M.E. Dey Newsletter

April 2005

It's a Small (Business)
World After All

Companies with fewer than 500 workers account for more than 29% of total U.S. goods exported ... and represent 97% of all U.S. exporters, according to the International Trade Administration.

The SBA’s Office of Advocacy finds that it’s not out-of-pocket transaction costs (e.g., travel, logistics, and shipping) but psychological, personal, and opportunity costs that keep small businesses from bringing their products to the global marketplace.

According to the SBA report, "Costs of Developing a Foreign Market for a Small Business: The Market and Non-Market Barriers to Exporting by Small Firms." the biggest psychological barrier to exporting is uncertainty about overseas markets,

The SBA offers small businesses a guide to Breaking into the Trade Game, including questions to help entrepreneurs build an export business plan.

Contact M.E. Dey for guidance on initiating trade programs within your organization.

T H I N K G L O B A L
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Italian Community Center
631 E. Chicago Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202

Reception co-hosted by
M. E. Dey & Co.

for more information:

Metro Milwaukee Association of
Commerce - Special Events

Pressure to Agree on C-TPAT
Journal of Commerce 2/28/2005

More than four months after Customs and Border Protection proposed standards for the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, the agency and the trade industry have not agreed on what those standards should be. The trade’s biggest complaint is that Customs is moving forward with C-TPAT standards without making parallel progress on the benefits that the trade will derive. It’s impossible for companies to invest in security when they don’t know what return they will get. Companies that want to join C-TPAT must balance costs against benefits, such as expedited treatment for their imports.

Final C-TPAT Rules Out

Importers that participate in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism have a new set of deadlines to upgrade their security to new voluntary guidelines.

Commissioner Bonner Announced Security Criteria

I m p o r t & E x p o r t

Certain wooden craft items from China prohibited

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued an FAQ sheet concerning its order to prohibit the importation of certain wooden craft items from China. In general, the items are craft items that contain wooden logs, limbs, branches, or twigs greater than 1 centimeter in diameter with intact bark arriving in the U.S. after April 1, 2005. This prohibition apparently does not apply to wooden logs less than 1 centimeter in diameter. However, they will be subject to inspection for the usual unwelcome bugs. This prohibition does not apply to treated, bark free or manufactured wood.

APHIS Fact Sheet (dated March 2005) available at USDA website.

IMPORT: The Fiscal Year 2004
Vital Statistics

1.41 Trillion of Import value in FY2004

NCBFAA: Customs Wants
More Import Data

Agency seeking entry information from traders

California Ports Plan to Raise
Charges and Contemplate
Storage Free Time Reduction

New Generation of Big Ships
will Force Change

E v e n t s , S e m i n a r s & W o r k s h o p s

Incoterms Workshop at WCTC

U.S. Export Regulations Expo

American Association of Exporters & Importers

Supply Chain Security in a New Business Environment Seminar