REACH Regulations and Update

REACH is a major reform of EU chemicals policy, and applies to all substances (alone, in preparations, and intentionally released from articles) exported to the EU in a volume greater than one metric ton per year. The first deadline is December 1 for the pre-registration of chemicals with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Pre-registration is highly recommended to insure that products are not in the market illegally after December 1, 2008 and to benefit from extended registration deadlines. A prerecorded webinar to address questions surrounding REACH is available and can be accessed with a password. To obtain a password please contact Ms. Deborah Doherty at 717-872-4386 or deborah.doherty@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov . For more information and guidance, please visit: http://www.buyusa.gov/europeanunion/reach.html

BIS Outlines Five New Final Rules at Update Conference

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced multiple new rules and regulations at this year’s update 2008 conference. Following the conference, BIS published five new rules in the Federal Register. For summaries of each of these rules which are critical to trade compliance, please visit: http://www.buyusa.gov/arkansas/fivenewbisnov08.pdf

Notify U.S. – Free Tool to Track Product Requirements Worldwide

Do you know about the Department of Commerce service for U.S. SMEs to track manufactured product requirements around the world? "Notify U.S." is a free web information service that offers U.S. citizens, industries, and organizations the opportunity to be informed, and to review and comment on proposed foreign technical regulations that could affect their products, businesses, and access to international markets. U.S. industry, businesses, exporters, government trade policy officials, product development engineers and professionals, consultants and lawyers working with exporters, and interested trade and export stakeholders should register. For more information and to register for Notify U.S., please visit: http://www.nist.gov/notifyus/

Exporting 101 – New “A Basic Guide to Exporting”

Looking for a comprehensive overview of how to export? For more than 70 years, A Basic Guide to Exporting has been the resource that businesses have turned to for answers to their questions about how to establish and grow overseas markets for their products and services. Whether your firm is new to exporting or in need of a refresher on the latest ideas and techniques, this comprehensive guide, now completely revised and updated, provides the nuts-and-bolts information you will need to meet the challenges of the world economy. For more information and to read sample chapters please visit: http://www.export.gov/basicguide/doc_eg_basicguide_index.asp

Midwest Flood Relief - Promote Your Products Worldwide for Just $395

Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is offering discounts on advertising to companies located in the Midwest Region of the U.S. Companies in the following states may qualify for discounts: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Qualifying companies will receive a $500 discount on advertising and a free upgrade to color. Commercial News USA reaches 400,000 readers in 176 countries worldwide. Companies of all sizes are eligible to participate in the special Midwest Flood Relief Section for as little as $395. There are only 50 spaces available and the deadline reservations is January 9, 2009. Contact your local trade specialist or sign-up online at: http://www.thinkglobal.us/midwest

Other Promotion Opportunities in the Commercial News USA

The March-April 2009 issue of “Commercial News USA,” will feature the industries of Franchising, Safety and Security, and Wireless Communications. Deadlines for the edition are January 9, 2009 for space, and January 16, 2008 for materials. CNUSA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, reaches 400,000 readers in 176 countries worldwide. For advertising information and to view current and past issues, please visit: http://thinkglobal.us/

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Kazakhstan Oil and Gas Trade Mission – Atyrau, Kazakhstan, April 7-11, 2009

Join the U.S. Department of Commerce in this four-day mission to the city of Atyrau, the oil and gas capital of Kazakhstan. The mission will assist representatives of American companies responsible for business activities in Eurasia with their efforts to identify profitable opportunities and new markets for their respective U.S. companies. Mission members will meet with major energy firms operating in the region and participate in the 8th North Caspian Regional Exhibition, an annual three-day exhibition that attracts over 4,000 industry specialists from more than 30 countries. For additional details, please visit: http://www.buyusa.gov/kazakhstan/en/oil_gas_mission.html

Trade Wins Forum Europe – Warsaw, Poland, April 20-22, 2009

Does your company have a Pan European Business Strategy? U.S. exports are growing four times faster than the economy as a whole. Europe presents a market filled with opportunities for U.S. businesses. If you're already doing business in one, two or several European countries, expansion throughout the continent is the next logical step. Poland constitutes a market of 38 million people located in the heart of central Europe and is a fully integrated member of the EU. By participating in this event, U.S. companies have the chance to make or increase sales in this booming region with a customized itinerary, according to country market demand. For more information and to register, please visit: [www.buyusa.gov/newhampshire/twe.html]

Upcoming Webinars

December 2 – Medical Product and Service Opportunities in India

Join the U.S. Commercial Service India and speakers from the private sector as they discuss the opportunities and challenges for medical product manufacturers and medical service providers in India. This webinar will provide guidance on how to do business in India's medical industry. You will also learn about the India Medical Fair, 2009 and the resources available to assist companies before, during and after the trade show. For more information, please visit: http://www.buyusa.gov/healthcare/indiawebinar.html

December 3 – Strategies to Recruit Students from Chile

There is great opportunity to recruit students from Chile given the Chilean government's recent launch of a new scholarship program, which provides new opportunities for students to study abroad. This interactive webinar will present strategies for recruiting students from Chile, the educational system and economic overview of this market, Chilean student flow trends and projections to the U.S., the latest visa procedures and guidance, the latest scholarship opportunities, and assistance from the U.S. Departments of Commerce in Chile. To register for this webinar, please visit: http://www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_trade_events.asp?EventID=28543

December 8 – Tapping into Northeast China's Under-tapped Education Market

Northeast China students are pursuing overseas education opportunities in the U.S. How do you position your school to be the one they choose? This interactive webinar will present strategies for recruiting students from northeast China, an economic overview of this market, Chinese student flow trends and projections, the latest visa procedures and guidance, and assistance from the U.S. Departments of Commerce and State in northeast China. To register for this webinar, please visit: http://www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_trade_events.asp?EventID=28582

December 8 – China's Demand for Green Building Products

This interactive briefing explores the China market for Green Building Products. What's hot now, what standards prevail, and future trends anticipated by American firms operating on-the-ground in China. For more information and to register for this webinar please visit: http://www.buyusa.gov/asianow/chinagreenbld.html

December 11 – Exporting 101 – How to Finance your Exports and Get Paid

The Northern Virginia Export Assistance Center, in partnership with Arlington Economic Development (AED) and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP)/Office of International Trade is conducting a series of 3 seminars for established US companies interested in pursuing opportunities overseas. The third and last event of the series will take place on December 11th. The topic will be “How to Finance your Exports and Get Paid. Learn how to finance your exports from government and private sector experts in the field of export financing. Learn how to tap into US government programs to finance your export sales and get paid and get your export finance questions answered by experts in the subject. To register for this webinar please visit: https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=9Q0Q

December 11 – NATO Procurement: What You Need To Know

What You Need to Know About Procurement Procedures and Opportunities, Declarations of Eligibility for International Competitive Bidding, Security Clearances and More. Encompassing twenty-six countries, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a vast alliance stretching from Canada to Turkey with missions in the Balkans, Darfur and Afghanistan. NATO procurement offers great potential trade opportunities for U.S. companies in sectors ranging from security and defense to maintenance and repair services. However, the alliance’s procurement regime can be daunting. The U.S. Commercial Service is pleased to present this webinar to demystify the process. We will address Declarations of Eligibility, Security Clearances and more so please join us for this unique opportunity to learn about NATO Procurement. This is a great opportunity for companies in the Aerospace and Defense, Security and Safety, Telecommunications, and related service sectors to learn the nuts and bolts of selling to NATO. To register for this webinar please visit: [http://www.buyusa.gov/europe/team_events.html#_section2]

2009 Global Marketplace Webinar Series

Save the dates! Registration coming soon.

• All programs will run from 10:00 – 11:15AM CST.
• $40 Fee for each live event
• Interactive format allows you to ask questions
• Participate from your office or home computer
• Can't attend the live event? Order the audio/visual recording

January 14, 2009: Classifying your Product for Import /Export (HS#) Are you aware of the implications of classifying products correctly? How are you working through product classification? This web-based seminar offers a checklist for ensuring proper classification. A leading Midwest manufacturer will share best practices and insights based on their experiences.

January 28, 2009: Export Documentation Fundamentals Are you familiar with international trade terminology and the documents required to ship products overseas? During this web-based seminar, you will learn the roles that each party has in the export transaction, learn what documents are required to minimize the risk of delays and how to complete them, and export clearance filing requirements through AES (formerly the SED).

February 11, 2009:Incoterms 2000–Transportation Obligations, Costs and Risks Incoterms 2000 define seller-buyer responsibilities, costs and risks used in international sales of goods. Do you properly use Incoterms? This web-based seminar will profile all 13 Incoterms with an emphasis on minimizing your costs and risks as an exporter.

February 18, 2009: Ensuring Payment for International Sales Do you know how to safely get paid for an international sale? This web-based seminar will outline the common international methods of payment used in global trade and risk mitigation tools.

March 4, 2009: Increasing Your Global Sales Using the Internet The Internet can be a powerful global marketing tool to showcase your company to a world of new customers. Are you harnessing the Internet’s full potential for increasing export sales and reducing costs? This web-based seminar will outline the tools available to increase site visibility and usability to foreign buyers, and key issues to consider when trying to internationalize your website.

March 18, 2009: Exporter Obligations/Export Control Update Do you know your obligations as an exporter? Are you aware of the latest export controls? This web-based seminar will outline the exporter’s responsibilities in a transaction, minimum filing and record keeping obligations and tips on a compliance manual. Also find out about the latest export controls and if they affect your transaction.