February 23, 2015
State of the Ports
Address
Harrisburg, PA
March 17, 2015
Value Stream Mapping Your International Sales Process
at MANTEC's Business Growth Conference
Harrisburg, PA
April 2015
Completing the NAFTA Certificate of Origin
full day seminar
Details TBD
May 5, 2015
Creating an Export Management Compliance Program
full day seminar
Details TBD
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Thank You to Our Sponsors & Partners
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We would like to thank our sponsors and partners for their support of our organization and our mission during 2014.
Sponsorships help us keep costs reasonable for events and allow us to provide more services to companies in our region.
We are grateful to our corporate sponsors and partners who already committed to support the WTC in 2015:
Silver Sponsor
UPS
Bronze Sponsor
Fulton Bank
Strategic Partners
MANTEC
World Trade PA
For details about sponsorship opportunities throughout the year,
please follow this link.
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Contribute to Our Newsletter and Blog!
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We always welcome press releases about your company as well as relevant article submissions by our members to the newsletter. Or, if you prefer, you can contribute to our blog as a "guest blogger".
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Upcoming PA Trade Shows and Missions
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Feb. 2 - 13, 2015
Trade Mission to India
Bangaluru, Pune, and New Delhi, India
May 12-15, 2015
Seoul Food & Hotel
Seoul, Korea
May 11-16, 2015
Trade Mission to
East Africa
Kenya and Tanzania
June 9-11, 2015
Global Petroleum Show
Calgary, Canada
June 27-30, 2015
Fancy Food Show
New York City
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New: PA Pavilion at Bauma 2016
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Our colleagues at the Southern Alleghenies Planning and Dev. Commission will again organize a PA Pavilion at Bauma. The show will be held in Munich from April 11 - 17, 2016.
Bauma, the largest trade show in the world for construction, machinery, building materials, mining and construction equipment, had record numbers in 2013 with 3,421 exhibitors and 535,065 visitors.
Cost for space within the pavilion is $3,500 and will be open on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Deadline to register is February 27, 2015.
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Certificates of
Free Sale
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A Certificate of Free Sale is evidence that goods, such as food items or cosmetics, are legally sold or distributed in the open market, without restriction, and approved by the regulatory authorities in the country of origin.
For products not regulated by the FDA or the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the World Trade Center Harrisburg can issue a Certificate of Free Sale.
More details are available on our website.
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World Trade Center Harrisburg
600 North Hartley Street
Suite 110
York, PA 17404
717-843-1090
Copyright © 2015
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Inaugural State of the Ports Address
Join us on February 23 at the Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey for our inaugural "State of the Ports Address", and learn about exciting updates from the Port of Philadelphia and Harrisburg International Airport. The regional air and sea ports, along with logistics and transportation services, are an integral part of our global supply chain. This is your opportunity to get to know our regional port community and learn of the latest port developments affecting your ability to compete globally. Visit our website for more details.
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On December 17, 2014 the President announced diplomatic and economic changes to chart a new course in U.S. relations with Cuba. Here are some useful resources to address the recently announced changes in US relations with Cuba:
The Bureau of Industry and Security has updated their FAQ section with very detailed information about Cuba.
Here is a link to a recently issued US Department of Commerce "Fact Sheet" regarding Cuba:
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the best new kids products in the craft industry during the annual Craft and Hobby Association Convention, the largest event in the craft industry in the United States. Fox Chapel Publishing's "Trend Books for Kids" included Ice Princess, Minecraft, Totally Awesome Rubber Band Jewelry, Bling It Up, Parachute Cord Craft, Zentangle for Kidz, and Super Sand. This is the first time the craft industry has recognized the importance of books as a way to get more people crafting.
Westfalia Technologies has been named to Food Logistics' "FL100+" list for 2014. Westfalia was recognized for its innovative warehouse automation solutions which are helping food and beverage companies increase their overall warehouse efficiency by raising throughput, improving inventory accuracy, facilitating traceability, maximizing space and enhancing productivity. The FL100 award recognizes software and technology providers that hold influential roles in the global food and beverage supply chain.
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| Export Control Reform Update |
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On December 30, 2014, final Department of State and Department of Commerce rules relating to military and other advanced electronics took effect.
Published on July 1, 2014 the revised regulations cover a large number of products in the electronics, computer, telecom and avionics industries, including many parts, components, attachments and software.
Revisions to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) can be found here, and the Amendment to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations is available here.
The full text of the final rule, published on December 29, is available here.
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| Customs Implications of Year-End Transfer Price Adjustment |
Contributed by Ted Murphy,
Just a quick reminder for those of you working at multinational companies which operate on a calendar year basis - do not forget to ask your tax colleagues whether any retroactive transfer pricing adjustments were made at, or before, year end.
If such adjustments were made (whether upward or downward), please be sure to consider the customs valuation implications here in the United States and elsewhere. The failure to declare upward transfer pricing adjustments is becoming an increasingly common enforcement issue in many jurisdictions (largely because the issue is so easy to identify and often involves significant amounts/penalties); whereas downward adjustments could lead to a refund of customs duties, taxes and fees in some jurisdictions (including the US, the EU and, based on some recent developments, now Canada). A quick note to your tax colleagues now could save a potential headache down the line.
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| Why Currency Risk Management Still Matters |
Contributed by the Capital Markets Group at
Currency moves of the past week remind us that everything is right in international currency markets, until it isn't. We are referring of course to the substantial losses incurred by companies and banks as a result of the Swiss central bank's decision to unexpectedly let the Swiss franc appreciate substantially in value against the Euro.
This sudden and dramatic change reminds us of the often forgotten advantages of currency hedging. As a reminder, we are not talking about taking on speculative currency
positions or looking to anticipate currency moves, rather we are talking about good old fashioned risk management, an activity every business should consider when dealing with cross-border business partners.
For more details on recent currency developments, download a sample copy of the weekly FX Brief.
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| GAP Grants Still Available |
Applications Still Available
The State's Global Access Program grant reimburses up to $3500 of eligible expenses associated with an international business development trip. This program is funded in part through a grant award from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Qualifying activities include:
* Overseas Trade Mission Participation
* Overseas Trade Show Participation
* Foreign Market Sales Trip
* Subscription to US Department of Commerce services
funded activity.
Grant applications need to be submitted to our office at least 3 weeks prior to the activity for which funding is requested. Check here for more details.
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Export Finance Webinar for GAP Recipients
February 18, 2015 - Noon - 1:00 pm
If you are benefiting from SBA supported GAP funding to travel to a trade show or on a trade mission, find out how SBA and the Export-Import Bank of the United States can be a part of your export sales strategy to:
- reduce your payment risks
- increase your sales (and the size of your orders)
- expand your working capital to develop foreign markets and finance export orders
- finance your facilities expansion due to export success!
RSVP today with your name, title, and company name to OIT@sba.gov.
Webinar: Doing Business in Poland
February 24, 2015
This complimentary webinar is offered by our member K&L Gates and will feature a panel of partners from their Warsaw office. The webinar will address a range of legal issues to give you a comprehensive grasp on the business operating environment in Poland. More details and registration information are available on their website.
YCEA's Economics Club Breakfast to Focus on
"International Business in York County"
February 25, 2015
Peter O'Neill, Executive Director, PA Office of International Business Development will explain how firms can take full advantage of the expertise and resources in the nation's largest and most comprehensive export promotion initiative. Click here for details.
Business Growth Conference
March 17, 2015
MANTEC will be hosting their third annual Business Growth Conference on March 17 at the Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey. The conference features 15 sessions, 2 keynote presentations and 4 workshops which are divided into 5 different tracks: - Business Growth
- Continuous Improvement
- Digital Intensity- Technology
- Human Resources
- Sustainability
US Commercial Service Presents
TRADE WINDS - AFRICA
September 14-21, 2015
The 2015 Trade Winds program offers U.S. companies the opportunity to explore eight markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. Hosted in South Africa, the Trade Mission will feature an Africa focused business forum, consisting of regional and industry specific conference sessions as well as pre-arranged consultations with U.S. Senior Government Diplomats representing commercial markets from 19 different countries throughout the region.
There will also be multiple trade mission stops that will give participants the opportunity to conduct business-to-business meetings with pre-screened firms in Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, and Tanzania.
For more information click here.
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