ND Global News - Diplomats and Trade Officials Visit ND To Discuss ND Energy Exports to Asia, Rural Foreign Direct Investment, Trade Mission to Ukraine & Kazakhstan and More

 

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

LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS
- US Embassy Officials, Assistant US Secretary of Commerce, Assistant US Trade Rep Visit ND to Talk ND Energy Exports
- Rural and ND Foreign Direct Investment Opportunities Highlighted at SelectUSA Summit in Washington, DC
- Sen. John Hoeven Meets with President Trump to Discuss NAFTA, Tariffs
- Rep. Kevin Cramer to Host Town Hall on Ag & Trade in Grafton with USDOC General Counsel Peter Davidson

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS AND EVENTS
- Trade Mission to Kazahkstan and Ukraine (including Webinar)
- US Commercial Service Brazil to have Booth at Wastewater Tech Trade Event
- Panama Canal Drops Restrictions on LNG Transit
- Aerospace and Defense Trade Mission to Turkey Planned for December 
- EIA Releases Energy Outlook Report

WEBINARS
- Exploring European E-Commerce Webinar
- Small-Scale LNG Exports to China Webinar to be Held

LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS

USCS Director General Ian Steff

US Embassy Officials, Assistant US Secretary of Commerce, Assistant US Trade Rep Visit ND to Talk ND Energy Exports
The US Commercial Service / ND office hosted Access Asia, an event aimed at increasing exports to Asia in sectors in which the US is currently under-exporting. The energy sector, particularly ethanol, crude oil and liquefied natural gas, were the focus of the ND event. Guests flew in from around the US and the world to meet and discuss ways the US government, state, industry associations and private sector can work together to find the best markets and new partners for ND energy exporters. For more details, click here.

Rural and ND Foreign Direct Investment Opportunities Highlighted at SelectUSA Summit in Washington, DC
The fifth annual SelectUSA Summit was held June 20-22nd in Washington, DC. The event is held to promote foreign direct investment into the United States, bringing economic development organizations and companies from all over the world. Over the past three summits, over 140,00 jobs have been supported and almost $93 billion has been invested by participants. Jay Schuler, North Dakota Commerce Commissioner, participated in a panel moderated by Heather Ranck of the US Commercial Service/North Dakota. On the final day of the summit, the US Department of Commerce released a new research report on the Characteristics of Foreign Direct Investment in Rural America in another event emceed by Ranck. Speaking at that event, representing Secretary Ross, were Deputy Secretary of Commerce Karen Dunn Kelly, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, and Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin. Also participating in the press conference was Luigi Lazzareschi, CEO of Sofidel, an Italian paper company that recently built a plant in Oklahoma and created over 300 new jobs in a rural community. The press conference can be accessed here, and the rural FDI report can be accessed here.

Senator Hoeven

Senator John Hoeven Meets with President Trump to Discuss NAFTA, Tariffs
North Dakota Senator John Hoeven met with President Donald Trump on July 25th to discuss the impacts of tariffs on North Dakota and the ongoing NAFTA re-negotiations. Also discussed was the USDA program geared toward helping farmers impacted by tariffs in the short term. For more information, click here.

Rep. Cramer

Rep. Kevin Cramer to Host Town Hall on Ag & Trade in Grafton with USDOC General Counsel Peter Davidson
Congressman Kevin Cramer will be hosting a town hall in Grafton to discuss trade and ag. In addition to Congressman Cramer, Peter Davidson, General Counsel for the US Department of Commerce will be attending the event. For more information, click here
Date: August 3, 2018
Time: 3 p.m. Central

NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL NEWS AND EVENTS

Trade Mission to Kazakhstan and Ukraine (including Webinar)
In preparation for a late October trade mission to Kazakhstan and Ukraine, the U.S. Commercial Service, along with partners, is offering a webinar to learn more about the specific markets and opportunities available. Hear from US Commercial Service officers about specifically energy, infrastructure, and agricultural sectors in these countries. Pre-registration is required. For more information, click here. The trade mission takes place on October 24-30, 2018. For more details on the Trade Mission or to register, contact Heather.Ranck@trade.gov. 
Trade Mission Dates: October 24-26, 2018 - Kazakhstan (Almaty and Astana)
                                     October 27- 28 - Travel
                                     October 29-30 - Ukraine (Kyiv)
Webinar Date: August 7, 2018
Time: 11 AM CST
Webinar Cost: $25

US Commercial Service/Brazil to have Booth at Wastewater Tech Trade Event
The US Commercial Service / Brazil will have a booth at the Fenasan Trade event in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Fenasan is the largest trade show in the world for the sanitation sector. In addition to displaying promotional materials, the USCS will promote technologies through e-mail campaigns and send trade leads after the show. Other services are also offered, including International Partner Searches. The event takes place on September 18-20, 2018. For more information, click here.

Panama Canal Drops Restrictions on LNG Transit
The Panama Canal Authority will lift its ban on liquid natural gas (LNG) night transit. The current policy only allows for LNG to be transported during daylight hours, with one shipment per day per carrier. The new policy begins on October 1, 2018, and will allow for a second shipment per day per vessel. For more information, click here. 

Aerospace and Defense Trade Mission to Turkey Planned for December
The US DOC, along with partners, is planning a trade mission to Turkey in December for the aerospace and defense sectors. Both sectors are currently experiencing a boom, with a record number of Turkish airline passengers in 2017, and with the Turkish military being one of the ten strongest in the world. The trade mission will help companies contact both government and private sector decision makers in a country where business is based on personal relationships. Space is limited. For more information, click here.
Dates: December 3-7, 2018
Cost: $5,000/company

EIA Releases Energy Outlook Report
The US Energy Information Administration released their energy outlook report. China, India, and Africa are highlighted because of their large populations and energy consumption. The report focuses on how macroeconomic activity affects energy markets in the specified regions. Click here for the reports.

WEBINARS

Exploring European E-Commerce Webinar
A US Commercial Service webinar originally scheduled for June has been moved to September. 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: September 11, 2018
            September 13, 2018
            September 18, 2018
Time: 10 AM CST
Cost: $75

Small-Scale LNG Exports to China Webinar to be Held
A webinar sponsored by the US Commercial Service will be held in order to discuss export opportunities in China for liquid natural gas (LNG). The Chinese government is shifting towards cleaner fuel options, significantly increasing their demand for LNG. Speakers from both the private and public sector will discuss several topics including import restrictions, infrastructure gaps, etc. To support LNG exports, expedited export permits have been recently approved. For more information on the webinar, click here.
Date: July 30, 2018
Time: 7-8:00 PM CST
Cost: FREE

---

 

 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

---

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