Did You Know that ITA has New Import Trends and Data?

From the International Trade Administration.
August 16, 2011

Natalie Soroka is an economist in the Office of Trade and Industry Information within the International Trade Administration. She focuses on international trade statistics and trends, as well as the impact on the domestic manufacturing sector.

In promoting U.S. trade interests, it can be easy to forget about the other side of the coin: imports and their importance as inputs to U.S. manufacturers and exporters. Early last year the Census Bureau started to include state-level merchandise import data with their monthly data release, which is now also available on our TradeStats Express platform. Similar to the state export series, this resource can be used to explore state-level trends in goods imports going back to 2008.  For example, in 2010 New York’s main import was precious stones and metals, most of which consisted of diamonds from Israel, India, Belgium, and South Africa. As far as trends over time, as you would expect state imports generally declined across the board in 2009.  However, two states bucked the trend and actually increased their imports: Kansas and Utah.  In Kansas’ case, this increase was nearly all due to high mineral fuel imports, which then dropped the following year (causing Kansas to be one of only four states that saw goods imports decline in 2010).

State reliance on imports of oil and gas as a percentage of total state goods imports

As for Utah, in 2008 the state reported increased imports of precious stones and metals, as well as aircraft.  In 2010 imports largely rebounded nationwide, except in four states: Delaware, Kansas, Wyoming, and Maine.  Delaware showed the greatest decline, which was largely due to a steep drop in imports of mineral fuel.  In 2008, mineral fuel accounted for more than a third of Delaware’s goods imports, but has since dropped 89 percent, accounting for only 5 percent of goods imports in 2010.
Speaking of fuel, many states rely heavily on oil and gas imports, importing higher than the general nationwide average share of nearly 15 percent. In particular, oil and gas account for more than half of total goods imports in five states: Montana, Louisiana, Hawaii, Wyoming, and Mississippi. On the other side, two states did not directly import any oil or gas in 2010: Rhode Island and West Virginia.

Twenty percent of companies engaged in trade both import and export.

In addition to the state import series, this past April the Census Bureau also started to release data on U.S. importing companies. In addition to highlighting the characteristics of companies that imported in 2009, this release also shows that for U.S. businesses, exports and imports are not mutually exclusive, with a sizeable portion both exporting and importing in 2009.
For more information on state import trends and U.S. importers, check out ITA’s Trade Statistics webpage.

Haiti Energizes their Textile Industry

From 
tradegov | August 25, 2011 at 4:31 pm | Tags: Haiti, MAGIC, trade preferences | Categories: Supply Chain, Textiles, Trade Shows and Trade Events | URL: http://wp.me/pF6la-lE
Amelia Baines is an intern in the Office of Public Affairs in the International Trade Administration


Despite seemingly overwhelming odds, Haiti continues its road to recovery. This struggling nation is slowly rebuilding after the devastating earthquake in 2010. While the Haitian government and economy is still on the road to recovery, Haiti’s textile and apparel industry continues to grow, even with the challenges posed by insufficient infrastructure and potential customer’ concern about the country’s recovery. As Haiti’s largest employer, continued expansion of the textile and apparel sector could infuse the economy with the growth it so desperately needs. Haiti is a prime location for business ventures, new industries, as well as exports. This small nation is surrounded by water and has a large sea port where their main exports are various types of textiles.

The Haitian textile and apparel industry is the country’s largest manufacturing sector, and employs more than 28,000 workers, and apparel constitutes more than 80 percent of all Haitian exports to the United States.  In 2010, exports of Haitian apparel valued more than $550 million, and looks to be increasing in 2011. Growth in the apparel industry could be the catalyst to the Haitian economy potentially employing 150,000 people within years and bring.
The United States is Haiti’s number one trading partner and textiles accounts for more than half of all exports. Other major items exported include oil, mangoes, cocoa, and coffee. The United States receives more than 70 percent of these exports with another 9 percent going to the Dominican Republic and 3 percent to Canada. The vast majority of Haitian apparel is exported to the United States, the world’s largest apparel market.

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Texas LEAD Conference Friday, August 26, 2011

ARE YOUR PERSONAL BRAND, YOUR SKILLS, AND YOUR EXPERIENCE STILL RELEVANT?


The 9th annual Texas LEAD (Leadership,  Education, And Diversity) Conference will be held this week at the UT Commons Conference Center.  This conference is sponsored jointly by the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) and the National Black MBA Society (NBMBAA).

This conference is a great place to network as well as interact with some great speakers.  Keynotes will be by Gary Hoover, Entrepreneur and founder of Hoovers.com and William Arruda, personal branding guru.  In addition, two of our ACC IBI faculty are speakers:  Eli Mercer and yours truly will be present.

There is a student rate of $25.00 for the one-day conference.  More details can be found at:  http://texaslead2011.eventbrite.com/

Hope to see you there.Publish Post

8 Steps for Export Compliance

Global Trade Net (www.globaltrade.net) recently published a great article by Matthew Goldstein on how to comply with Export Regulations and controls.


In many respects, export controls are just another cost of doing business in today’s global marketplace. They cannot be ignored. Responsible exporters must be dedicated and fully commit their company to compliance. They must stay informed of changes to the export control regulations, follow other laws applicable to their international operations, and adjust each compliance step as needed. While this may all seem very complex, the eight steps described in this article present an organized approach to export controls that can minimize risks and help keep a company’s foreign markets open.

THE EIGHT STEPS TO COMPLIANCE

ONE	Learn the Rules
TWO	Determine Jurisdiction and Classification
THREE	Register as Required
FOUR	Screen Each Transaction
FIVE	Obtain All Necessary Authorizations
SIX	Make and Keep Records and Reports
SEVEN	Implement a Written Compliance Program
EIGHT	Monitor Compliance

The complete article can be found on Global TradeNet.

Upcoming Trade Events in Austin and elsewhere

This event list is edited and compiled by Karen Parker at our local Austin Export Assistance Center.  Additional information about the U.S. Department of Commerce,  Export Assistance Center  can be found at http://export.gov/.  The local Austin Center can be found at:  http://export.gov/texas/austin/.

NOTE - Click on blue title to link to more details and registration info.

Local to Austin:

Sept. 21, Introduction to Imports, International Trade Education Series Workshop.  9:00 AM–11:30 AM.  If you are interested in learning how to import your goods to the U.S., this seminar is geared to assist you.  Topics examined in this “Introduction to Imports” seminar will include selecting qualified suppliers, transportation, logistics and much more.  30 seats available.  Registration: $35.

Oct. 19, Introduction to Exports  International Trade Education Series Workshop. 9:00 AM–11:30 AM. If you are a manufacturer, service provider, entrepreneur or small business owner interested in exporting products or services, let us help you explore your export potential.  This seminar will take the unknowns out of international trade.  We will help you discover whether your company is export ready. Topics examined in this “Introduction to Exports” seminar will include resources available to help you go global, identifying the advantages of exporting your products or services abroad, and much more.  30 seats available.  Registration: $35  

*Oct. 22 to Dec.10, 2011, CGBP Certificated Global Business Professional (CGBP) Exam Prep Course, Saturday’s 9:15 am–3:00 pm.  The International Business Institute at ACC is offering a course designed to help prepare students and business professionals to take the CGBP Exam.  The NASBITE CGBP certification provides a benchmark for competency in global commerce.  The CGBP designation demonstrates an individual’s ability to conduct global business. Topics include: Global Business Management, Global Marketing, Supply Chain Management, and Trade Finance.  Registration is currently open and ends October 12, 2011. For more information on this class or the exam email ibi@austincc.edu, call 512–223–0390

*Nov. 16, Small Business Global Export Access Forum, AM session on Export Finance and PM session on Export Readiness and Resources. Save the date, more details coming soon.

*Nov 29 and 30,  BIS Complying with Export Controls. Save the date, more details coming soon.

in Texas:

*August  11, 2011, Maquila Supplier Day Program, El Paso, TX.   8:30 am The El Paso Economic Development Department will conduct the next Supplier Day on in the La Placita meeting room at the El Paso Airport.  Two Maquiladoras will be taking brief meetings with USA suppliers at the event.  Please contact Mayra de la Canal at the El Paso Economic Development Department to reserve a meeting time – delacanalmx@elpasotexas.gov

*Sept- Dec.  2011, Numerous International seminars, Dallas, Texas. Host by the SBDC International Trade Center

*Oct 12 & 13, AES Compliance Seminar and AES PClink Training by Census Bureau, Dallas, TX.  How well do you know the Foreign Trade Regulations (FTR) and the Automated Export System (AES)? Are you up to date on recent clarifications? Do you understand how to classify your commodities? It is imperative that you understand the new requirements of the FTR so you can avoid possible penalties and seizure of your commodities. Attending this educational seminar and workshop will provide you with the information to assist you with the exporting process.  Seminar Cost:  $275 for seminar and $60 for training.

Oct. 27-28,  US-MEXICO BORDER ENERGY FORUM XVIII, El Paso, Texas. The annual U.S.-Mexico Border Energy Forum brings together private sector and government leaders from all 10 border states, Mexico City, and Washington, D.C. This year the Forum starts Wednesday, October 26, in partnership with Re-Energize the Americas.

Oct 27-28, 4th Reenenergize The Americas Conference, El Paso, Texas.

Elsewhere in the US:

*Sept.  7-8, 2011, Arizona Export Compliance Summit, Scottsdale, Arizona.  This hands-on, application-focused two-day event will review and update of the compliance challenges facing technology exporters, manufacturers, brokers, freight forwarders and academic institutions of all sizes.  Insightful speakers will review a wide range of issues facing trade compliance executives, empowered officials and practitioners at all levels including: automation in trade compliance; best practices; export control reform; merger and acquisition due diligence; enforcement, disclosures and investigations; real world case studies, lessons learned from industry peers; and more.  Cost:  $495

Nov. 2–5,  National District Export Council Conference: Exporting Creates Jobs. Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV.  This event will focus on how to enable attendees and exhibitors to increase their exporting initiatives.  An education track includes Export University certificate program, an International Pavilion Exhibition Hall, U.S. Commerce staff from around the world and Consuls General from more than 30 countries.  This conference and trade show is solely dedicated to exporting U.S. goods and services and exchanging best practices with attendees.

International Events:

August 21– 27, TRADE MISSION: Lima, Peru and Santiago, Chile.  This Business Development Trade Mission will assist you company by providing matchmaking opportunities in both locations, networking events and site visits. Registration deadline: June 15. Cost: SME $3,500, large companies $4,200.  Participants cover other costs for travel, lodging, meals, etc.

Sept. 19-23, EXECUTIVE-LED MISSION TO SOUTH AFRICA, Johannesburg & Cape Town.  Representing one of the largest economies and most diversified industrial and service sectors, South Africa, provides major opportunities for U.S. suppliers Targeted Sectors will include: sustainable and efficient energy technologies (equipment and products), productivity enhancing agricultural technologies, and equipments, and educational services and skills development.. Cost: SME $2,125, large companies $2,565. Registration deadline: July 18. Participants cover other costs for travel, lodging, meals, etc.

Through an Intern’s Eyes - See how to apply for Internships

Through an Intern’s Eyes  (Reprinted from Tradeology, the ITA blog) tradegov | August 8, 2011 at 3:08 pm |

Carrie Bevis is an intern in the International Trade Administration’s Office of Public Affairs. She is a second-year student at the University of Virginia.


Initially, waking up at dawn every morning during my first summer vacation from college to metro across the city for an unpaid job hardly sounded appealing. Though, I soon discovered that the excitement of being an ITA intern (and an occasional cup of coffee) were enough to make me jump out of bed every day to arrive early. As an intern in the Office of Public Affairs at ITA, I’ve been exposed to a myriad of experiences, faces, and assignments. Apart from a nifty name-badge and a soon-to-be framed photo of the departing Secretary Gary Locke and me, the ITA intern network gave me hands-on experience in the behind-the-scenes work, while I loaned an extra hand to the hard-working employees.

Commerce Secretary Locke with ITA OPA intern Carrie Bevis June 2011. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Commerce

I spent the first couple weeks of my internship taking on simple tasks for the friendly folks in my office. By the third week, my colleagues started to trust me enough to give me bigger and better assignments. I soon became engrossed in the work as I took on projects that allowed me to interview other offices, visit related agencies, and write blogs about my experiences - much like this one.

Despite being tucked away in an office all day, I’ve never felt more connected to world. The staff was always current in the world’s events and interacted with people from across the globe on a daily basis. David Lee, the volunteer leader of the ITA intern network, was responsible for exposing us interns to the fabulous personalities at work here. Thanks to the network, I’ve met the Deputy Under Secretary Michele O’ Neill and had chances to break away from my desk by volunteering at the gorgeous Ronald Reagan Building for trade events. From the other side of the world, to just across the hall, the interactions with ITA employees always left me with a sense of a greater mission that even my small efforts contributed to.

Most of all, my time spent here was enlightening. In macroeconomics class, we learn that voluntary trade helps both sides. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. Working in the Office of Public Affairs, I’ve taken calls from reporters and constituents, sifted through months-worth of trade-related articles, listened to senior staff prep for testimony, and sat through FTA mark-ups on the Hill. On the world stage, you deal with egos the size of countries, literally. So naturally the work of ITA employees is fraught with battles that they intend to win for the U.S. But if anybody can tactfully navigate the issues that arise while effectively serving U.S. interests, I believe it is the ITA employees.
They’ve all shared their frank experiences with me. I’ve spoken with the Secretary upstairs and I’ve chatted with the commercial service officer in Montana. I interviewed trade specialists in theOffice of Textiles and Apparel and e-mailed with members of the Office of Travel & Tourism Industries. I’ve called the commercial service officers in Pennsylvania, received advice from the deputy under secretary, even traveled with other interns. Absolutely everyone I talked to was enthusiastic and devoted to the work they do for ITA and gave testimony to the rewarding nature of the job.

Fuzzy feelings aside, these people mean business and they’re after results that will benefit the American people. The Department of Commerce is on target to achieve President Obama’s National Export Initiative (NEI) to double U.S. exports by 2015. Murmurs of NEI practically echo down the hallways of the ITA headquarters as employees work to increase American exports by ensuring fair trade, increasing U.S. companies’ competitiveness, and helping companies navigate foreign markets. As ITA helps U.S. businesses tap the 95 percent of consumers outside our borders, they’re opening up new and better job opportunities for the 9 percent of unemployed Americans at home.

If you’re interested in the incredible opportunity that I had, you can apply to intern at the Department of Commerce by visiting http://www.commerce.gov/node/12814 . I’m proof that you don’t have to have connections to land a government internship. All you need is enthusiasm, persistence, and a will to help the American people.  Working from within the office of Public Affairs, I feel like I’ve seen it all first-hand. My eyes have grown wide in surprise at the happening on the Hill, narrowed as I combed through a world’s worth of articles, and focused on whomever exciting new government figure I happened to meet.  But on my last day, I never expected them to get slightly bleary as I hugged my colleagues goodbye.

For previous blogs, you can subscribe directly at:    http://blog.trade.gov/

CBP Now Hiring CBP Officers, Border Patrol Agents for Southwest Border

CBP Now Hiring CBP Officers, Border Patrol Agents for Southwest Border        (Monday, August 01, 2011)



Washington – U.S. Customs and Border Protection is looking for hard-working, dedicated men and women to join its ranks on the frontline of protecting our homeland. CBP officers and Border Patrol agents carry out CBP’s dual mission to facilitate travel and trade while securing the nation from those that would do us harm like terrorists and terrorist weapons, criminals, and contraband.

CBP is currently hiring CBP officers to work at ports of entry and Border Patrol agents to work between the ports on the southwest border. These two diverse but congruent functions make up more than 40,000 of the close to 60,000 CBP employees.

The primary responsibility of a CBP officer is to protect the nation by detecting and preventing terrorist and their weapons from entering the U.S. while facilitating the orderly flow of legitimate trade and travelers. CBP officers perform the full range of inspection, passenger and cargo analysis, examination and law enforcement activities relating to revenue and trade, seizure of contraband, interdiction of agricultural pests and diseases and admissibility of persons at 331 ports of entry located at airports, sea ports and land borders.

The primary mission of Border Patrol agents is also to prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States but do so, between official ports of entry. Agents are also responsible for detecting and preventing the smuggling and unlawful entry of undocumented aliens into the United States. To carry out their duties, Border Patrol agents conduct roving patrols, line-watch duties, transportation checks and other law enforcement activities.

Both the CBP officer position and the Border Patrol agent position are full-time, uniformed positions that require both regular qualification and carrying of a firearm and include paid training at either the CBP Field Operations Academy in Brunswick, Ga., for CBP officers, or the Border Patrol Academy in Artesia, N.M. Applicants for either position must be a U.S. citizen and resident for the last three years, have a valid driver’s license and pass a medical examination, fitness tests, and drug test as well as a thorough background investigation with a high probability of being subject to a polygraph examination used to determine suitability for the position.

Applications must be filled out online and testing is available in various locations nationwide. Apply now for the ( CBP Officer ) position or the ( Border Patrol agent ) position. Additional information about the job opportunities is available on the CBP website. ( CBP Officer ) ( Border Patrol Agent )

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Announcing SBA’s NEI Export Video Contest

My U.S. Export Story – Finding Customers around the World
Announcing SBA’s NEI Export Video Contest

SBA is teaming up with Visa to ask small business owners: “Where will your next customer come from?” In order to recognize successful small exporters and increase awareness toward federal assistance for exporters, we’re sponsoring the SBA Export Video Contest. The contest, presented in partnership with the National Export Initiative and Export.gov, will award monetary prizes to five successful small business exporters representing a variety of industries.

American small businesses looking to expand are going global. There are a number of advantages to exporting: reaching new customers, increasing sales and profits, and becoming less dependent on domestic demand, to name several. In fact, over two-thirds of the world’s purchasing power is based outside the U.S., where the vast majority of consumers reside. The U.S. government stands ready to help your small business get started in exporting, with an array of programs, tools and resources.

We want to hear your exporting story in a short, original video submitted to YouTube. U.S. small businesses that have completed at least one successful exporting transaction are eligible.*

Winners will receive cash prizes, an expenses-paid trip to be honored at the National District Export Council Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada from November 2-5, 2011, and $1,000 towards a Commerce Department Gold Key service, or various other trade-related events.

To Enter:
1) Create one original video 3 minutes or less in high-definition format. Contest participants must end their video with the following words: "That's my exporting story. Where will your next customer come from?", along with a referral towww.export.gov for assistance. This referral can be spoken, written, embedded or delivered in any appropriate way deemed effective by the submitter.

2) All videos must have a unique title or they will not be judged. i.e., not "My Export Story."

3) Upload your video to your own YouTube account. In the description, indicate one of the following 5 categories for your video: manufacturing; consumer products; professional services; technology; agribusiness.

4) While viewing the SBA Exporting Contest Video, click the comment box and then click on "Create a Video Response" and enter the URL of your video entry.

Videos may be uploaded starting Aug. 1, 2011. Entries must be received by Sept. 3.  

*See full contest rules and regulations at http://www.sba.gov/exportvideocontest . 
Additional resources for exporting:
SBA Guide to Exporting and Importing
SBA’s Export Business Planner Tool
Export.gov

Co-sponsorship Authorization #11-7080-11SBA

SBA’s participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and service are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis.