tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73490003403570476642024-02-22T10:07:39.946-06:00Globalization & Trade BlogCommentary on globalization, international business and its impact on market societies.Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-42281223912128369062013-05-10T10:03:00.003-05:002013-05-10T10:03:59.668-05:00May is world trade month!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>From the Department of Commerce - Austin Export Assistance Center</b>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">May is World Trade Month! This is an occasion to recognize the past year’s successes while looking ahead to new ways to expand exports and build a stronger economy. It’s a month for us to recognize what we know all year long: that exports are a key to our long-term economic health.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">To celebrate World Trade Month, export, trade and finance related agencies across the federal government are teaming up to host a series of Twitter Q&A’s for U.S. companies. Businesses can participate by tweeting their questions using the hashtag #TradeChat during the scheduled times.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />This Twitter chat series will provide U.S. companies with exporting solutions, including information on the resources available to begin or expand exporting goods and services to overseas markets. The Twitter chats will also provide an opportunity for firms to ask questions and connect directly with the U.S. government agencies that support President Obama’s National Export Initiative (NEI) and <a href="http://businessusa.gov/" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="link" x-apple-data-detectors="true">BusinessUSA.gov</a> – a new one-stop resource for small businesses and exporters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.234375); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.234375); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.300781); -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Visit site for schedule and topics: <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTMwNTA4LjE4NTU2ODMxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDEzMDUwOC4xODU1NjgzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NTU2MTczJmVtYWlsaWQ9a2FyZW4ucGFya2VyQG1haWwuZG9jLmdvdiZ1c2VyaWQ9a2FyZW4ucGFya2VyQG1haWwuZG9jLmdvdiZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&100&&&http://1.usa.gov/16e4Q1I">http://1.usa.gov/16e4Q1I</a></span></span></div>
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Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-37212969303104964172011-10-11T14:37:00.000-05:002011-10-11T14:37:54.484-05:00U.S. Exports Rise to Record as Trade Deficit Shrinks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">U.S. Exports Rise to Record as Trade Deficit Shrinks<br />
The New York Times<br />
<br />
Amidst a gloomy economic climate, exports are standing out as a bright spot in the American economy. The Department of Commerce recently reported that exports reached a record-breaking $178 billion in July, helping the United States to shrink its trade deficit by 13.1%, according to the <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7582778493/207339092/225620224/1364524/goto:http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/09/business/economy/us-exports-rise-to-record-as-trade-deficit-shrinks.html?ref=internationaltradeandworldmarket">New York Times</a>.<br />
<br />
For our part, the Austin-Round Rock exported nearly <a href="http://e2ma.net/go/7582778493/207339092/225620225/1364524/goto:http://tse.export.gov/METRO/ChartDisplay.aspx">$4 billion of goods</a> in the first half of 2010 (the most recent period for which data is available). Our region's primary global markets are Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico, China, Japan, Malaysia, and Canada. <br />
</div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-9253307591284562732011-09-21T15:48:00.002-05:002011-09-21T15:48:39.547-05:00Florida to Spend $2 Million for International Trade Job Training<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"><a href="" name="13282421b6667498_6.7" style="color: #147dba;">Florida to Spend $2 Million for International Trade Job Training </a></span><br />
<br />
Workforce Florida, a statewide board of government and business leaders, will put $2 million towards training and career education initiatives to boost employment in the state's ports, and air cargo and international trade sectors.<br />
<br />
The University of North Florida and the Jacksonville-based infrastructure consulting engineering firm Reynolds, Smith and Hills are among the recipients of the program's funds.<br />
<br />
<i>Source: WorkforceFlorida.com</i> </span></div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-59793175249938806182011-09-21T15:46:00.000-05:002011-09-21T15:46:55.401-05:00Futurist predicts unbelievable changes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<h1 class="articleTitle" id="articleTitle" style="font: normal normal bold 22px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #043a5e; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Try to imagine a world where there are no post offices, banks, cash, credit cards, newspapers, marriage, air travel--even no shoplifting. This is the world that awaits us, according to futurist Bob Louden of </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Saratoga</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">. Indeed, indications of its arrival are already here. It's the wireless world, and it's not far away.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #043a5e; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #043a5e; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">For starters, we will be able to talk to anyone in the world, and the words will be translated as they are uttered. By then iPad technology will be all over the world and business will be conducted without having to travel. Since manufacturing will be computerized, eliminating labor, only 10 percent of the population will have to be employed, the most intelligent 10 percent, he calls it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #043a5e; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #043a5e; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">The rest will be doing the business of humanity, whatever that is in 20 or 30 years. And living on some form of unemployment compensation dispensed by the government from funds that once went to labor costs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #043a5e; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Of course, Louden can't look into the future any more than the rest of us can, but he does have a firm grip on the evolution of computers--what they can do and what they're going to be able to do. He was there on the ground floor with </span><st1:stockticker><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">IBM</span></st1:stockticker><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> and other ground-breaking companies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #043a5e; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #043a5e; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Here's the scenario he envisions: When you enter a grocery store in the near future your profile will be encoded at the entry, and you won't get in if your profile doesn't show the ability to pay. Hence, no shoplifting—and self-check out, of course. Aboard any public transit you will indicate your destination on the map, and the computer at the stop will know what language to use for the instructions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #043a5e; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #043a5e; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Everyone will have access to public domain knowledge. E-books will have audio of famous speeches, video inserts, even motion and vibration inserts. Computers will be as big as a ring; iPhones will be used as credit cards are today. TVs will be 3D, even in five years. Electric cars will be charged in garages and on the highway.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #043a5e; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Many of these transformations will occur in the next decade, since we'll have universal wireless power in 10 years, Louden predicts. Deciphering the human genome will be automatic and part of each person's profile when you step into the doctor's office.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #043a5e; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #043a5e; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">With women, mainly educated women, marrying later or not at all, birth rate and intelligence will both decline. Educate women and we'll have fewer and fewer children--could be a model for </span><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">Third World</span></st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"> countries. Most people in the Middle Ages didn't know who their father was. The same may soon be true for us, what with longer spans of sexual activity: female puberty comes earlier these days and marriage later.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #043a5e; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #043a5e; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">In 30 years our lives will be unbelievably changed, Louden says. Sounds like an understatement.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #043a5e; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"><br />
</div></h1></div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-1693800500330175592011-09-21T15:44:00.002-05:002013-05-08T11:35:35.430-05:00UPS Customs Brokerage Can help with Your Customs Filings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7349000340357047664" name="13282421b6667498_6.2" style="color: #147dba;">UPS Customs Brokerage Can Dot the "i"s and Cross the "t"s on Your Customs Filings </a></span><br />
<br />
As a shipper, you know how essential it is to be compliant for your importations and exportations, and how complex and intimidating the process can be for each and every shipment. As the world's largest customs broker, UPS Customs Brokerage prides itself on handling each entry individually, and leverages its knowledge of global regulations and compliance to deliver the best service possible.<br />
<br />
UPS has brokerage operations in more than 60 countries, with the capability to clear shipments in more than 120 countries. This scale of operations is particularly beneficial to customers with export needs in addition to import needs, whether it pertains to customs clearance, consulting, trade management, or a combination of these services.<br />
<br />
The expertise of UPS Customs Brokerage extends to its active participation as advisor and subject matter expert to US Customs as well as a number of regional and trade authorities around the world, including the European Customs Union and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Asia. This involvement in the global customs arena translates into current, in-depth knowledge that benefits UPS Customs Brokerage customers with every single filing, everywhere.<br />
<br />
UPS focuses on compliance on behalf of its customers so that they can ship with confidence and stay focused on growing their business. Call <a href="tel:1-888-253-2748" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank" value="+18882532748">1-888-253-2748</a> for more information on how UPS Customs Brokerage can help with your international shipments.<br />
<br />
<i>Source: UPS</i></span></div>
Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-43612883784518649862011-09-11T18:01:00.003-05:002011-09-11T20:18:16.057-05:00Remembering 9/11<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
Today I am reflecting on 9/11/2001 and those that lost their lives. I am also thinking of those throughout the world that extended to the US, their commiserations.</div><br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/BzmBfAV6lmcsztCllEmA_P7O6NUeQ66MHnXkomFGQOPKKFB2ZGWF9i_1Sgw6MA8JujsgjrNZ0jdj6k13ZzwxsQZjqlmeEsgumJU=s512" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Item Thumbnail" border="0" height="140" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/BzmBfAV6lmcsztCllEmA_P7O6NUeQ66MHnXkomFGQOPKKFB2ZGWF9i_1Sgw6MA8JujsgjrNZ0jdj6k13ZzwxsQZjqlmeEsgumJU=s512" width="320" /></a>I was in London that fateful day in my offices next to the London Stock Exchange. It was mid-afternoon when the TV monitors interrupted our market feeds with the images of the 1st tower in flames. A plane they say hit it. I was the only American in the office that day but we all stared in disbelief as the tower burned. Then the second plane hit the second tower - and we immediately knew it was not any accident.<br />
<br />
Almost simultaneously, sirens in London went off and they began closing down the stock exchange, locked down Canary Wharf, and London police were erecting barricades everywhere. The Londoner's feared that they were to be imminently hit as well.<br />
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As I stared at the monitors, fellow workers came up to me expressing their sorrow as well. I was stunned. My daughter Heather was in one of those towers 3 months before undergoing training at Morgan Stanley. And I found out much later that she was actually on the phone with some of her brokers in that tower when the first plane hit.<br />
<br />
That evening Londoners began dropping off flowers in front of the US Embassy. So many bouquets were left there that they filled the street and created a traffic jam. A Scotsman showed up and began playing the bagpipes. The next morning, they moved the flowers to a small park across from the US Embassy in from of a statue of Franklin Roosevelt. Crowds formed lines that were several blocks long waiting for an opportunity to lay some flowers in front of that statue. Waiting in line myself, no one was talking, we were just moving slowing to the entrance of the park. They had set up some tents to allow visitors so sign a book of commiseration for those who lost their lives.<br />
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I was amazed at the many nationalities and ethnic groups that were in line. I saw Indian Sikhs, some Arabs, Pakistani, German, Irish, Scots, and a few Japanese in line. All had similar expressions and most were carrying flowers, handmade signs, cards, and other items to leave at the statue.<br />
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Phone lines to the US were jammed. my return flight was cancelled and I had to stay in the UK for another 10 days before I could get a flight back home. One never feels so isolated as one does when a disaster strikes at home and you can't call loved ones.<br />
<br />
That Saturday, the Queen attended a special mass that was held at St. Paul's Cathedral. Again, thousands showed up; I heard mass from the street that morning. Below are some of the pictures I took of the events.<br />
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Link to the pictures:<br />
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/3wudxwt">http://tinyurl.com/3wudxwt</a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7_2X29WLiWRMGU0YzVlN2MtZjI5Zi00MWI5LWIzNjAtMzdkMmRiMDMyNTM2&hl=en_US"></a></div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-36499826840255994552011-09-01T10:06:00.000-05:002013-05-10T10:11:38.109-05:00Not Everything is "Made in China"According to FRBSS and calculations by the authors, Galina Hale and Bart Hobijn,<br />
(with data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics,<br />
Census Bureau, and National Accounts Data), goods and services from China accounted for only 2.7% of U.S. personal consumption expenditures in 2010, of which less than half reflected the actual costs of Chinese imports.<br />
<br />
The rest went to U.S. businesses and workers transporting, selling, and marketing goods carrying the "Made in China" label.<br />
<br />
Although globalization is widely recognized these days, the U.S. economy actually remains relatively closed, says the report. The vast majority of goods and services sold in the United States is produced here. In 2010, imports were about 16% of U.S. GDP. Imports from China amounted to 2.5% of GDP.<br />
<br />
Analysis from several sources addressed the following considerations:<br />
<ul>
<li>The fraction of U.S. consumer spending that goes for goods labeled "Made in China" and the fraction that is spent on goods "Made in the USA"</li>
<li>The part of the cost of goods "Made in China" is actually due to the cost of these imports and the part of U.S. consumer spending that can be traced to the cost of goods imported from China, taking into account not only goods sold directly to consumers, but also goods used as inputs in intermediate stages of production in the United States.</li>
</ul>
Although globalization is widely recognized these days, the U.S. economy actually remains relatively closed. The vast majority of goods and services sold in the United States is produced here. In 2010, imports were about 16% of U.S. GDP. Imports from China amounted to 2.5% of GDP.<br />
<br />
The table shows calculations of the import content of U.S. household consumption of goods and services. A total of 88.5% of U.S. consumer spending is on items made in the United States. This is largely because services, which make up about two-thirds of spending, are mainly produced locally. The market share of foreign goods is highest in durables, which include cars and electronics. Two-thirds of U.S. durables consumption goes for goods labeled "Made in the USA," while the other third goes for goods made abroad.<br />
<br />
Chinese goods account for 2.7% of U.S. PCE, about one-quarter of the 11.5% foreign share. Chinese imported goods consist mainly of furniture and household equipment; other durables; and clothing and shoes. In the clothing and shoes category, 35.6% of U.S. consumer purchases in 2010 was of items with the "Made in China" label.<br />
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<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: left; width: 473px;"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="8" style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="473"><strong>Import Content of US Personal Consumption Expenditures</strong> (% of Expenditure share)</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="4" style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="252"></td><td colspan="4" style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="222"><div align="center">
<strong><em>Import Content</em></strong></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="167"></td><td colspan="2" style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="84"><strong><em>Share Spent On</em></strong></td><td colspan="2" style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="center">
<strong><em>Directly Sold to Final Demand</em></strong></div>
</td><td colspan="2" style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="126"><div align="center">
<strong><em>Total</em></strong></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="89"><strong><em>Category</em></strong></td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="79"><strong><em>Expenditure Share</em></strong></td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="41"><strong><em>Made in USA</em></strong></td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="44"><strong><em>Made in China</em></strong></td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><strong><em>Total</em></strong></td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="57"><strong><em>Chinese Goods</em></strong></td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><strong><em>Total</em></strong></td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="87"><strong><em>Chinese Goods</em></strong></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"><strong>Total</strong></td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div align="right">
100%</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="41"><div align="right">
88.5</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="44"><div align="right">
2.7</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
7.3</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div align="right">
1.2</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
13.9</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="right">
1.9</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"> Less food and energy</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div align="right">
86.1</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="41"><div align="right">
88.0</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="44"><div align="right">
3.1</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
7.7</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div align="right">
1.4</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
13.0</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="right">
2.0</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"><strong>Durables</strong></td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div align="right">
9.9</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="41"><div align="right">
66.6</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="44"><div align="right">
12.0</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
18.7</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div align="right">
6.2</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
26.3</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="right">
7.3</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"> Motor vehicles</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div align="right">
3.4</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="41"><div align="right">
74.9</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="44"><div align="right">
1.2</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
17.5</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div align="right">
0.6</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
27.4</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="right">
1.9</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"> Furniture/HH equip.</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div align="right">
4.7</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="41"><div align="right">
59.6</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="44"><div align="right">
20.0</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
21.4</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div align="right">
10.6</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
27.8</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="right">
11.6</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"> Other durables</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div align="right">
1.8</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="41"><div align="right">
69.0</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="44"><div align="right">
11.8</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
14.2</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div align="right">
5.3</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
20.5</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="right">
6.2</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"><strong>Nondurables</strong></td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div align="right">
23.2</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="41"><div align="right">
76.2</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="44"><div align="right">
6.4</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
12.1</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div align="right">
2.6</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
22.1</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="right">
3.3</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"> Food</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div align="right">
8.0</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="41"><div align="right">
90.8</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="44"><div align="right">
0.4</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
5.2</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div align="right">
0.2</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
13.9</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="right">
1.1</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"> Clothing/shoes</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div align="right">
3.4</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="41"><div align="right">
24.9</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="44"><div align="right">
35.6</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
29.5</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div align="right">
13.8</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
33.6</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="right">
14.7</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"> Gasoline/other energy goods</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div align="right">
3.6</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="41"><div align="right">
88.4</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="44"><div align="right">
0.1</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
7.4</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div align="right">
0.0</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
34.1</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="right">
0.5</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"> Other nondurables</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="79"><div align="right">
8.4</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="41"><div align="right">
77.7</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="44"><div align="right">
3.1</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
13.8</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="57"><div align="right">
1.4</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="39"><div align="right">
20.1</div>
</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="87"><div align="right">
2.0</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="8" style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top" width="473"><em>Source: Author calculations based on Bureau of Labor Statistics, Trade Statistics, Census Bureus and National Accounts Data, August 2011</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The authors explain that if a pair of sneakers made in China costs $70 in the United States, not all of that retail price goes to the Chinese manufacturer. In fact, the bulk of the retail price pays for transportation of the sneakers in the United States, rent for the store where they are sold, profits for shareholders of the U.S. retailer, and the cost of marketing the sneakers. These costs include the salaries, wages, and benefits paid to the U.S. workers and managers who staff these operations.<br />
<br />
The table shows that, of the 11.5% of U.S. consumer spending that goes for goods and services produced abroad, 7.3% reflects the cost of imports. The remaining 4.2% goes for U.S. transportation, wholesale, and retail activities. Thus, 36% of the price U.S. consumers pay for imported goods actually goes to U.S. companies and workers.<br />
<br />
This U.S. fraction is much higher for imports from China, says the report. Whereas goods labeled "Made in China" make up 2.7% of U.S. consumer spending, only 1.2% actually reflects the cost of the imported goods. Thus, on average, of every dollar spent on an item labeled "Made in China," 55 cents go for services produced in the United States. In other words, the U.S. content of "Made in China" is about 55%.<br />
When total import content is considered, 13.9% of U.S. consumer spending can be traced to the cost of imported goods and services. This is substantially higher than the 7.3%, which includes only final imported goods and services and leaves out imported intermediates. Imported oil, which makes up a large part of the production costs of the "gasoline, fuel oil, and other energy goods" and "transportation" categories, is the main contributor to this 6.6 percentage point difference.<br />
<br />
China's 2011 inflation rate is close to 5%. If Chinese exporters were to pass through all their domestic inflation to the prices of goods they sell in the United States, the PCE price index (PCEPI) would only increase by 1.9% of this 5%, reflecting the Chinese share of U.S. consumer goods and services. That would equal a 0.1 percentage point increase in the PCEPI. The inflationary effects would be highest in the industries in which the share of Chinese imports is highest-clothing and shoes, and electronics. In fact, recent data show accelerating price increases for these goods compared with other goods.<br />
<br />
However, it does not seem that so far Chinese exporters are fully passing through their domestic inflation. In May 2011, prices of Chinese imports only increased 2.8% from May 2010. This is partly because a large share of Chinese production costs consists of imports from other countries.<br />
<br />
Xing and Detert (2010) demonstrate this by examining the production costs of an iPhone. In 2009, it cost about $179 in China to produce an iPhone, which sold in the United States for about $500. Thus, $179 of the U.S. retail cost consisted of Chinese imported content. However, only $6.50 was actually due to assembly costs in China. The other $172.50 reflected costs of parts produced in other countries, including $10.75 for parts made in the United States.<br />
<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"><strong>Make Up of Personal Consumption Expenditures</strong></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"><strong><em>Source</em></strong></td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"><strong><em>% of Total</em></strong></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top">Made in U.S. from US parts</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"><div align="right">
81.9%</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top">Made in U.S. from parts imported from other countries</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"><div align="right">
5.9</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top">Made in U.S. from parts imported from China</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"><div align="right">
0.7</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top">Final goods imported from other countries</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"><div align="right">
6.1</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top">Final goods imported from China</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"><div align="right">
1.2</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top">U.S. content of "Made In" other countries</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"><div align="right">
2.7</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top">U.S. content of "Made In China"</td><td style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"><div align="right">
1.5</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" style="font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;" valign="top"><em>Source: Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census Bureau, and authors' calculations</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Of the 2.7% of U.S. consumer purchases going to goods labeled "Made in China," only 1.2% actually represents China-produced content. If we take into account imported intermediate goods, about 13.9% of U.S. consumer spending is attributable to imports, including 1.9% imported from China, concludes the report.<br />
<br />
For the complete report and findings, go to :<br />
<a href="http://www.frbsf.org/publications/economics/letter/2011/el2011-25.html">http://www.frbsf.org/publications/economics/letter/2011/el2011-25.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-17111670259940761742011-08-30T10:10:00.000-05:002011-08-30T10:10:39.703-05:00Did You Know that ITA has New Import Trends and Data?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">From the International Trade Administration.</span></b><br />
<small style="color: #333333; display: block;">August 16, 2011</small><small style="color: #333333; display: block;"><br />
</small></span><br />
<div class="entry" style="color: #333333;"><em>Natalie Soroka is an economist in the <a href="http://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/otii/index.asp" style="color: #1c80c5; text-decoration: none;">Office of Trade and Industry Information</a> within the <a href="http://trade.gov/" style="color: #1c80c5; text-decoration: none;">International Trade Administration</a>. She focuses on international trade statistics and trends, as well as the impact on the domestic manufacturing sector.</em><br />
<em><br />
</em></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">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 <a href="http://tse.export.gov/stateimports" style="color: #1c80c5; text-decoration: none;">TradeStats Express platform</a>. Similar to the <a href="http://tse.export.gov/" style="color: #1c80c5; text-decoration: none;">state export series</a>, 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).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><div class="entry" style="color: #333333;"><br />
<div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_1305" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center; width: 310px;"><a href="http://tradegov.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/oilgasimports.jpg" style="color: #1c80c5; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Bar graph showing state imports of oil and gas as a percentage of total state goods imports. MT, LA, HI, WY, MS, TX, PA, WA, CO, IL, MN, OK and KS are above the national average of 14.6 percent. " class="size-medium wp-image-1305" height="188" src="http://tradegov.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/oilgasimports.jpg?w=300&h=188" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="OilGasImports" width="300" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 0px;">State reliance on imports of oil and gas as a percentage of total state goods imports</div></div>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.<br />
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.<br />
<div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_1306" style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-left-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: left; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center; width: 266px;"><a href="http://tradegov.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/importers.jpg" style="color: #1c80c5; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="In 2009, 100,891 companies only imported, 196,903 companies only exported, and 78,940 copanies imported and exported. " class="size-medium wp-image-1306" height="204" src="http://tradegov.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/importers.jpg?w=256&h=204" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="2009 Number of Identified Companeis that Only Export, Only Import, or do Both" width="256" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 0px;">Twenty percent of companies engaged in trade both import and export.</div></div>In addition to the state import series, this past April the Census Bureau also started to release data on <a href="http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/edb/2009/" style="color: #1c80c5; text-decoration: none;">U.S. importing companies</a>. 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.<br />
For more information on state import trends and U.S. importers, check out <a href="http://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/tradestatistics/index.asp" style="color: #1c80c5; text-decoration: none;">ITA’s Trade Statistics webpage</a>.<br />
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</div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-82347398682655796572011-08-30T10:05:00.000-05:002011-08-30T10:05:37.336-05:00Haiti Energizes their Textile Industry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
From <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: whitesmoke; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<table style="width: 788px;"></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #999999; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><strong><a href="http://blog.trade.gov/author/tradegov/" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">tradegov</a></strong> | August 25, 2011 at 4:31 pm | Tags: <a href="http://blog.trade.gov/?tag=haiti" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Haiti</a>, <a href="http://blog.trade.gov/?tag=magic" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">MAGIC</a>, <a href="http://blog.trade.gov/?tag=trade-preferences" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">trade preferences</a> | Categories: <a href="http://blog.trade.gov/?cat=17010" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Supply Chain</a>, <a href="http://blog.trade.gov/?cat=32893" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Textiles</a>, <a href="http://blog.trade.gov/?cat=29772045" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Trade Shows and Trade Events</a> | URL: <a href="http://wp.me/pF6la-lE" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://wp.me/pF6la-lE</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: whitesmoke; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><table style="width: 788px;"><tbody>
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<em>Amelia Baines is an intern in the Office of Public Affairs in the International Trade Administration</em><br />
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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.<a href="http://tradegov.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/haiti2.jpg" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"></a><br />
<div style="clear: both;"></div><a href="http://tradegov.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/haiti2.jpg" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="Map of Haiti" border="0" src="http://tradegov.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/haiti2.jpg?w=288&h=300#038;h=300" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: right; margin-left: 1em; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" title="Haiti" width="288" /></a><br />
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.<br />
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 <a href="http://www.economywatch.com/world_economy/haiti/export-import.html" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Dominican Republic</a> and 3 percent to Canada. The vast majority of Haitian apparel is exported to the United States, the world’s largest apparel market.<br />
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<a href="http://wp.me/pF6la-lE">More</a><br />
</div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-30311666166907405702011-08-20T18:40:00.000-05:002011-08-20T18:40:23.638-05:00Texas LEAD Conference Friday, August 26, 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #ff6600; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><strong>ARE YOUR PERSONAL BRAND, YOUR SKILLS, AND YOUR EXPERIENCE STILL RELEVANT?</strong></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">The 9th annual Texas LEAD (Leadership, Education, And Diversity) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">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).<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">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.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: x-small;">There is a student rate of $25.00 for the one-day conference. More details can be found at: </span><a href="http://texaslead2011.eventbrite.com/">http://texaslead2011.eventbrite.com/</a><br />
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Hope to see you there.<a href="javascript:void(0)">Publish Post</a></div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-75607822726421722682011-08-09T10:45:00.000-05:002011-08-09T10:45:14.789-05:008 Steps for Export Compliance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Global Trade Net (www.globaltrade.net) recently published a great article by Matthew Goldstein on how to comply with Export Regulations and controls.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;">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.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">THE EIGHT STEPS TO COMPLIANCE</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"> <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 77.4pt;" valign="top" width="103"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 9.0pt;">ONE</div></td> <td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 211.5pt;" valign="top" width="282"> <div class="MsoNormal">Learn the Rules</div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 77.4pt;" valign="top" width="103"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 9.0pt;">TWO</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 211.5pt;" valign="top" width="282"> <div class="MsoNormal">Determine Jurisdiction and Classification</div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 77.4pt;" valign="top" width="103"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 9.0pt;">THREE</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 211.5pt;" valign="top" width="282"> <div class="MsoNormal">Register as Required</div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 77.4pt;" valign="top" width="103"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 9.0pt;">FOUR</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 211.5pt;" valign="top" width="282"> <div class="MsoNormal">Screen Each Transaction</div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 77.4pt;" valign="top" width="103"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 9.0pt;">FIVE</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 211.5pt;" valign="top" width="282"> <div class="MsoNormal">Obtain All Necessary Authorizations</div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 77.4pt;" valign="top" width="103"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 9.0pt;">SIX</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 211.5pt;" valign="top" width="282"> <div class="MsoNormal">Make and Keep Records and Reports</div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 77.4pt;" valign="top" width="103"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 9.0pt;">SEVEN</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 211.5pt;" valign="top" width="282"> <div class="MsoNormal">Implement a Written Compliance Program</div></td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 77.4pt;" valign="top" width="103"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 9.0pt;">EIGHT</div></td> <td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 211.5pt;" valign="top" width="282"> <div class="MsoNormal">Monitor Compliance</div></td> </tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">The complete article can be found on <a href="http://www.globaltrade.net/f/business/pdf/United-States/Export-Compliance-8-Steps-to-Export-Compliance.html">Global TradeNet</a>.</div></span><br />
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</div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-47212256463067237782011-08-09T10:32:00.002-05:002011-08-09T11:11:17.267-05:00Upcoming Trade Events in Austin and elsewhere<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tms Rmn', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://export.gov/texas/austin/"><img alt="cid:image001.png@01CB71EF.DF66CD90" height="85" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=dc8f1c1cef&view=att&th=131874700daaa48d&attid=0.1&disp=emb&zw" width="400" /></a></span></div></div><div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="color: black;">This event list is edited and compiled by Karen Parker at our local Austin Export Assistance Center. Additional information about the</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">U.S. Department of Commerce,</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"> Export Assistance Center can be found at </span></b></span><a href="http://export.gov/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">http://export.gov/</span></a>. The local Austin Center can be found at: <a href="http://export.gov/texas/austin/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">http://export.gov/texas/austin/</span></a>.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="color: black;">NOTE</span></b><span style="color: black;"> - Click on blue title to link to more details and registration info.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
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<div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><u><span style="color: red;">Local to Austin:<u></u><u></u></span></u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><u><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span></u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="color: black;">Sept. 21, <a href="http://guest.cvent.com/d/3dqbtm">Introduction to Imports</a>, International Trade Education Series Workshop.</span></b><span style="color: black;"> 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.<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="color: black;">Oct. 19, <a href="http://guest.cvent.com/d/mdqbtm" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank">Introduction to Exports </a></span></b><span style="color: black;"> <b>International Trade Education Series Workshop.</b> 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 <u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="color: black;">*Oct. 22 to Dec.10, 2011, <a href="http://www.austincc.edu/intlbus/events.php" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank">CGBP Certificated Global Business Professional (CGBP) Exam Prep Course</a></span></b><span style="color: black;">, 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 <a href="mailto:ibi@austincc.edu" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank">ibi@austincc.edu</a>, call <a href="tel:512%E2%80%93223%E2%80%930390" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank" value="+15122230390">512–223–0390</a><u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="color: black;">*Nov. 16, Small Business Global Export Access Forum</span></b><span style="color: black;">, AM session on Export Finance and PM session on Export Readiness and Resources.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> Save the date, more details coming soon.</span><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="color: black;">*Nov 29 and 30, BIS Complying with Export Controls</span></b><span style="color: black;">. Save the date, more details coming soon.<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><u><span style="color: red;">in Texas:</span></u></b></span><br />
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<div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;">*<b>August 11, 2011, Maquila Supplier Day Program, El Paso, TX.</b> 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 – <a href="mailto:delacanalmx@elpasotexas.gov" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">delacanalmx@elpasotexas.gov</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black;">*Sept- Dec. 2011,</span></b><span style="color: black;"> <b><a href="https://www.iexportimport.com/itcseminars/Default.aspx" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank">Numerous International seminars</a>, Dallas, Texas</b>. Host by the SBDC International Trade Center<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black;">*Oct 12 & 13, <a href="http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/aes/meetingsandpresentations/pres-dallas-102011-flyer.pdf" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank">AES Compliance Seminar and AES PClink Training by Census Bureau</a>, Dallas, TX. </span></b><span style="color: black;">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.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black;">Oct. 27-28, <a href="http://www.borderenergyforum.org/" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank">US-MEXICO BORDER ENERGY FORUM XVIII,</a> El Paso, Texas</span></b><span style="color: black;">. 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.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black;">Oct 27-28, 4th <a href="http://www.reenergizetheamericas.com/" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank">Reenenergize The Americas</a> Conference, El Paso, Texas.</span></b><span style="color: black;"><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><u><span style="color: red;">Elsewhere in the US:</span></u></strong><span style="color: black;"><u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><u><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span></u></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black;">*Sept. 7-8, 2011, <a href="http://www.regonline.com/azexportsummit" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank">Arizona Export Compliance Summit</a>, Scottsdale, Arizona. </span></b><span style="color: black;">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<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: black;">Nov. 2–5, <a href="http://www.decconference.com/" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank">National District Export Council Conference: Exporting Creates Jobs</a>. Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV. </span></b><span style="color: black;">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.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: red;">International Events:</span><u></u><u></u></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>August 21– 27, <a href="mailto:Nyamusi.Igambi@trade.gov" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank">TRADE MISSION: Lima, Peru and Santiago, Chile</a>.</b> 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. <span style="color: black;">Participants cover other costs for travel, lodging, meals, etc.</span><u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Sept. 19-23, <a href="http://www.export.gov/trademissions/southafrica2011/" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank">EXECUTIVE-LED MISSION TO SOUTH AFRICA</a>, Johannesburg & Cape Town.</b> 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. <span style="color: black;">Participants cover other costs for travel, lodging, meals, etc.</span><u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_285105470"></span><span id="goog_285105471"></span></span></div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-60076126329858039702011-08-09T10:21:00.000-05:002011-08-09T10:21:26.037-05:00Through an Intern’s Eyes - See how to apply for Internships<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" valign="top"><h2 style="color: #555555; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://blog.trade.gov/2011/08/08/through-an-intern%e2%80%99s-eyes/" style="color: #0088cc; font-size: 1.6em; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Through an Intern’s Eyes</a></h2><h2 style="color: #555555; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (Reprinted from Tradeology, the ITA blog)</span></h2><div style="color: #999999; font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 4px;"><strong><a href="http://blog.trade.gov/author/tradegov/" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">tradegov</a></strong> | August 8, 2011 at 3:08 pm | </div><div style="color: #999999; font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 4px;"><br />
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<em>Carrie Bevis is an intern in the <a href="http://trade.gov/" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">International Trade Administration’s</a> <a href="http://trade.gov/press/" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Office of Public Affairs</a>. She is a second-year student at the University of Virginia.</em><br />
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Initially, waking up at dawn every morning during my first summer vacation from college to metro across the city for an <em>unpaid</em> 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.<br />
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<div style="clear: both;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center; width: 310px;"><a href="http://tradegov.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/carrie-and-secretary-locke-june-2011.jpg" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="Commerce Secretary Locke with ITA OPA intern Carrie Bevis June 2011" border="0" src="http://tradegov.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/carrie-and-secretary-locke-june-2011.jpg?w=300&h=200#038;h=200" title="Secretary Locke and Carrie Bevis June 2011" width="300" /></a>Commerce Secretary Locke with ITA OPA intern Carrie Bevis June 2011. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Commerce</div>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.<br />
<div>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 <a href="http://trade.gov/press/bios/oneill.asp" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Deputy Under Secretary Michele O’ Neill</a> 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.</div><div><br />
</div>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.<br />
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 the<a href="http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Office of Textiles and Apparel</a> and e-mailed with members of the <a href="http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Office of Travel & Tourism Industries</a>. 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.<br />
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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 <a href="http://trade.gov/nei/" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">President Obama’s National Export Initiative</a> (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.<strong></strong><br />
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If you’re interested in the incredible opportunity that I had, you can apply to intern at the Department of Commerce by visiting <a href="http://www.commerce.gov/node/12814" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.commerce.gov/node/<wbr></wbr>12814</a> . 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.<br />
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For previous blogs, you can subscribe directly at: <a href="http://blog.trade.gov/">http://blog.trade.gov/</a><br />
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</div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-48109337972627449802011-08-04T12:49:00.000-05:002011-08-04T12:49:06.149-05:00CBP Now Hiring CBP Officers, Border Patrol Agents for Southwest Border<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span><a href="" name="skip"><span class="article_title">CBP Now Hiring CBP Officers, Border Patrol Agents for Southwest Border</span><span class="basic_text"> (Monday, August 01, 2011) </span></a></span><br />
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<b>Washington</b> – 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. <br />
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<div class="p"></div><div class="p">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. </div><div class="p"><br />
</div><div class="p"></div><div class="p">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. </div><div class="p"><br />
</div><div class="p"></div><div class="p">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. </div><div class="p"><br />
</div><div class="p"></div><div class="p">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. </div><div class="p"><br />
</div><div class="p"></div><div class="p">Applications must be filled out online and testing is available in various locations nationwide. Apply now for the <span class="date"> ( </span><a class="related_links_links" href="http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/offsiteRedirectPg.xml?title=CBP+Officer&url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaffing.opm.gov%2Fcbpo%2F&referrer=/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/national/08012011_5.xml" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">CBP Officer</a><span class="date"> ) </span> position or the <span class="date"> ( </span><a class="related_links_links" href="http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/offsiteRedirectPg.xml?title=Border+Patrol+agent&url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaffing.opm.gov%2Fbpa%2F&referrer=/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/national/08012011_5.xml" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Border Patrol agent</a><span class="date"> ) </span> position. Additional information about the job opportunities is available on the CBP website. ( <a class="related_links_links" href="http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/careers/customs_careers/officer/" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">CBP Officer</a> ) ( <a class="related_links_links" href="http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/careers/customs_careers/border_careers/" style="text-decoration: none;" title="">Border Patrol Agent</a> ) </div><div class="p"><br />
</div><div class="p"></div><div class="p"><i>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.</i></div></div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-56923266236737625902011-08-03T14:36:00.000-05:002011-08-03T14:36:48.169-05:00Announcing SBA’s NEI Export Video Contest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">My U.S. Export Story – Finding Customers around the World</span></strong><u></u><u></u><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Announcing SBA’s NEI Export Video Contest</span></strong><u></u><u></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>SBA is teaming up with Visa to ask small business owners: “Where will your next customer come from?”</b></span> In order to recognize successful small exporters and increase awareness toward federal assistance for exporters, we’re sponsoring the <u><span style="color: #1f497d;"><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTEwODAyLjIyNTAwMjEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTEwODAyLjIyNTAwMjEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjc2OTU5NzE3JmVtYWlsaWQ9a2FyZW4ucGFya2VyQG1haWwuZG9jLmdvdiZ1c2VyaWQ9a2FyZW4ucGFya2VyQG1haWwuZG9jLmdvdiZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&100&&&http://www.sba.gov/exportvideocontest" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1f497d;">SBA Export Video Contest</span></a></span></u>. 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.</span><u></u><u></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">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.</span><u></u><u></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">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.*</span><u></u><u></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Winners will receive cash prizes, an expenses-paid trip to be honored at the <span style="color: #1f497d;"><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTEwODAyLjIyNTAwMjEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTEwODAyLjIyNTAwMjEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjc2OTU5NzE3JmVtYWlsaWQ9a2FyZW4ucGFya2VyQG1haWwuZG9jLmdvdiZ1c2VyaWQ9a2FyZW4ucGFya2VyQG1haWwuZG9jLmdvdiZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&101&&&http://www.decconference.com/members/decconference" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1f497d;">National District Export Council Conference</span></a></span> 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.</span><u></u><u></u><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria, serif;">To Enter:</span></strong><u></u><u></u><br />
<span><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria, serif;">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 to<a href="http://www.export.gov/" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank">www.export.gov</a> for assistance. This referral can be spoken, written, embedded or delivered in any appropriate way deemed effective by the submitter.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><br />
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<span>2) All videos must have a unique title or they will not be judged. i.e., not "My Export Story."</span><br />
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<span>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.</span><br />
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<span>4) While viewing the </span></span><span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTEwODAyLjIyNTAwMjEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTEwODAyLjIyNTAwMjEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjc2OTU5NzE3JmVtYWlsaWQ9a2FyZW4ucGFya2VyQG1haWwuZG9jLmdvdiZ1c2VyaWQ9a2FyZW4ucGFya2VyQG1haWwuZG9jLmdvdiZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&102&&&http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyqVdV_6Hyg" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1f497d;">SBA Exporting Contest Video</span></a>,</span></span><span><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria, serif;"> click the comment box and then click on "Create a Video Response" and enter the URL of your video entry.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><br />
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<span>Videos may be uploaded starting <u>Aug. 1, 2011</u>. Entries must be received by <u>Sept. 3. </u> </span></span><u></u><u></u><br />
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<span><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria, serif;">*See full contest rules and regulations at </span></span><span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTEwODAyLjIyNTAwMjEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTEwODAyLjIyNTAwMjEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjc2OTU5NzE3JmVtYWlsaWQ9a2FyZW4ucGFya2VyQG1haWwuZG9jLmdvdiZ1c2VyaWQ9a2FyZW4ucGFya2VyQG1haWwuZG9jLmdvdiZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&103&&&http://www.sba.gov/exportvideocontest" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank" title="http://www.sba.gov/exportvideocontest"><span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1pt; color: #1f497d; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">http://www.sba.gov/<wbr></wbr>exportvideocontest</span></a></span></span><span><span style="color: black; font-family: Cambria, serif;"> .</span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"> </span><u></u><u></u><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Additional resources for exporting:</span></strong><u></u><u></u><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTEwODAyLjIyNTAwMjEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTEwODAyLjIyNTAwMjEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjc2OTU5NzE3JmVtYWlsaWQ9a2FyZW4ucGFya2VyQG1haWwuZG9jLmdvdiZ1c2VyaWQ9a2FyZW4ucGFya2VyQG1haWwuZG9jLmdvdiZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&104&&&http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/starting-managing-business/managing-business/exporting-importing" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1f497d;">SBA Guide to Exporting and Importing</span></a></span><u></u><u></u><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTEwODAyLjIyNTAwMjEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTEwODAyLjIyNTAwMjEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjc2OTU5NzE3JmVtYWlsaWQ9a2FyZW4ucGFya2VyQG1haWwuZG9jLmdvdiZ1c2VyaWQ9a2FyZW4ucGFya2VyQG1haWwuZG9jLmdvdiZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&105&&&http://www.sba.gov/exportbusinessplanner" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1f497d;">SBA’s Export Business Planner Tool</span></a></span><u></u><u></u><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTEwODAyLjIyNTAwMjEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTEwODAyLjIyNTAwMjEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjc2OTU5NzE3JmVtYWlsaWQ9a2FyZW4ucGFya2VyQG1haWwuZG9jLmdvdiZ1c2VyaWQ9a2FyZW4ucGFya2VyQG1haWwuZG9jLmdvdiZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&106&&&http://export.gov/" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank">Export.gov</a></span></span><u></u><u></u><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Cambria, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">Co-sponsorship Authorization #11-7080-11SBA</span></em><u></u><u></u></div><div style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;">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.</span></em></div></div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-56515760188670844972011-07-31T16:24:00.000-05:002011-07-31T16:24:39.039-05:00Arab unrest, high food prices as a result of the Arab Spring<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="i1">Creating a democracy is hard. Perhaps harder now than it was when America cast off its totalitarian rule 250 years ago. Today, most of us are not farmers capable of feeding ourselves and our families; today we rely on jobs to trade our skills for such sustenance. If democracy is to continue to germinate, take root, and flourish in the Middle East, we must find ways to ensure that the people can sustain themselves through this transition.</div><div class="i1"><br />
</div><div class="i1">The story below was one of our worst fears at the 11th Doha Forum. How do we help the people with necessary food and water during the Arab Summer?</div><div class="i1">-----------------------------------------------------</div><div class="i1"><br />
</div><div class="i1"> <span class="dateline"><a href="http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&where1=CAIRO&sty=h&form=msdate" target="_blank">CAIRO</a> — </span>From Syria to Libya and Egypt, the uprisings and unrest gripping the Arab world have cast a pall on the start of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month when the traditional focus on piety will likely be eclipsed by more unrest. </div>Food prices — part of the economic hardships that catalyzed the ouster of the Egyptian and Tunisian leaders — are still climbing. And protesters have shown little patience for conciliatory gestures by governments after decades of empty promises.<br />
With momentum strong to drive out authoritarian regimes, there is no sign that opposition forces will ease up on protests — even with the difficulties of the month of dawn-to-dusk fasting that begins Monday.<br />
Predictions of a tense Ramadan have already started to be realized.<br />
<br />
Libyan rebels are turning their weapons on each other, dimming hopes for the overthrow of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43963265/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/">more</a><br />
</div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-71234688566198886812011-07-07T09:09:00.000-05:002011-07-07T09:09:01.887-05:00Exports Support U.S. Jobs<table style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; width: 552px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" valign="top"><h2 style="color: #555555; font-size: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://blog.trade.gov/2011/07/06/exports-support-u-s-jobs/" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Exports Support U.S. Jobs</a></h2><div style="color: #999999; font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 4px;"><b><br />
</b></div></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7349000340357047664" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<div style="border-collapse: collapse; clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Cover image of Projected Jobs Supported by Exports 2009 and 2010" src="http://www.trade.gov/publications/images/export-supported-jobs-big.jpg" /></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><em>Joseph Flynn is the Director of the International Trade Administration’s <a href="http://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/oceahome/index.htm" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Office of Competition and Economic Analysis</a></em></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><em><a href="http://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/oceahome/index.htm" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"></a></em>Did you know that 9.2 million jobs in the United States last year were tied directly to exports? The International Trade Administration this week issued a report,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><em><a href="http://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/build/groups/public/@tg_ian/documents/webcontent/tg_ian_003363.pdf" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Projected Jobs Supported by Exports</a></em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">, 2009 and 2010, which updates an earlier ITA report</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><em><a href="http://trade.gov/publications/abstracts/exports-support-american-jobs.asp" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Exports Support American Jobs</a></em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">. This report provides preliminary estimates for jobs supported by exports for 2009 and for the value of exports that support one job for 2009 and 2010. This report attempts to improve projections, provide transparency in making the projections, and provide revised estimates for 2009 and 2010. The revised estimates of jobs supported by exports are 8.7 million in 2009 and 9.2 million in 2010.</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">The value of exports that supports one job was $164,000 in 2009 and $181,000 for 2010. That is, the value fell slightly from 2008 to 2009 because of the recession and softness in export prices. In 2010, the value increased to $181,000 as export prices and productivity strengthened. Thus, for every billion dollars of exports, over 5,000 jobs are supported.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Not only do exports support millions of U.S. jobs, those jobs actually pay more than jobs in similar sectors unrelated to exports. Earlier work by the International Trade Administration gives an idea of how much more pay they receive. The report <em><a href="http://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/build/groups/public/@tg_ian/documents/webcontent/tg_ian_003217.pdf" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Weekly Earnings in Export-Intensive U.S. Services Industries</a></em> estimates that workers in export-intensive services industries earn 15 to 20 percent more than comparable workers in other industries. Similarly, the report <em><a href="http://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/build/groups/public/@tg_ian/documents/webcontent/tg_ian_003208.pdf" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Do Jobs in Export Industries Still Pay More? And Why?</a></em> estimates that exports contribute an additional 18 percent to workers’ earnings on average in the U.S. manufacturing sector.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">The International Trade Administration <a href="http://www.trade.gov/publications/index.asp" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">publishes a variety of reports</a> on international trade and economic issues.</div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-18463952669701366032011-06-11T12:38:00.000-05:002011-06-11T12:38:34.522-05:00U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: U.S. International Trade Deficit Decreases in April 2011<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
The Nation’s international trade deficit in goods and services decreased to $43.7 billion in April from $46.8 billion (revised) in April, as exports increased and imports decreased.<br />
<br />
Exports increased to $175.6 billion in April from $173.4 billion in March. Imports decreased to $219.2 billion in April from $220.2 billion in March.<br />
<br />
In this release and in the accompanying "U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services: Annual Revision 2010", the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are jointly publishing revised statistics on both U.S. trade in goods and services beginning with 1999. Find the full release at <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTEwNjA5LjE1NjA5OTEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTEwNjA5LjE1NjA5OTEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xMjc2ODY5NDM4JmVtYWlsaWQ9d2xvdWRlbkBhdXN0aW5jYy5lZHUmdXNlcmlkPXdsb3VkZW5AYXVzdGluY2MuZWR1JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&100&&&http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/data/index.html" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank">the Census Bureau website</a>.<br />
Contact the Census Bureau at <span> <a href="mailto:ftd.data.dissemation@census.gov" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank">ftd.data.dissemation@<wbr></wbr>census.gov</a> </span>or <a href="tel:1-800-549-0595" style="color: #147dba;" target="_blank" value="+18005490595">1-800-549-0595</a> option 4.<br />
</div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-11583400176983208932011-05-26T14:27:00.001-05:002011-05-31T16:50:49.044-05:00Rebuilding Haiti, Stitch by Stitch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Reprinted from the International Trade Administration's</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> web site: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: separate; color: #999999; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;">URL: <a href="http://wp.me/pF6la-j2" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://wp.me/pF6la-j2</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; width: 785px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" valign="top"><h2 style="color: #555555; font-size: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"> May 25, 2011 at 4:02 pm </span></h2></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<em> Maria Dybczak is an international trade specialist<br />
in the International Trade Administration’s <a href="http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Office of Textiles and Apparel</a>.</em><br />
<em><br />
</em><br />
Today, the International Trade Administration’s Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), gave a virtual welcome to about 85 people as they participated in a one-hour Webinar on U.S. trade preferences for imports of Haitian textiles and apparel. The participants came from both the private and public sectors, and included representatives of leading U.S. retailers and importers, U.S. and Haitian manufacturers, as well as Congressional committee staff and senior officials from other U.S. agencies.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thegrio.com/assets_c/2010/05/house-votes-to-give-haiti-textiles-a-boost-thumb-400xauto-9180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="House votes to give Haiti textiles a boost" border="0" src="http://www.thegrio.com/assets_c/2010/05/house-votes-to-give-haiti-textiles-a-boost-thumb-400xauto-9180.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thegrio.com/news/house-votes-to-give-haiti-textiles-a-boost.php">House votes to give Hattians a Boost</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table> Ever since the earthquake of January 2010 that brought such incredible devastation to Haiti, ITA has been working closely with other federal agencies, the Haitian government, and U.S. retailers and importers to encourage recovery and to better assure the long-term sustainability of the Haitian economy.<br />
One of these efforts is focused on the Haitian textile and apparel industry. Apparel makes up more than 80 percent of imports from Haiti to the United States. And as the largest manufacturing sector in Haiti, the apparel industry plays an important role in attracting long-term investment and opportunities.<br />
The availability of duty-free access to the United States, the world’s largest apparel market, provides an enormous competitive advantage to Haitian producers. As a result, the value of apparel imports from Haiti increased by 20 percent over the past 12 months, representing nearly $600 million. It has been estimated that new development in the textile and apparel sector could create at least 20,000 new jobs in Haiti by 2013.<br />
It’s trade such as this—which builds on Haiti’s existing economic strengths—that will help Haiti recover from the devastation of a year ago.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://repeatingislands.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/haiti.png?w=460&h=316" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://repeatingislands.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/haiti.png?w=460&h=316" /></a>If you would like to listen to an audio recording of the Webinar, or see a copy of OTEXA’s presentation, they will both be available on <a href="http://otexa.ita.doc.gov/" style="color: #0088cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">the OTEXA website</a> by the end of this week.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<h2 class="title" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><a class="journal-entry-navigation-current" href="http://www.staplenews.com/home/2010/4/26/an-entrepreneur-manufactures-a-haitian-recovery.html" style="letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 1.2em;">An Entrepreneur Manufactures A Haitian Recovery</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333132; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/05/16/484773/haiti-pins-hopes-on-textile-industry.html">Haiti pins hopes on textile industry</a></span></span></h2><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-82068385733523279102011-05-24T17:49:00.001-05:002011-05-26T12:38:43.151-05:00Reflections on the Doha Forum<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I've been back from the Doha Forum for a week and I am still trying to digest the wealth of information and my observations at the conference. Over 600 participants from 100 nations were represented. From Algeria to Yemen, the Arab nations of the Middle East and North Africa were clearly represented. Yet, the participants came from Afghanistan and Albania, from Belize and Brazil, from Canada and China, and from the United States and Uzbekistan.<br />
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Even without the recent events in Tunisia and Egypt, this conference attracted the best minds (mine excluded) from around the world to discuss the underpinnings of democracy and free trade. What does it take to form a democracy? And is that the best or the only form of government that provides its people freedom? What does it mean to be free? Can one have a democracy in a monarchy? And does a democracy promote the most equitable, most ubiquitous channels for free trade?<br />
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The Arab Spring, as the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt are now being called, raises new questions. What is it that the people want? This question was asked many times during the conference. And perhaps the best answer was in terms of what the people do not want. "We clearly do not want autocracy; nor do we want to see a theocracy," was often the response. "We want freedom to live as we wish, freedom to work where we want, freedom to express our opinions without fear of reprisals." "And we want jobs."<br />
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In Egypt, over 50% of the population is under the age of twenty-five. Of those, the vast majority are college-education, yet unemployment is running at 25%. That appears to be a dangerous combination: the youth have been denied hope of a future and, coupled with their increased awareness of the world around them from the Internet, they are discovering that they deserve more. The lack of jobs in Egypt and other countries in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) is clearly the spark that ignited the waves of protests.<br />
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As an American, I was interested in how I would be received since we had just killed Osama bin Laden days before my arrival. The tone was friendly to me and all Americans (and the West in general). There was only one dissenting opinion about bin Laden's death - - and that was from Pakistan based on their concern for their national sovereignty. But even Pakistan's opinion was muted in the wave of the democratic reforms being proposed throughout the Middle East.<br />
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The young admire Americans; they are not so happy about our foreign policy however. They are skeptical when the US Government and The West intervenes and offers to "help." They remember, for example, that the U.S. backed the Mubarak regime on the basis that a stable totalitarian government in Egypt was better than an unstable democratic one. And the Arab nations express their concern over a return of "colonial powers:" Britain in Egypt, Italy in Tunisia, and France in Algeria to name a few. And of course, the US involvement in Iraq as well as our historical, and in their perception, the U.S.' unilateral support of Israel.<br />
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The collapse of Tunisia and Egypt, by non-violent means, has ignited a signal flare throughout the Arab region, where they now see positive change that an advancement toward the freedoms that democracy brings as not only possible, but probable. This is "Democracy 3.0" for them; after the democratic reforms of Asia and Central Europe, the Arab peoples, especially the young, see this as their chance to change and mold their destiny.<br />
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More to come.</div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-58755430601444110862011-05-10T01:29:00.005-05:002011-05-10T11:22:31.792-05:00Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Sheiks and Generals, Ambassadors and Ministers, filled the hall at the opening of the conference this morning. I felt a little like Alice looking down the Golden Brick road at the cadre of guests, speakers, and dignitaries at the Doha Forum. Reverence Jesse Jackson arrived to a rising chorus of excitement and camera flashes. Handshakes, and kisses, and nose rubs were exchanged as His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jabr Al Thani and H.H. Heir Apparent, Tamin Bin Hamad Al Thani arrived.<br />
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Then it begins. The Doha Forum, touted as the "world's foremost forum on democracy" opened with H.E. Sheikh Al Thani's statement that "human rights is borne of all religions" and that for the past 5 months, we have been "witnessing the popular revolutions for individual and national dignity, for individual freedom, and for individual security." "A new player in Arab public opinion" has been heard -- that of the Arab people. And it is up to the people to "transcend the fear" of change and push forward.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Item Thumbnail" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/PUe73rXSLp390QkDalV5lnzO6_uPpvF41x1igDbNit3Ur-_nX1x3x3qwO1okbRT834xr0Mx5GIE-ntGsMcd00r9jLg=s512" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rev. Jesse Jackson & H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Reverend Jesse Jackson reminded the audience that despite the many implementations of the term, 'democracy,' it has but one meaning, "of, by, and for the people." The Arab awakening of the past five months has been termed the "Arab Spring." But unlike the Prague Spring of 1968, where the Czechoslovakians were forced to endure another 30 years of repression and disappointment, the Arab community, and indeed the world, needs to reach out and support the people in their struggle for their human rights: individual freedom, human dignity, jobs, health care, and education.<br />
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So the Doha Forum began. It will take me days, if not weeks, to absorb and integrate today's information into a more cohesive understanding of events and how they apply to trade, but the second day is now beginning....</div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-59114556075465050792011-05-09T01:29:00.002-05:002011-05-10T10:59:44.450-05:00Dawn in Doha<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dawn. I was somewhat surprised to see the sun up so early here. But perhaps even more surprising was the activity as I observed the Muslim first call to prayer at 4:52 AM. Almost in unison, people stopped what they were doing, produced their prayer rug, and began their prayers, which lasted about 10 minutes. Then back to their daily activity.<br />
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Muslims pray at least five times a day.<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Fajr (pre-dawn): This prayer starts off the day with the remembrance of God; it is performed before sunrise.</li>
<li>Dhuhr (noon): After the day's work has begun, one breaks shortly after noon to again remember God and seek His guidance.</li>
<li>'Asr (afternoon): In the late afternoon, people are usually busy wrapping up the day's work, getting kids home from school, etc. It is an important time to take a few minutes to remember God and the greater meaning of our lives.</li>
<li>Maghrib (sunset): Just after the sun goes down, Muslims remember God again as the day begins to come to a close.</li>
<li>'Isha (evening): Before retiring for the night, Muslims again take time to remember God's presence, guidance, mercy, and forgiveness.</li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Muslims are reminded of the daily prayer times through the calling of the adhan broadcast through many mosques in the city.</div></div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-2678588856969761602011-05-08T19:48:00.001-05:002011-05-08T19:49:37.991-05:00Jet Lag is a bitch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">3AM. Still awake. As cosmopolitan as this city and hotel is, there isn't much open this time of the morning.</div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
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<tr><td align="center"><h2>Doha</h2></td></tr>
</tbody></table>On the other hand, I learned how to insert a local clock with the current time in Doha. :)<br />
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</div><div>The conference opens at 10AM with H.E. Sheikh Hamas Bin Jassim Al Thani, Primer Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs giving the welcoming speech. The Heir Apparent, H.E. Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani follows with the opening speech.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The first session is titled <b>Insights on the World Political Scene</b>, <b>Transformations in the Middle East,</b> moderated by David Foster of Al Jazeera. Panelists include H.E. Dr. Salih, the P.M. Iraqi-Kurdistan, H.E. Carl Bildt,the Foreign Minister of Sweeden, H.E. Luis Amado, the Foreign Minister of Portugal, H.E. Maurice Leroy, Minister of the City, France, and our own Rev. Jesse Jackson, civil rights activist from the United States.</div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRPSZWuHyqR3mR-WNlXqxyB1zq_oTWkCwNCDTqMrmbUSKo7aXPM" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRPSZWuHyqR3mR-WNlXqxyB1zq_oTWkCwNCDTqMrmbUSKo7aXPM" width="200" /></a><img src="http://english.aljazeera.net/Media/ver2/Images/1pximage.png" style="cursor: move;" /><img src="http://english.aljazeera.net/Media/ver2/Images/1pximage.png" style="cursor: move;" /><a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Al Jazeera</span></i></a>, means "The Penninsula" in Arabic and is based on the Qatari peninsula. Al jazeera (in English and Arabic) professes to be a staunchly independent news source for the Middle East, even if that means being critical of the local government. So, far the news I've watched bears this out. According to them, the dominant views on the death of Osama bin Laden is very supportive. Even Yemen, bin Laden's 'home country' stated that they hope that this is the "beginning to the end of the era of terrorism." Some interesting videos and perspectives on bin Laden's death can be found on their web site <a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/video/">here</a>.</div><div><br />
</div></div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-27291585077806940982011-05-08T14:32:00.001-05:002011-05-08T14:33:52.174-05:00Arrived in Doha<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">8:30 PM in Doha. Qatar Airways was a first class airline all the way. Through customs in a snap with nowhere near the hassle entering the U.S. The only glitch was arriving and there was no one there to greet me and take me to the hotel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Panic!</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">This was the first time I ever traveled to a foreign country and didn't know where I was staying when I got there. After about 10 minutes walking back and forth looking for someone holding a sign with my name, a Doha Forum representative found me and I was taken to the Sheraton Doha Hotel.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">The view from the hotel is fabulous. Skyscrapers were lit up and reflecting off the Red Sea.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doha at Night (viewed from the Sheraton)</td></tr>
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The conference starts in the morning. More then.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7349000340357047664.post-62647523348281723592011-05-07T14:44:00.001-05:002011-05-07T14:46:10.226-05:00Doha or bustOn the way to Houston to catch Qatar Airways to Doha. A 14 hour direct flight and I'll be there. Looking ahead, the weather in Doha is about the same as in Austin, except it has only about 20% humidity!<br />
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I am still unsure where I am staying when I get there. Since the Qatari government is picking up the tab, they say trust them. They will have someone meet me at the airport and drive me to the conference/hotel. I sure hope so! The conference was at the<span style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Doha,+Ad+Dawhah,+Qatar&aq=0&sll=25.380944,51.53429&sspn=0.026598,0.034118&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Ad+Dawhah,+Qatar&ll=25.352714,51.49395&spn=0.211595,0.272942&t=h&z=12&lci=com.panoramio.all" style="color: blue;">Ritz Carelton</a> last year on the northern end of the city. That little problem aside, the trip should be uneventful.<br />
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Seems everyone I talk to about going to the Middle East asks me the same question. It is safe? I suppose that shows how little we Americans know about the Middle East, or perhaps it shows how effective the fear mongers have been since 9/11. Qatar has been the home of the U.S. Central Command since the first Iraq war and Qatar is a close ally to the U.S. And Bahrain next door is home to the U.S. Navy 5th Fleet. I've also talked to several servicemen who have told me that they are often flown to Qatar for R&R!<br />
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As for being in the desert, here is a <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=25.380944,51.53429&spn=0.026443,0.034118&t=h&z=15&lci=com.panoramio.all&layer=c&cbll=25.380944,51.53429&cbp=12,0,,0,0&photoid=po-8760090" style="color: blue;">picture</a> from the Ritz hotel. Hmm, I can cast that far...maybe I need to pack a fishing rod.Bill Loudenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00927882473220099807noreply@blogger.com0