ND Global News - Local Company Reports On Ag Shows in Germany, Ukraine and South Africa; Exporting ND Oil & Gas, New Global Rules That May Affect You and More

 

ND Global News - June 2018
Newsletter of the U.S. Commercial Service in Fargo, North Dakota

LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS
- Local Companies Report Success from Agritechnica - World's Largest Ag Show
- North Dakota Ag Leaders Meet with Secretary of Commerce
- Find Your Markets and Buyers with RAISE Research Study
- US Commercial Service Supports Local Companies at AGRO Show in Ukraine
- Exporting ND Oil
- Local Companies Participate in South African Trade Show NAMPO
- USDA to Purchase Lentil, Dry Peas from Producers Impacted by Tariffs

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS AND EVENTS
- Sanctions Placed on Russian Citizens and Companies
- Trade Mission to Chile Eligible for Market Development Cooperator Program Award
- Proposed Rule will Transfer Export Control of Certain Firearms From State to Commerce
- Commerce Secretary Launches Investigation into Imported Automobiles
- GDPR Takes Affect in European Union

WEBINARS
- Exploring European E-Commerce Webinar Series Offered through Commercial Service

LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS

Local Companies Report Success from Agritechnica - World's Largest Ag Show
Several local companies participated at Agritechnica last fall in Hanover, Germany. Agritechnica is held every 2 years and is the largest ag machinery show in the world. Sales, partnerships, new information about exporting, etc. all came from the event. The USA Pavilion for the event was organized by the US Commercial Service with the support of the ND District Export Council. For an article detailing reports and successes from several local businesses, click here.

Find Your Markets and Buyers with a RAISE Market Research Study
Companies interested in finding new markets and buyers can now get a customized market research study done locally and using a proven nine-step process. RAISE (Rural America's Intelligence Service for Exporters) offers local companies in-depth market insights specific to your product and industry. Based on the extent of research you need, reports are available at varying price points. For more information, click here. 

Representative Kevin Cramer

North Dakota Ag Leaders Meet with Secretary of Commerce
North Dakota farmers and ranchers met with US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Representative Kevin Cramer on June 15 at the White House in order to discuss international trade and tariffs in the agricultural industry, including talks about NAFTA renegotiations.  Representative Cramer also invited Secretary Ross to visit North Dakota later this year, and Cramer plans to host Ross in ND later this year. For the full press release from Rep. Cramer's office including a photo and the names of the participants in the meeting, click here.

US Commercial Service staff and companies in Ukraine at AGRO.

US Commercial Service Supports Local Companies at AGRO Show in Ukraine
The US Commercial Service hosted a first-ever USA Pavilion at AGRO, the largest ag show in Eastern Europe, held in Kyiv, Ukraine from June 6-9th. There were over a dozen ND or MN companies with a physical or catalog presence at the show, with 32 US companies participating in formal program organized by the U.S. Commercial Service. Local companies with a physical presence at the show included Butler Machinery, Talc USA, Titan Machinery, Superior Grain Bins, Amity Technology and FAST Sprayers. Companies reported very strong interest and market opportunities through their participation in the program. The MN and ND Trade Offices also supported the organizational efforts of the USA Pavilion at AGRO. Heather Ranck of the US Commercial Service/North Dakota traveled to Ukraine to support the pavilion and the local companies in attendance.

Williston Basin Petroleum Conference

Exporting ND Oil
The U.S. Commercial Service/ND is exploring the opportunity to increase oil and gas exports from the region. CS North Dakota's Director Heather Ranck participated in the North Dakota Petroleum Council's Williston Basin Petroleum Conference from May 22-24, in Bismarck. At the Williston Basin conference, Bakken CEOs and other industry leaders were present to discuss new technologies and other impacts on the energy market. Speakers included North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Lieutenant Governor Brent Sanford, US Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, Miss America Cara Mund, and company executives from Continental Resources, Oasis Petroleum, Koch Industries, Hess Corporation, Marathon Oil, and other oil exploration and distribution companies. In July, CS North Dakota will host a high-level delegation of Asia and DC Commerce Department officials to support efforts to increase ND energy exports, including oil, gas and ethanol. For more information on North Dakota oil exports, click here.

Superior's grain bin erected on site.

Local Companies Participate in South African Trade Show NAMPO
Local companies RDO and Superior Grain Bins attended the 52nd annual South African trade show NAMPO Harvest Day in Bothaville, South Africa. NAMPO is the largest trade show for agricultural machinery in the southern hemisphere, along with showcasing ag products, service manufacturers, and distributors. Superior erected a grain bin on site and the additional traffic created new contacts and contributed to several pending orders. RDO was able to meet with previous partners, while also pursuing new relationships. NAMPO 2019 will take place May 14-17th. To be put on an advance notification list for the USA Pavilion in 2019, notify Heather Ranck at heather.ranck@trade.gov. For more information about the next event, click here. 

USDA to Purchase Lentil, Dry Peas from Producers Impacted by Tariffs
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the USDA will be purchasing dried peas and lentils that would otherwise been exported to India. Late last year, India imposed a 50% tax on imported peas and lentil, causing prices to fall for US producers. The produce purchased will be distributed among food assistance programs. For more information, click here.

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS AND EVENTS

Sanctions Placed on Russian Citizens and Companies
Additional sanctions have been placed on Russia, either limiting or prohibiting US companies from doing business in several different industries, such as banking, defense, etc. Several companies and people have been placed on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List). It is illegal for US citizens to do any business with anyone on the SDN List. This includes companies in which someone designated on the list owns 50% or more of a company that is not on the list. Those recently added to the list are mostly Russians with political ties. For more information, click here.

Trade Mission to Chile Eligible for Market Development Cooperator Program Award
The AutoCare Association and the International Trade Administration (ITA) announced that the August 2018 trade mission to Chile will be part of the Market Development Cooperator Program (MDCP). The MDCP award was given by the Department of Commerce specifically to promote export projects in Latin America. Qualifying companies will receive $1,500 to offset the cost of the trade mission. To apply for the award and for more information, click here.

Proposed Rule will Transfer Export Control of Certain Firearms From State to Commerce
A new rule proposed by the Department of State will amend the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to change the current laws on export control of firearms. Currently, these items are on the United States Munitions List (USML), which is exported items controlled by the Department of State instead of the Department of Commerce. This new rule will move certain firearms off the USML and onto the Commerce Control List (CCL). Comments on the proposed change will be accepted until July 9th, 2018, by submitting them here, searching for Docket DOS–2017–0046.

Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross

Commerce Secretary Launches Investigation into Imported Automobiles
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross (pictured) announced an investigation into imports of automobiles. The investigation, referred to as a Section 232 investigation under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, will determine to what extent imports of automobiles have harmed the domestic auto industry. Section 232 investigations are also used to determine if imports are a threat to national security. A Federal Register notice will be issued for the public to issue comments, in order to determine all relevant facts and input before reaching a final determination.

GDPR Takes Affect in European Union
The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) took affect in the European Union on May 25th. The new regulations expand upon an EU law from 1995. The GDPR passed in 2016, but gave companies a two year transition period before enacting. All those who do business with EU citizens must comply with the GDPR, or risk fines that could reach up to 4% of global profit. A brief overview of the GDPR is available here. For a Better Business Bureau webinar, click here. Resources to help determine if you are compliant or not are available here.

WEBINARS

Exploring European E-Commerce Webinar Series Offered through Commercial Service
The US Commercial Service is offering a three part webinar series on European e-commerce. The European Commission made the growth of the digital economy a priority in 2015. This webinar will explore how this affects US exporters, challenges of fulfilling orders in Europe, and tips on finding the best market. For more information, click here.

Dates: June 19, 2018
            June 26, 2018
Time: 10 AM CST
Cost: $75

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 Your U.S. Commercial Service / North Dakota Office 

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

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