bidding process in Mexico, and a presentation by a representative of a highly successful U.S. company with insight on doing business in Mexico.

Registration information will be posted here the week of June 30.

July 16:  Intellectual Property Rights in India

Whether you are already doing business in India or just beginning to consider exporting to India, you need to consider protecting your intellectual property rights (IPR).

Featuring Dominic Keating, IP Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, this webinar will give participants insight into India's evolving IP environment.  A U.S. Patent and Trademark attorney will provide tips and answer questions about protecting patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets in India.  Cassie Peters from the Office of Intellectual Property Rights at the Department of Commerce will highlight U.S. Government resources to help you protect your IPR abroad. 

Date:      Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Time:      2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT
Place:     Your computer (Web-based)
Cost:       $35

For additional information and registration, please visit https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=8Q4W.

July 31:  Researching and Interpreting Rules of Origin for FTA Purposes

Do you understand the Rules of Origin for your products under NAFTA and the other FTAs? Have you done your homework in qualifying your products?

The customs service of the country you are shipping to may ask for details. This program will give you the tools you need to do that research, qualify your products and have a ready answer to that inquiry.

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) can mean lower costs for your customers and more sales for your company. Learn how the rules of origin work and how they apply to your products.

A solid understanding of how Rules of Origin operate is necessary to take full advantage of these agreements and can speed your documentation process and improve customer service.

Date:      Thursday, July 31, 2008
Time:      1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. EDT
Place:     Your computer (Web-based)
Cost:       $40

For additional information and registration, please visit https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=8Q6P.

Export University 101:  Strategic Exporting Webinar — Your Date, Your Time

Exporting has never been easier!  This webinar will introduce the basic information, methods and strategies to help you export your products abroad. It is designed for company decision-makers who are thinking about exporting or want to expand exports to multiple markets. The U.S. Commercial Service, in cooperation with the National Association of Manufacturers, has assembled a panel of experts on each step of the exporting process.

Learn about the following topics: 

• Organizing for Export
• U.S. Export Regulations
• Getting Paid
• International Logistics
• Building an Overseas Infrastructure and Expanding Your International Business
• Assessing Risk and Opportunity
• Resources to Help You.

Hear directly from the following experts!

• Vince Daniels, Director of Executive Education, Nova Southeastern University
• Kathryn Dye and Stephanie Heckel, International Trade Specialists, U.S. Commercial Service
• Jerry Watterworth, Vice President, Global Trade Finance Group, Regions Bank
• Al Redlhammer, President, Seariders Brokerage Corporation
• Benjamin Jones, Regional International Sales Manager, FedEx Corporation
• Mary Freeman, President, Awareness Technology

To view this webinar, click here and then on “Watch the Export University 101 Webinar” (in blue).