July News from the World Trade Center of Central PA

Washington, DC from June 17-19. The Fancy Food Show is North America's largest specialty food and beverage marketplace and included 2,400 exhibitors from 80 countries and regions. Eight PA companies participated in the PA exhibit, which was located alongside the other state exhibits and across from the international pavilions. Another 43 PA companies had their own booths at the show. Visit our blog for more details, pictures and also an account of how we used social media to promote the PA Pavilion and PA exhibitors before, during and after the show. This initiative was funded in part through a STEP grant through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Philadelphia Port Tour Planned

Join us again on a bus trip for a tour of the Philadelphia seaport facilities and the UPS hub at the Philadelphia International Airport. The event is scheduled for August 15 and the bus will pick up participants in York and Lancaster. For more information, download the flyer or visit our website to register.

Local Company Reports Trade Mission Success

Stoltz Manufacturing is a Berks County company that produces lime and fertilizer spreaders for agricultural use and cement and fly ash spreaders for the construction industry. The company recently participated in the PA Trade Mission to Australia and New Zealand. Pennsylvania's Overseas Trade Office arranged a full schedule for Stoltz, including 14 meetings with pre-qualified distributor candidates . According to Gary Lake, VP of Sales and Marketing,"Stoltz joined the PA trade delegation to Australia and New Zealand to meet prospective customers and dealers. As a result of that trip we have received orders for seven units and have established a master distributor for both countries. We have hired additional staff to meet this 33% increase in orders. The staff of the trade office took care of the logistics so I could focus on meetings."

Stoltz Manufacturing sells nationwide, as well as to Central and South America, the UK, Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia.

Members in the News

Hydroworx Announces First Ever Underwater Marathon

to Raise Funds for Wounded American Soldiers

Corporate teams and individual runners can join this worthwhile cause and run a 5K, 10K, half or full marathon on a Hydroworx underwater treadmill to raise money for the Eagle Fund, which provides wounded warriors access to the highest quality of care possible. The event will be held on Sunday, September 9, at the new Troeg's Brewery facility in Hershey. Visit their Underwater Marathon website for more details.

Gannett Fleming Opens Office in Qatar

Gannett Fleming continues to expand in the Middle East with the opening of its Doha, Qatar office. The location expands Gannett Fleming's footprint in the region, where it also has an established office in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Both offices enhance the firm's ability to support infrastructure projects in the Middle East.

ExporTech Series Will Start in October

We are partnering with MANTEC to offer a unique approach to develop a peer-reviewed export growth plan over a 12 week period. Companies participate in three one-day group sessions and in between, each company works on the development and implementation of their strategic plan with the support of a coach.

ExporTech was developed by the Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the U.S. Export Assistance Centers and is offered in collaboration with state trade offices and regional partners throughout the country.

This ExporTech series is sponsored in part by UPS.

ICC Launches New Website

The International Chamber of Commerce unveiled an entirely re-built and re-designed web portal last month. More than 20,000 pages of previously existing information have now been streamlined and organized into eight gateways that draw the user to ICC's various activities, including rules-setting and advocacy for global trade, fighting commercial crime, and resources such as arbitration, dispute resolution and chamber services.

Permanent Normal Trade Relations With Russia

The United States currently does not provide permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) to Russia, because of the Jackson-Vanik amendment to the Trade Act of 1974. Under WTO rules, every WTO member must grant all other members Permanent Normal Trade Relations, also known as Most-Favored Nation status. With Russia's upcoming accession to the WTO, the United States will not be in compliance with this rule unless Congress acts soon. As a member of the WTO, Russia will be required to decrease its tariffs and remove barriers to imports of goods and services. Russia will also be required to comply with WTO requirements regarding transparency in setting rules and IPR protection. According to US Trade Representative Kirk: "If the United States cannot apply the WTO Agreement to Russia by the time Russia becomes a WTO Member, U.S. businesses, farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, creators, and workers will be at a distinct disadvantage with our global competitors." For more details on this issue, visit the U.S. Chamber's "PNTR Primer" website and the USTR website.

The World Trade Center of Central Pennsylvania is a licensed member of the World Trade Centers Association and one of more than 320 World Trade Centers located in 96 countries, connecting local companies with global opportunities. We promote global trade, deliver relevant educational programs, up-to-date trade information, practical trade assistance, and research & referral services for our members and clients to help them compete and prosper in a global economy.