Export News

From the Tampa Bay Export Assistance Center, U.S. Commercial Service, U.S. Department of Commerce

September 2009 Edition

Inside this Edition

1. Market of the Month – Costa Rica

2. Enterprise Florida Trade Mission to Costa Rica & Panama

3. Taiwan’s Accession Agreement to Create Opportunities in U.S.

4. The Export-Import Bank of the United States Protects Foreign Receivables

5. “Virtual” Green Trade Mission to Italy

6. U.S. Treasury Department Amends Cuban Assets Control Regulations 

7. Useful Websites & Leads

8. Tampa Bay Calendar of Events

9. Upcoming Events

1. Market of the Month – Costa Rica

Market Overview

Costa Rica has always been a large importer of United State’s goods accounting for over half of their total imports. According to U.S. Census Bureau trade data, the U.S. had a $1.744 billion trade surplus with Costa Rica in 2008, as compared with surpluses of $637 million in 2007. Trade in Costa Rica this year will only increase with the recent Central America-Dominican Republic-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) entered into force on January 1, 2009. This agreement creates new opportunity in trade and makes for a relatively bright investment picture. As a cause of the CAFTA-DR new opportunities in the wireless telecommunications, Internet, and Insurance markets have been created that previously did not exist. Fortunately, because of the agreement, enforcement of intellectual property laws is expected to improve because of the CAFTA-DR commitments. In addition, under the CAFTA-DR, about 80 percent of U.S. industrial and consumer goods now enter Costa Rica duty free, with the remaining tariffs on these goods phased out by 2010.

Some of the best prospects for U.S. exports include:

Auto Parts, Audiovisual Equipment, Hand/Power Tools, Hardware, Medical and Dental Equipment, and Security Equipment, Travel and Tourism Services, Hotel and Restaurant Equipment, Construction Equipment Sectors, Wireless Telecommunications, Internet, and Insuranbce markets. To find agents, distributors, joint-venture partners or end-users in these or other industry sectors, contact George Martinez or Sandra Campbell.

To find out more information on exporting to Costa Rica, please visit our website at: http://www.buyusa.gov/costarica

Sources of Information:

 Florida Resources:

Commercial Service Contacts in Costa Rica:

Financing Trade with Costa Rica:

2. Enterprise Florida Trade Mission to Costa Rica & Panama

Enterprise Florida’s Trade Mission to Costa Rica & Panama is an opportunity to increase export sales to two of Florida’s top trading partners. As Costa Rica’s number one trading partner, there has been almost $3 billion in goods exported from Florida to Costa Rica in 2008. In addition, Panama has over $1.5 billion in goods exported from Florida to Panama in 2008. The growth in Panama is evident with an increase of 35% of exports in 2008. This figure is expected to grow with the Panama Canal expansion project as well as the pending ratification of the free trade agreement with the U.S.

The itinerary for this mission includes one-on-one appointments, a networking cocktail reception, a lunch and tour of the Panama Canal and exansion plans, an ambassadorial cocktail reception, and more.

For more information, call Julie Balzano at (305) 808-3660 or visit Export Sales to Costa Rica and Panama.

3. Taiwan’s Accession Agreement to Create Opportunities in U.S. 

Taiwan acceeded to the Agreement on Gvoernment Procurement of the WTO, making it the 41st to do so. U.S. industry will now have access to procurement of more than 30 ministries and commissions, most notably the Ministry of National Defense, and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. In addition there will be access to Taipei City and Kaohsiung City governments, 48 universities and technical schools, three veterans’ hospitals, and service sectors such as engineering, information technology, and certain telecommunications.

In addition, infrastructure projects will be part of the new opportunities offered to U.S. industries. The Special Act for Expanding Investment in Public Works to Revitalize the Economy is worth approximately $15 billion, as well as the i-Taiwan 12 project, which focuses on infrastructure worth more than $4 billion.

The newly offered opportunities of the Government Procurement Agreement requires that Taiwan have a “blind eye” when it comes to a vendor being domestic or a foreigns upplier. Procurement opportunities will be published at http://web.pcc.gov.tw/newweb/new2/english/index.html and summarized in English.

Source: International Trade Administration’s International Trade Update

 4. The Export-Import Bank of the United States Protects Foreign Receivables

The Ex-Im Bank is the official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank’s mission is to protect you against non-payment by your foreign buyers and to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets. Ex-Im Bank assumes the credit and country risks that you are unable or unwilling to accept. Ex-Im Bank also helps to level the playing field for U.S. exporters by matching the financing that other governments provide to their exporters. No transaction is too large or too small. Services offered include:

Export Credit Insurance protects agains non-payment by foreign buyers due to commercial and political reasons.

Working Capital Guarantees enables small-and-medium sized companies to obtain loans to purchase or produce U.S. goods or provide a service for export.

Guarantees of Commercial Loans to Foreign Buyers covers principal and interest against both political and commercial risks of buyer nonpayment.

For more information contact the Ex-Im Bank Miami office at (305) 526-7436.

5. “Virtual” Green Trade Mission to Italy

The U.S. Commercial Service will organize a “Virtual” Green Trade Mission to Italy during the Fall of 2009. The goal of the mission is to offer a cost-effective way to gain market exposure and identify potential agents/distributors. Our colleagues at the U.S. Consulate in Milan, Italy will develop a website, provide you with about two pages of web content (with an Italian-language summary) and promote your product or service to their contacts, including the green trade associations, the Green Building Council of Italy, among others.

They will qualify and screen the replies that come from Italian firms tha have expressed their interest and your YouTube video will be pushed out to prospective Italian partners. Afterward, you will receive a list of the Italian firms that expressed interest in your product or service. Deadline to participate is October 30, 2009. For more information about this program, please visit: http://www.buyusa.gov/italy/en/virtualgreentrademission.html.

6. U.S. Treasury Department Amends Cuban Assets Control Regulations

A final rule was issued on September 3, 2009 by the U.S. Treasury Department to amend the Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515 (CACR). This will help the President’s initiative of April 13, 2009 to reach out and support the Cuban people.

Three major areas will be affected by the amendments to the CACR. Firstly, restrictions have been erased on travel-related transactions for visits to “close relatives” who are nationals of Cuba. In addition, there is no limit on the length of time or the frequency of these visits. Secondly, restrictions have been erased on remittances to “close relatives” who are nationals of Cuba. Thirdly, telecommunication services, contracts, related payments, and travel-related transactions are now authorized by general licenses.

A new general license for TSRA travel-related transactions has been formed. It authorizes, with certain conditions, travel-related transactions that are directly incident to the commercial marketing, sales negotiation, accompanied delivery, or servicing in Cuba of agricultural commodities, medicine, or medical devices that appear consistent with the Department of Commerce’s export or re-export licensing policy. Under the new general license, written reports must be submitted to OFAC at least 14 days before departure for Cuba and within 14 days of return. For more details visit http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/tg273.htm or http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/index.shtml.

7. Useful Websites and Leads

Caribbean Bulletin Opportunities Newsletter

http://www.buyusa.gov/caribbean/en/caribbeanbusinessopporbulletin.html

The Caribbean Business Opportunities Bulletin has information about a number of upcoming events and programs to facilitate business development between the Caribbean region and the United States.

U.S. State Department Travel Warnings

http://www.state.gov/travel/

Sign up for email travel warnings, read current travel warnings, and register your overseas trip.

Riley Guide

http://www.rileyguide.com/internat.html

The Riley Guide lists all websites offering job search engines online.

U.S. Commercial Service Trade Leads

http://www/export.gov/tradeleads/index.asp

This site contains pre-screened, time-sensitive leads and Government Tenders gathered through U.S. Commercial Service offices around the world. You can search leads and receive notification when new leads are posted. Free, but registration to access website required.

Enterprise Florida (EFI) Trade Leads

EFI identifies and qualifies foreign companies interested in sourcing goods and services from Florida. Free, but restricted to Florida companies only.

List of Worldwide Embassies, Consulates

Comprehensive embassy and consulate resource.

A Layman’s Guide to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

2008 Top U.S. Export Markets – Free Trade Agreement and Country Fact Sheets

2008 Latin American Business Environment Report

The University of Florida report analyzes the business-relevance of developments in Latin America over the past year and assesses the outlook for 2009. In addition to a regional overview, it provides systematic comparisons of the 18 largest economies in Latin America.

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8. Tampa Bay Calendar of Events

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We have a calendar of events on our website to keep you updated on upcoming events in the Tampa Bay area, as well as regional and national events. We will be adding new events as they arise so please check teh website often. Also featured are variousl trade missions organized by the U.S. Commercial Service or our Florida partners.

9. Upcoming Events

DOMESTIC/ONLINE

October 23, 2009: The Port of Tampa’s Economic Impact on Tampa Bay Today and After Completion of the Panama Canal: Tampa, Fl

Richard Wainio, Director of the Port of Tampa, will discuss the role of the Port of Tampa. What does it do…How does it operate…who pays for it? How many people does it employ? And other questions regarding Port Operationsin Tampa Bay and the State of Florida, and the future of the port following the completion of the Panama Canal expansion.For more details visit: http://www.tampabayworldaffairs.com/.

October 27-29, 2009: Louisiana Guld Coast Oil Exposition 2009, Lafayette, LA

LAGOE is a big experience with over 750 indoor and outdoor exhibit spaces, and 16,000 attendees. Here you will get a firshand look at what is new in the industry as well as network with the thousands of companies located in this energy corridor. For more information, click here.

November 3-5, 2009: National District Export Council Conference, Washington, DC

This conference will feature “Global Competitiveness and the Impact on U.S. Exports.” Some highlights include keynotes by U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, plenary sessions by Industry and Federal trade experts, as well as one-on-one meetings with Foreign Service Officers. For more information, click here.

November 3-5, 2009: 2009 Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week, Las Vegas, NV

This event is composed of the Specialty Equipment Manufacturing Association (SEMA) Show and the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX). For more information, contact Shelby Peterson.

November 9-10, 2009: 12th America’s Food and Beverages Show, Miami, FL

This is the largest two-day food and beverage trade show for the Western Hemisphere. Food service professionals from over 87 countries will be present to network and showcase products. For more information, click here.

November 11-13, 2009: Greenbuild Showtime 2009, Phoenix, AZ

This event is one of the wold’s largest expo hall devoted to green building. For more information, click here.

January 13-15, 2010: AG CONNECT Expo, Orlando, FL

AG CONNECT Expo provides a world-class collaborative event that connects all sectors of the agriculture industry through exhibits, education and networking with a global perspective. For more information about the event, please contact Mark Wells or click here.

January 19-22, 2010: The 2010 International Builders’ Show, Las Vegas, NV

This tradeshow is the largest in the country with over 175 education sessions taught by industry experts, and daily keynote speakers. View the latest products on the market, and take advantage of the networking opportunities. For more information, click here.

February 1-5, 2010: World of Concrete, Las Vegas, NV

This is the one and only international commercial construction show for the concrete and masonry industries. Over 65,000 professionals and more than 1,500 leading suppliers will showcase the newest technology and products. Fore more information, click here.

February 14-17, 2010: American International Toy Fair, New York, New York

For more information, click here or contact Eugene Quinn.

October 18-21, 2009: Panama Trade Delegation, St. Louis, MO

For more information, visit http://www.buyusa.gov/stlouis/panamatradedelegation.html

November 3-5, 2009: 2009 Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week, Las Vegas, NV

This event is composed of the Specialty Equipment Manufacturing Association (SEMA) Show and the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX). For more information, visit http://www.semashow.com/ and http://www.aapexshow.com/ or contact Shelby Peterson at Shelby.Peterson@mail.doc.gov

January 13-15, 2010: AG CONNECT Expo, Orlando, Fl

AG CONNECT Expo provides a world-class collaborative event that connects all sectors of the agriculture industry through exhibits, education and networking with a global perspective. For more information about the event, please contact Mark.Wells@mail.doc.gov or visit http://www.agconnect.com

INTERNATIONAL

October 28-31, 209: Trade Mission to the Canary Islands, Spain

The Canary Islands have a strategic positioning offering access to the northern African, European and Spanish markets. Industries with potential include Renewable energy, Thermo electric and solar technologies, Environmental, Information and Communication Technologies, Aerospace, Biotech, Pharma and Life Science. For more information, click here or contact Carmen Adrada.

November 14-17, 2009: Index 2009, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Index is the largest market-leading exhibition in the Middle East’s interior decorating industry. For more information on this event, contact Mary Lynn Landgraf by email or at (202) 482-7909.

November 15-19, 2009: Dubai Airshow Mini-Booth Program, Dubai, UAE

2007 marked the Dubai Airshow’s 10th anniversary and attracted over 850 Exhibitors, 45,421 Trade visitors, 140 Aircraft on the static display and a record breaking order book of $155.5 billion. The Dubai Airshow is the foremost aerospace event in the Middle East and the fastest growing airshow in the world.

November 16-20, 2009: Energy Efficiency Trade Mission to India, New Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai, India

This first-ever mission offers U.S. companies in this sector a cost-effective way to meet with potential business partners and government decision makers who are on the front edge of shaping India’s energy efficiency sector. For more information, click here.

November 18-21, 2009: MEDICA 2009, Dusseldorf, Germany

MEDICA is the center of attraction for all those involved in the health care industry. More than 135,000 visitors from well over 100 countries are expected to attend. For more information, click here or contact Michael Schiffhauer by email or at (407) 956-5634.

December 6-11, 2009: Enterprise Florida Trade Mission to Costa Rica & Panama

This trade mission will include representatives from a variety of Florida companies. These mission participants will be  introduced to international agents, distributors and end-users whose capabilities are targeted to each Florida participant’s needs in that particular market. For more information, click here or call Julie Balzano at (305) 808-3660.

February 23-26, 2010: Kiev Interiors, 2010, Kiev, Ukraine

Sectors covered at Kiev Interiors include paints, flooring, wall decoration, finishing materials, lighting, window decoration, furniture and accessories, decorative textiles, bathroom and ceramics, and much more. For more information, contact Mary Lynn Landgraf by email or at (202) 482-7909.

March 15-19, 2010: Caribbean Trade Mission to Dominican Republic & Jamaica

The matchmaking trade mission will include representatives from a variety of U.S. manufacturing companies and service providers. These mission participants will be introduced to international agents, distributors and end-users whose capabilities are targeted to each U.S. participant’s needs in that particular market. For more information, contact Lesa Forbes.

March 23-25, 2010: Convergence India 2010, New Delhi, India

This is the largest communications event in India. U.S. companies involved in the telecommunications, mobility, broadcast, information technology, information security, and consumer electronics industry sectors have a great opportunity to generate new business. For more information on this event, click here.

For additional events, please visit http://www.export.gov/trade/events/index.asp