C U S T O M S / S E C U R I T Y

Taking a CBP-Wide Approach to ACE
02/11/2008

The Office of International Trade is playing a vital role in creating Automated Commercial Environment entry summary capabilities, which are expected to automate business processes, streamline operations and dramatically change the way U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducts business. Created to consolidate all CBP trade policy and coordinate efforts to achieve the agency’s vision for trade modernization, the Office of International Trade bears primary ownership of the CBP entry summary business process. Using entry summary process expertise and a collaborative approach, the Office of International Trade is leading efforts to define and develop these ACE capabilities. more...

CBP Moves to New Online Applications for Members of Trade Program
Friday, February 15, 2008

Washington — Beginning April 1, 2008, applicants for the southern border Free and Secure Trade, or FAST, Commercial Driver Program will be permitted to enroll online at the CBP website. This enhancement is limited to new southern border (U.S./Mexico) FAST Driver applicants. This is the first step in a phased migration to full online account management, which, by late summer 2008, will afford FAST Commercial Drivers on both borders on-demand account access similar to that enjoyed by NEXUS and SENTRI members.

more...

Country Music Artist Sets Travel Document Message to Song
01/30/2008

Shirley Myers is a Canadian country music artist based in Nashville, Tenn. She knows what it takes to cross the border efficiently.

So it was a natural for her to volunteer to produce a short public service announcement to remind citizens on both sides of the border that providing the proper documents will speed the inspection process when entering the U.S. ( Border Crossing PSA )

"I cross the border a lot," Myers says during the 30-second announcement meant for radio play. "The rules are changing and you should know the documents you’ll need."

Listeners are encouraged to visit CBP.gov for information on the changes. (see below - Ready, Set... Go!) 

Tomorrow marks the beginning of a transition where U.S. and Canadian citizens crossing into the U.S. from either Canadian or Mexican, via land or sea, will be asked to provide proof of identity and citizenship. This can be as simple as a driver’s license and a birth certificate, but a complete list of options is posted to cbp.gov, and is also being distributed to travelers at ports of entry. As early as June, 2009, all who enter the U.S. will be required to present secure documents. This will help make the border crossing process secure and more efficient.

"We are thrilled that Shirley agreed to help CBP and our counterparts in Canada get the word out," said Jeffrey Robertson, CBP’s assistant commissioner for public affairs. Robertson said he was particularly grateful that Myers was able to record the song in French as well as English. (Border Crossing PSA – French version)

"We are distributing this to radio stations on both sides of the border," Robertson said. "We’ve done a lot of work to make sure travelers are aware of how best to speed the inspection process when crossing the borders, but this by far was the most fun."

The lyrics for the jingle were written by William Anthony of CBP’s public affairs office.

For more information on Shirley Myers, visit her Website.

S H I P P I N G

St Lawrence Fees Freeze

TOLLS for using the St Lawrence Seaway are to be frozen for three years as part of a plan to boost traffic on the waterway which saw a decline in use last year. The St Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) has also announced a revised tariff structure which will provide a significant boost to new business growth. more...

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway 2008 navigation season is set to start on March 20 at 8 a.m. with the opening of the Welland Canal.

The Montreal-Lake Ontario section will open at the same time on March 22, while the U.S. Sault Ste. Marie locks and canals will open March 25.

In the Welland Canal, a maximum allowable draft of 26 feet-6 inches will be in effect from the start of the navigation season for all vessels.

Zero Growth for US Container Ports

Many years of non-stop growth in US containerized imports came to a halt in 2007, but a modest recovery now appears to be under way.  Latest figures from Piers Global Intelligence Solutions, which compiles its data from ship manifests, show that inbound volumes fell by a provisional 1.1% in 2007 to 18.96m teu.  This compares with 8.6% growth in 2006 and 10.5% in 2005.  The numbers confirm what container lines already know from first-hand experience, with a large number of ships moved off the Pacific over the past year in response to much slower growth.  That speedy action has kept ship utilization high and left carriers hopeful that they will be able to obtain higher rates during the forthcoming round of annual contract negotiations.  Transpacific Stabilization Agreement members will be seeking increases of $400 per 40 ft container for shipments from Asia to the US west coast, and $600 for intermodal and east coast all-water cargo.  Total capacity fell slightly in 2007, but TSA lines expect slots on the Pacific to increase by around 2% - 4% this year, slightly less than projected cargo growth.  However, they are warning that their operations could be scaled back again if economic conditions do not improve.  But for the shipping lines, it is the much larger transpacific trade that really matters and here the volumes are broadly flat.  (Lloyd’s List, 2/7/2008.)

W O R L D   T R A D E 

Guidelines for New Importers and Exporters

To avoid potential problems in the clearance of your merchandise, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that you familiarize yourself with CBP policies and procedures prior to actually importing/exporting your goods. You should also be aware of any entry requirements specific to the particular commodity you are importing/exporting, including those of other federal agencies. To assist you, we offer the following tips for new importers and exporters. more...

Wisconsin's International Exports are Soaring
Small Business Times

Wisconsin's exports increased by 11.8 percent to a record $19.2 billion in 2007, and Wisconsin now ranks as the 19th-largest exporting state in the nation, an improvement from its 21st ranking in 2006.

Exports to Canada, Wisconsin's largest international market, grew by 7.3 percent to $5.8 billion. Mexico continued as Wisconsin's second-largest export market, as exports grew 2 percent to $1.9 billion. more...

Metro Milwaukee Export Data
Now Available

According to data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of the Census and Manufacturing and Services on Januay 24, the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis metropolitan area ranked #30 nationally for exports in 2006. Milwaukee-area companies shipped $6.8 billion worth of products to other countries. That represented nearly 40 percent of Wisconsin’s total exports. Racine County ranked #89 with $1.5 billion. Kenosha County is considered part of the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet Metropolitan Area for statistical purposes. Madison ranked #100.

Leading destinations for Milwaukee area exports are Canada (25%), Mexico (19%), China (6%), Japan (5%), and Germany (4%). more...

A S I A  

Chinese Designer Labels

In January, the Chinese retailers at Beijing's Silk Street Market, which is a notorious supplier of knock-off merchandise such as Louis Vuitton, announced that they would begin creating clothing and other items under their own SilkStreet brand, and they naturally issued the warning, "Anyone using the brand (without permission) will be held liable." [Reuters, 1-24-08]

 E V E N T S / S E M I N A R S

WI Department of Commerce: Trade Show Grant Program

The Trade Show Grant Program encourages smaller Wisconsin companies (companies with annual sales of less than $25 million, including affiliates and subsidiaries) to become exporters, and helps existing smaller exporters seek out new international markets. Under the program, Wisconsin companies can be reimbursed up to $5,000 for specific expenses for participating in an approved trade show or matchmaker trade delegation event outside the United States. Wisconsin companies marketing new hi-tech products with worldwide application may be approved for shows held within the United States that have significant international participation. A company can be approved for up to $5,000 in a 12-month period and no more than $15,000 total under this program. For more information about the program and an application form, visit http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/IE/IE-TradeShowGrant.html

March 18, 2008 "A GATEWAY TO DOING BUSINESS IN NORTH AFRICA"

Davians Conference Center, Menomonee Falls WI

Click Here For Meeting Notice
Online Registration Click Here
List of Meeting Attendees

Could this be the final frontier? An untapped market? But what situations and requirements in each of the following countries, existing and future, affect our exports and collections? Our presentation in the morning, led by JIM WALKER, with British Arab Commercial Bank Limitied (BACB), joining us from England will provide coverage of:

Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia

Following lunch, join in the Roundtable Forum & Discussion - Any Topic, Region or Country! BE SURE TO INVITE OTHERS FROM YOUR COMPANY WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS VALUABLE SESSION!

MWTA  April 3, 2008  http://mwta.com/

Dinner Meeting
Program I: Technology for International Business
Program II: TBA
Location: GE Healthcare Training Facility, Pewaukee

March 18 - Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton
6th Annual Northeastern Wisconsin Global Trade Conference
Taking Wisconsin to the World

The Sixth Annual Northeastern Wisconsin Global Trade Conference will provide business professionals with tools and skills need to compete in the expanding  global marketplace. The daylong conference will be held Tuesday, March 18 at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in downtown Appleton. This year's event is presented in conjunction with U.S. Representative Tom Petri (R-6th District) and U.S. Representative Steve Kagen (D-8th District). Keynote speakers are Robert G. Bohn, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Oshkosh Corporation and Israel Hernandez, Assistant Secretary for Trade  Promotion, U.S. Department of Commerce.  

Additionally, there will be 8 one-hour sessions on  individual topics related to international commerce, including such topics as: Export-Import Documentation and Procedures; Global Supply Chain Management;  International Trade Intelligence; Export Compliance Overview, and others.  The individual registration fee is $70 for individuals who register before March 8, 2008 and $80 thereafter.  Student registration fee is $15 until March 8th and $17 thereafter. To obtain conference registration materials, please contact Fred Monique at 920-496-2118 or via e-mail at  monique@titletown.org

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

44^th Annual Wisconsin International Trade Conference
Italian Community Center, Milwaukee

Stop by our booth - M.E. Dey will be there!

Registration starting soon