ND Global News - Brazil Visas Now Easier, Israel Removes Green Form Requirement, Intern updates, Conducting Background Checks and more

 CS Header

ND Global News - January 2018

Newsletter of the U.S. Commercial Service in Fargo, North Dakota

LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS
- Joshua Erickson Joins Staff at US Commercial Service
Joseph Mwagura Leaves US Commercial Service
- Solving Export Mysteries: Basic Background Checks
- Senator Hoeven Meets with President Trump on Trade Issues
- Bureau of Industry and Security: Complying with US Export Controls 
- NAMPO South African Ag Machinery Show

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS
- Brazilian Travel Made Easier as Visas Drop in Price
-
International Demand for Agricultural Exports Grow
- United States Losing Wheat Market Share in Japan?

- Israeli Government Start Implementation of New Import Policy
- Global Energy Team Newsletter
- Applications Being Accepted for PAC: DBIA

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
-
Virtual Education Fairs
- APAS Trade Show 2018: Supermarkets

WEBINARS
US Embassy Webinar: Brazilian Defense Legislation & Market
- Opportunities for US Agricultural Technologies in the Indian Market
- Cyber Security in Europe Webinar

LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS

Joshua Erickson Joins Staff at US Commercial Service
The US Commercial Service would like to announce the addition of Joshua Erickson to the staff. After growing up in Northern Idaho and Wyoming, Joshua lived for two years in Mexico City as a volunteer missionary for his church. He returned to the US with a deep appreciation and love of Mexican culture and people. As an undergrad at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, Joshua completed a bachelor's degree in Latin American Studies. In conjunction with his degree, he became fluent in Portuguese and participated in a field study in Brazil. With his language abilities, Joshua hopes to improve his business acumen with his studies at NDSU, where he recently started a master's program in International Agribusiness. Joshua's position is supported by the NDTO / NDSU Export Assistantship program.

Joseph Mwagura Leaves US Commercial Service
Joseph Mwagura has completed his internship at the US Commercial Service. He will be graduating with a Masters in Agribusiness & Applied Economics from NDSU in May, and is seeking to work in the field of international business. Joseph's strengths include market research and analysis. He is also fluent in Portuguese and has lived and worked in Africa. His CV is available here. Joseph's position was supported by the NDTO / NDSU Export Assistantship program.

Solving Export Mysteries: Basic Background Checks
US companies are frequently approached via email by potential international partners who are interested in buying their product. Often, the US company has never done business in this region before, has never heard of this new partner, and can find very limited information about them doing a basic Google search. Because of the lack of information, they are cautious of a potential scam, yet they do not want to miss out on an opportunity to build a relationship with a legitimate, new firm or expand their market. Our January Export Mystery of the Month asks how you would handle such a lead. Do you have any tips to share with other exporters on how you do basic background checks on prospective business partners? We will take your suggestions and share them, along with our own suggestions, in next month's newsletter. Please email any suggestions that you may to help resolve this issue to heather.ranck@trade.gov

Senator Hoeven Meets with President Trump on Trade Issues
North Dakota Senator John Hoeven met with President Donald Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence to discuss the importance of trade and agriculture. On January 4th, the same day as the meeting, Senator Hoeven's office released a statement about what was discussed. For more information, click here.

Bureau of Industry and Security: Complying with US Export Controls
The BIS is announcing an opportunity to examine the Export Administration Regulation (EAR) in Des Moines, IA. The program will cover the information exporters need to know in order to comply with US controls on commercial goods. Topics focused on during the seminar include how to determine your export control classification number, when you can export or re-export without applying for a license, export clearance procedures, etc. For more information, click here.

Date: April 4-5, 2018
Registration: $550

NAMPO South African Ag Machinery Show
Please join the US Commercial Service Agribusiness Team at the NAMPO Harvest Day 2018. NAMPO is the largest show of agricultural machinery in the southern hemisphere. Join the US Pavilion to meet potential South African partners. Receive booth space, listing in the catalog, product literature, etc. Companies also have the option to participate in further business development in additional African countries. For more information, click here.

Date: May 15-18, 2018
Location: Bothaville, South Africa
Registration Deadline: March 19, 2018

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Brazilian Travel Made Easier as Visas Drop in Price
Visas for US citizens traveling to Brazil just got significantly easier to obtain starting on January 25th. The tourist visa originally required taking or mailing documentation to the closest Brazilian consulate, but electronic visas were just made available online. Additionally, the price dropped from approximately $250 to $40. For more information, click here.

International Demand for Agricultural Exports Grow
Agriculture exports had a good year in 2017 marking the third highest value at $140.5 billion. USDA Chief Economist Rob Johansson says many of the factors that boosted the 2017 exports are still in place for 2018. “Global GDP growth has been improving the last few years. In 2018, it’s expected to continue to go up. The value of the U.S. dollar has declined since the beginning of 2017. It’s expected to continue declining in 2018.” Johansson projects 2018 exports to be down slightly from 2017, but still a very good export year. “It will be the fourth highest on record.” (Credit: Red River Farm Network)

United States Losing Wheat Market Share in Japan? 
A new report from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Services says the U.S. wheat industry will likely lose market share in Japan. The European Union and Japan have a new free trade agreement that will lower the tariffs for pasta and flour. Japan is also part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). TPP is a comprehensive trade deal that includes multiple countries, but not the United States. President Donald Trump withdrew from TPP nearly a year ago. (Credit: Red River Farm Network)

Israeli Government Start Implementation of New Import Policy
In May of 2017, the Israeli Ministry of Economy announced the decision to no longer have American companies fill out a Green Form or a Certificate of Origin (COO). Instead, exporters to Israel only need to fill out an Invoice Declaration. This policy went into affect on January 10th of this year, but Green Forms or COOs will be accepted until March 31, 2018. After that date, only Invoice Declarations will be accepted. Click here to learn more. 

Global Energy Team Newsletter
For more trade related events and news, check the Global Energy Team Newsletter by clicking here.

Applications Being Accepted for PAC: DBIA
The Department of Commerce is currently accepting applications for members of the Presidential Advisory Board: Doing Business in Africa. The board was established in 2014 to provide analysis and recommendations to the president on strengthening the commercial relationship between the US and Africa. There are currently five positions open. Apply by February 7, 2018, for immediate consideration. For more information, click here.

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Virtual Education Fairs
The US Commercial Service Global Education Team is announcing upcoming Virtual Education Fairs (VEF), chances for private high schools, colleges, or universities to reach the best performing agents in the participating countries. Agents will visit the US Consulate or Embassy in their country in order to listen to a ten minute presentation on each accepted school. Limit six schools per VEF. For more information, click here.

APAS Trade Show 2018: Supermarkets
Join the US pavilion at the APAS Supermarkets trade show in Brazil and highlight your brand to a new market full of retailers, brokers, and distributors. A USDA Foreign Agricultural Service endorsed event, APAS is the largest event for the supermarket sector in the world, and is still growing. Click here for more information.

WEBINARS

US Embassy Webinar: Brazilian Defense Legislation & Market
The US Embassy is holding a webinar for companies to learn more about Brazilian defense legislation, market, and partnering strategies. Brazil has the largest defense budget in Latin America, and is the US's largest defense partner in the region. Join the webinar to hear from the Brazilian Ministry of Defense, industry representatives, and a question and answer session. Click here for more information.

Date: February 28, 2018
Time: 11:00-12:00 PM CST

Opportunities for US Agricultural Technologies in the Indian Market
With an opportunity through the US Commercial service, learn about how precision farming, big data, and sustainable agriculture are transforming the agricultural landscape in India, and new opportunities presented because of these changes. Speakers will discuss how to navigate new market challenges, government policies, etc. Click here for more information.

Registration Deadline: January 30, 2018
Date: February 7, 2018
Time: 9:00 AM CST
Cost: $25

Cyber Security in Europe Webinar
The US Commercial Service invites you to a webinar on cyber security in Europe, a industry growing at billions of dollars per year. Listen as professionals in the industry discuss highlights, overview the United Kingdom's cyber security market, a question and answer session, etc. Click here for more information.

Date: February 21, 2018
Time: 10 AM CST
Cost: $25


 

Your U.S. Commercial Service / North Dakota Office 

hr  Heather Ranck
Office Director and International Trade Specialist
Ph: 701-239-5080
Email: Heather.Ranck@trade.gov  
 Kekoura Kekoura Sakouvogui
Export Assistant
Ph: 701-239-5033
Email: Kekoura.Sakouvogui@trade.gov
 HC Haley Coffield
Export Assistant
Ph: 701-239-5033
Email: Haley.Coffield@trade.gov
 Joshua Joshua Erickson 
Export Assistant
Ph: 701-239-5033
Email: Joshua.Erickson@trade.gov

US Commercial Service | United States Department of Commerce | 811 Second Ave. N | Suite 436 | Fargo | ND | 58102