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Three Michigan companies were honored with the prestigious President’s “E” Award from the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker. The President’s “E” award is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports.
Congratulations to our valued trade clients!
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Acme Manufacturing Company (Auburn Hills): The company was recognized for achieving a 450% increase in export sales from 2012-1015 and collaborating with other U.S. manufacturers to enter foreign markets. During the past five years, export sales have grown to nearly 70 percent of Acme’s total sales. Acme is a world leader in the design and manufacture of integrated robotic automation for polishing, buffing, deburring and grinding systems.
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Bandit Industries (Remus): Bandit is among the largest global manufacturers for wood and waste processing equipment, including hand-fed brush and whole tree wood chippers, stump grinders, track carriers, horizontal grinders, specialty yard equipment and skid-steer loader attachments. Bandit has demonstrated a sustained commitment to export expansion, with exports accounting for more than 25% of business.
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NuStep Inc. (Ann Arbor): The “E” Awards Committee was impressed with NuStep’s role as a thought leader to the manufacturing community on the value of exports to a strong economy and its commitment to providing internship opportunities for international business students. Its exports have also increased to 20% of its sales. Nu-Step designs and manufactures recumbent cross-trainers.
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Interested in applying for next year’s award? Applications for “E” Awards are accepted late in the calendar year (typically November or December). Visit http://export.gov/exportawards/ for more information.
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By the Michigan China Center
Since the reform and opening up in 1978, China’s GDP has grown from RMB 364 billion to over RMB 67 trillion by the end of 2015, with an average annual growth rate of over 9%. Rapid growth in such short time has brought a series of challenges to the long-term sustainability of the economy, including environmental pollution, land over-exploitation, vast over-capacity, and inflation. China’s land, natural resources and labor force are becoming increasingly expensive. The working age population keeps shrinking as a result of the “one-child policy”. According to statistics from Oxford Economics, China’s manufacturing labor cost, which was less than half of the U.S. in 2003, is now only slightly lower than the U.S level. China’s low-cost advantage is fading with competition from other developing countries.
Made in China 2025
Under these circumstances, the Chinese Government has implemented various strategies to restructure the economy and shift the country away from low-end manufacturing to more value-added production. In 2015, the State of Council announced a ten-year plan for China’s manufacturing upgrade, known as “Made in China 2025”. This action plan emphasizes the advancement of ten key industry sectors and encourages smarter and greener manufacturing with the adoption of innovative technologies, big data, cloud computing, and internet of things in the target sectors.
The Government aims to upgrade the level of intelligence in ten key sectors and cut down manufacturing cost by half by 2025. It is also supporting and funding some of the key projects and enterprises. Chinese manufacturers are proactively seeking international collaboration to speed up their technological development.
China’s growing overseas Investment
According to a report by National Committee on US-China Relations, in 2015, over 1,900 Chinese affiliated companies operated in the US across more than 80% of its congressional districts and created about 90,000 jobs. It also predicts that 2016 will be another record year of Chinese investments in the US, doubling the amount of $15 billion USD in 2015, driving by the desire of companies to gain access to advanced technologies and seek for global expansion. Growing Chinese investment will strengthen connections between US communities and the China market and further expand the export sales of American goods and services to China.
Looking ahead
The launch of China’s four Free Trade Zones, together with a series of policies and incentives to facilitate international trade, foreign investment and registration, suggests an unprecedented level of openness that the Government is trying to promote to the global market. We believe that all these favorable policies will bring a lot of business opportunities in the China market for Michigan exporters to explore in the near future, especially in the government encouraged sectors that Michigan is strong at, such as automotive manufacturing, IT, clean technology, logistics and supply chain, etc.
About Michigan China Center
Established in 2012, Michigan China Center has successfully hosted the annual Michigan China Mission led by Governor Rich Snyder from 2012 to 2015, and has helped over 100 Michigan companies and organizations enter or expand their presence in the China market, as well as assisting Michigan to attract investment from China.
Schedule a Meeting
Ning Shao, director of the Michigan China Center will be traveling to Michigan June 27-30, 2016. He will be touring the state, meeting with companies interested in expanding exports to China or those interested in an upcoming trade mission in November. To set up a meeting, contact your International Trade Manager.
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The International Trade Administration's Top Markets Series is meant to help exporters determine their next export market by comparing opportunities across borders. Each report ranks future export opportunities within a particular industry based on a sector-specific methodology. The reports provide a detailed assessment of the competitiveness landscape within a sector, as well as the opportunities and challenges facing U.S. exporters in key markets. Each report is available for download. Interested exporters can also download or view individual case studies within larger reports.
Find your Top Market Reports: Trade.gov/topmarkets
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MEDC Events
Foreign Office Director Visits
MEDC’s trade team is bringing three of the in-country trade directors to Michigan in June! These market specialists will be travelling around the state meeting with companies one-on-one to discuss export opportunities for Michigan products and services.
June 13-17: Canada
- 6/13- Traverse City
- 6/14- Saginaw
- 6/15- Troy
- 6/16- Grand Rapids (afternoon)
- 6/17- Grand Rapids (morning)
June 27-30: China and United Kingdom
- 6/27- Troy
- 6/28- Lansing
- 6/29- Saginaw/Midland
- 6/30- Grand Rapids
Limited space is available! To set up a meeting with a market specialist, please contact your regional International Trade Manager.
Trade Mission to United Kingdom and Ireland
Led by Regional Export Network (REN) partner Networks Northwest
September 25-30, 2016
United Kingdom & Ireland
Join MEDC and Networks Northwest on a multi-sector trade mission to UK and Ireland this September. Matchmaking meetings will be provided by the Michigan Europe office located in London.
Mission Cost
Participation fee: $450 per person includes customized B2B matchmaking services, in-country staff support and networking functions (international airfare, hotel, daily driver charges and meals not included).
Eligible Michigan SMEs can receive 50% reimbursement for travel expenses and participation fees from State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant.
For more information about this event, click here. Registration deadline is June 20, 2016.
Quebec Multi-sector Trade Mission
Led by the Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiere
September 25-28, 2016
Montréal, Québec, Canada
This mission builds on the work of the Governors’ and Premiers’ Maritime Initiative including the development of the first regional maritime transportation strategy, and Québec’s Maritime Strategy which was launched in 2015. Target participants include ports, companies and service providers in the fields of infrastructure, security, communication, finance, sustainable development and innovative technology. However, this mission has been opened up to all industry segments.
For more information about this mission, click here. Registration deadline is August 5, 2016.
If you’re interested in meeting with someone June 13-17 to discuss this opportunity, please contact your International Trade Manager.
Legal Essentials to Export Toolbox
June 22, 2016 8:30am- 4:00pm Farmington Hills, MI
FREE
Other location available:
September 22, 2016: Mt. Pleasant, MI
This one-day educational program has three components designed to help businesses identify legal and compliance issues that are relevant as businesses pursue exporting opportunities. Four full-day group seminars will take place at different Foster Swift office locations, with video conferencing capabilities available at other office locations.* Lunch will be provided. Special guest luncheon speakers from the FBI will speak on topics important to the business community, including "Identity Theft and How it Impacts your Business."
You must apply to participate in this event. If you qualify, a staff member will reach out to you with confirmation of your event registration.
1. Trademark/service mark readiness
- Importance of protecting intellectual property, specifically name and trademark, in international markets
- Process and time frame for protecting intellectual property internationally
- Resources available to help conduct due diligence
- Tips on avoiding costly litigation and disputes related to U.S. and international trademark infringement
2. Export control overview compliance training
- Export control regulations and how they might affect doing business internationally. Processes and procedures that can help ensure compliance with applicable regulations
- Trade embargoes, sanctions and restricted party screening
- Resources available to help comply with export regulations
3. Foreign agent/distributor Contract checklist
- Top 12 most important issues to address in a foreign agent/distributor agreement
- How U.S. laws and regulations will impact the conduct of an agent/distributor for foreign sales
- Resources available to help with due diligence regarding agent/distributor relationships
- A foreign agent/distributor contract checklist
*Based on regional demand. Must register for video conferencing at least two weeks in advance of the session.
Click here to register.
Partner Events
Taiwan Automotive Electronics & Semiconductor Conference
June 7, 2016 12:00-5:00pm Novi, MI
The opportunity to meet and exchange innovative expertise and technologies in the automotive electronics and semiconductor industries from Taiwan. Taiwanese delegations from more than fifteen companies are coming to meet U.S. businesses for the purposes of increasing international trade, technical cooperation and procurement related to the automotive electronics and semi-conductor industries, technical training, expert exchange.
To register, click here.
Making Compliance Work in India
June 9, 2016 8:30-10:30am Detroit, MI
Foley & Lardner LLP invites you to a breakfast discussion with attorney Sherbir Panag of India-based MZM Legal. Mr. Panag, together with Foley Partner David Simon will provide their perspectives on how companies can effectively navigate the legal and compliance challenges of conducting business in India. The discussion will focus on practical strategies for implementing compliance programs, and approaching and resolving disputes within the Indian legal framework.
To register, click here.
Business Roundtable: U.S. Embassies from Colombia and Peru
June 13, 2016 8:30-10:00 am Detroit, MI
The Detroit Regional Chamber is hosting a U.S. Commercial service roundtable discussion with the Commercial Counselors representing the United States Embassies in Peru and Colombia. RSVP to Matthew Quigley at matthew.quigley@trade.gov or 248-909-7281.
What Participants Can Expect at AMM Detroit
November 15-17, 2016 Novi, MI
Automotive Manufacturing Meetings (AMM) - Detroit is a supply chain event that brings together auto makers, tier suppliers and contract-manufacturers. Engineering, procurement, supply chain, fabrication, commodity teams, suppliers and service providers will meet through pre-arranged one-on-one meetings. AMM Detroit is the missing link in the US automotive supply chain events world.
Ford Motor Company has partnered with ABE, world leader in the matchmaking business, to host this world class event in Detroit.
For more information, click here.
If interested, there are two opportunities to collect more information and secure your participation at AMM!
Webinar
June 14, 2016 11:00-11:45am
Join the U.S. Commercial Service for a webinar on June 14 at 11:00 am to learn about a valuable program targeting OEM automotive supply chain opportunities.
To register, click here.
Lunch and Learn
June 17, 2016 12:00- 2:00 pm Automation Alley, Troy, MI
Join Alain Ngoie from ABE events for a lunch and learn event to review the benefits of AMM and answer any questions. RSVP is required as space is limited.
To secure a spot, please send an email to Lisa Lasser, lasserl@automationalley.com.
Basics of Exporting
June 21, 2016 8:30am-12:00pm Detroit, MI
Interested in exporting, but not sure where to start? Join the U.S. Export Assistance Center for a half day program highlighting the basics of exporting. Topics covered include:
- Why export?
- Are you ready to export?
- Marketing, sales and distributing considerations
- Logistics and export documentation
- Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)
- Risks and regulations
- Methods of payment, finance and insurance
To register, click here.
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