BREAKFAST BRIEFING FEATURES PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR

The new Philippine Ambassador to the United States, Albert del Rosario, will speak at a breakfast briefing on "Doing Business in the Philippines" on Thursday, December 6 in the World Trade Center’s Executive Offices in New Orleans from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. To register, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 271, or click here.

Amb. del Rosario’s career in the private sector spans over four decades, during which he has worked in the banking, insurance, shipping, and telecommunications sectors, among others. Amb. del Rosario has held top level positions at the Metro Pacific Corporation, the Philippine Indocoil Corporation, the Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation, and the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company. In 1991, Amb. del Rosario received the Philippine Army Award from President Aquino for his initiatives as Chairman of the Makati Foundation for Education, and in 2001 received the Edsa II Heroes Award from President Macapagal-Arroyo in recognition for his efforts to promote Philippine democracy.

Shreveport U.S. Export Assistance Center Relocates

The Shreveport U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC) recently moved to the Louisiana State University - Shreveport campus. You may reach USEAC Manager Patricia Holt at:

Shreveport U.S. Export Assistance Center

LSUS - Business Education Building 119H

One University Place

Shreveport, LA 71115-2399

Phone: (318) 676-3064; Fax: (318) 676-3063

Email: patricia.holt@mail.doc.gov

PRESIDENT OF HISPANIC CHAMBER TO SPEAK AT LUNCHEON

The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana is holding a luncheon meeting for the installation of officers and directors at 12:00 Noon in the Plimsoll Club of the World Trade Center on Thursday, December 6. The keynote speaker will be George Herrera, President and CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. To make reservations or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, call (504) 885-4262 or e-mail at hccla@netzero.net.

Chamber to EXPAND FRANCE-LA PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES

The Louisiana chapter of the French-American Chamber of Commerce (FACC/LA) is to be officially recognized by the trade and export promotion agencies of the French government, as well as by the Chambers of Commerce and Industries of France, as a partner in promoting French investment and trade with Louisiana.

A formal agreement between FACC/LA and the Economic Expansion Service of the French Ministry of Economy and Finance will be signed during a ceremony to be held in the lobby of Hibernia National Bank’s home office at 313 Carondelet Street in New Orleans at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, December 17. The ceremony will be followed by a reception. Mr. Jean Fran�ois Boitten, Minister-Counsellor for Economic and Commercial Affairs of the French Embassy in Washington, D.C., will sign on behalf of the French Government. Mr. Damien Regnard, FACC/LA President, will sign on behalf of the Louisiana chapter.

France ranks eighth in the level of foreign investment in Louisiana, with $1.6 billion out of a total of $25 billion in foreign investment from all countries in the state. Existing major investors include Rhodia, Air Liquide, Universal Sodexho, AXA-Advisors, Schlumberger and EADS Aeroframe Services. Under the terms of the cooperation agreement to be signed December 17, the FACC/LA will act, in effect, as the branch office for Louisiana of the French Trade Commission in Houston, and with assistance from the Trade Commission, will recruit potential French investors, follow up on trade and investment inquiries, and research investment and trade possibilities for French companies in Louisiana.

To reserve a place at the December 17 ceremony and reception, call the FACC/LA office at (504) 561-0070 or e-mail: info@faccla.com.

LOUISIANA TRADE EVENTS

Dec. 3, 5, and 10 -Export and import seminars by the Louisiana International Trade Center-SBDC, at the World Trade Center of New Orleans, 3:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Seminar topics include Export/Import Strategies and Market Research, Pricing, Terms, Quotations and Customs Entry Procedures, International Banking, Financing, Transportation, and Documentation. Call the Louisiana International Trade Center (504) 568-8222.

Dec. 6 -"Doing Business in the Philippines" breakfast briefing featuring H.E. Albert F. del Rosario, Ambassador of the Philippines to the United States, at the World Trade Center from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (Also see article on page 1.) Call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 271.

Dec. 6 -Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana luncheon meeting in the Plimsoll Club of the World Trade Center in New Orleans at 12:00 Noon. Featured luncheon speaker is George Herrera, President and CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Call (504) 885-4262 for reservations.

Dec. 17 -Signing Ceremony and Reception at 4:00 p.m. at Hibernia National Bank in New Orleans commemorating cooperation agreement between the Louisiana Chapter of the French-American Chamber of Commerce (FACC/LA) and Economic Expansion Service of the French Ministry of Economy and Finance. To reserve a place, call (504) 651-0070.

INDUSTRY MARKET REPORTS

Below is a list of various U.S. Commercial Service Industry Market Insight Reports. For the entire report(s), call the New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center at (504) 589-6546.

Azerbaijan - Best Prospects for U.S. Agricultural Exports;

Azerbaijan - Best Prospects for Oil and Gas Field Machinery;

Azerbaijan - Best Prospects for Oil, Gas, Mineral Production and Exploration Services;

Canada - Potential for Architectural Paints and Coatings Industry Sector;

China - Imports of Used Medical Equipment;

Egypt - Petroleum Industry Update;

Greece - Construction Firm Seeks U.S. Partners for Major Projects in Northern Greece;

Korea - Government’s Disaster Mitigation Plan Highlights Business Opportunities;

Malaysia - The Use and Standard of Exposure of Chemicals Hazardous to Health;

Mexico - Pemex’s Petrochemical Plan for 2002;

Russia - Progress and Problems: Overview of the Russian Oil and Gas Sector;

United Arab Emirates - Gain Entry to Medical Industry;

Uzebekistan - New Success for U.S. Companies in Oil and Gas Sector;

Venezuela - New "Law of Ports" Opens Doors for U.S. Businesses

New Air Cargo Shipping Regulations

New emergency regulations for air cargo were recently set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

What type of air cargo is affected?

Only shipments on passenger planes are affected. Non-passenger carriers, such as FedEx and UPS, are unaffected by the regulations. The regulations affect domestic as well as international air cargo shipments.

Known vs. unknown shippers:

Unknown shippers will not be permitted to ship anything via passenger airplane. Known shippers will be able to ship via passenger flights.

Direct vs. indirect shippers:

Direct shippers include companies such as FedEx and UPS, and the passenger airlines that accept cargo. Indirect shippers are freight forwarders and other intermediaries that handle or arrange shipping for cargo between the exporter and the direct shipper.

What is the definition of a known shipper?

Under the current FAA regulations, a known shipper is an exporter who has shipped product 24 times since September 1, 1999 with the same direct or indirect shipper. If you do not meet this strict requirement, you are considered an unknown shipper, and are not permitted to ship via passenger airline.

How do you become a known shipper?

If the exporter is currently an unknown shipper, the exporter must have a face-to-face visit with a representative of the direct or indirect shipper. This is not a big issue for some direct shippers, such as FedEx or UPS, as a visit by the delivery person is sufficient. However, for the passenger airlines, the shipper will have to be visited by each airline they intend to ship directly on. For indirect shippers, they will also have to visit the exporter individually, and if the exporter wishes to use more than one, they will need to be visited by each of them, as the certification of "known" status is not usually transferable.

How long will these regulations be in effect?

These regulations are in effect indefinitely, and may be permanent. The airlines are taking this very seriously and are adhering fully to the directives with no exceptions.

Effect of the regulations:

These new regulations will affect companies that ship their product directly by passenger airlines and are new-to-market or infrequent exporters. In particular, the fresh produce industry could be affected tremendously. The regulations may also force companies to change the way they ship their product and encourage them to utilize the services of indirect shippers.

(The above information was furnished by Scott Godden, Director of the Eugene, Oregon U.S. Export Assistance Center.)

NEW ONLINE SERVICE ON EXPORT REGULATIONS

Two U.S. Department of Commerce agencies, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the International Trade Administration (ITA), last month launched Export Alert!, a free Internet-based service that automatically notifies interested businesses when foreign governments propose regulations that might influence the treatment of U.S. exports. Export Alert! can spare businesses and other organizations from unwanted surprises caused by unanticipated changes in technical requirements that dictate terms of market entry.

Export Alert! will gather, organize and disseminate notifications of proposed regulatory changes issued by any of 142 nations that are members of the World Trade Organization. Under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), WTO members are required to report proposed central government regulations that may have an impact on trade.

These TBT notifications are submitted to the WTO Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. In turn, notifications are made available to designated TBT inquiry points in member nations. The U.S. inquiry point is NIST’s National Center for Standards and Certification Information, or NCSCI, which manages the new service.

By electronic mail, Export Alert! automatically sends WTO-distributed notifications to subscribing organizations and individuals. Notifications are sorted among 41 fields of activity that range from health-care technology to agriculture to construction materials. Subscribers can specify the fields of activity that they wish to track. They can also monitor developments in selected countries or regions, such as Japan or the European Union.

In addition to describing the proposed regulation, notifications list the country of origin, the product covered and the deadline for comments. Interested subscribers can contact NCSCI to receive full-text copies of the proposals. The center will also distribute comments from U.S. organizations to the notifying country.

Export Alert! is expected to ease U.S. companies’ ability to stay on top of foreign technical regulations that affect their overseas business. Early warning will help to ensure that U.S. organizations have adequate lead time to review and comment on proposed regulations and perhaps stop regulations judged to pose a barrier to trade.

Last year, WTO members issued more than 600 TBT-related notifications. The greatest numbers were issued in the areas of telecommunications, appliances, beverages, chemicals, food products, electrical equipment, motor vehicles and construction products.

The Export Alert! service was inaugurated during World Standards Week, an annual event intended to recognize the ubiquitous, but often invisible, roles that standards play in business, especially commerce and industry. Standards are commonly agreed specifications designed to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose. Examples include common formats for exchanging information between computers, performance requirements for building materials, and "plug and play" specifications for electronic appliances.

Organizations and individuals interested in subscribing to the Export Alert! service can register on-line at http://ts.nist.gov/ncsci. For additional information, contact the NCSCI by phone at (301) 975-4040 or by e-mail ncsci@nist.gov.

As a non-regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Technology Administration, NIST develops and promotes measurements, standards, and technology to enhance productivity, facilitate trade, and improve the quality of life. For more information on NIST, visit its website at www.nist.gov. To explore a century of NIST partnership with U.S. industry, benefits to the public, and impacts on economic growth, go the NIST centennial (1901-2001) website at www.100.nist.gov.

Worldwide Updates

Argentina Import Duty Changes: The Argentine Ministry of Economy has lowered import duties on new capital goods to zero percent and raised tariff rates on most consumer products to 28 percent.

Help in Penetrating the Chinese Market: DSMR Ltd, a firm specializing in representation and research in China, has put together a helpful guide and other free information on doing business in China. Visit their website at www.DSMRchina.com.

Japan Offers Free Bulletin Board for U.S. Machinery Exporters: The Japan Machinery Importers Association offers foreign manufacturers and exporters the use of its free bulletin board called "Inquiry for Export to Japan." Use the website www.jmia.or.jp to take advantage of this free promotional opportunity.

New Area Codes for Mexico: Calls to Mexican cities now require 10-digit numbers. Log onto www.telmex.com for details on the new area codes and dialing instructions.

Nigerian/West African Scam Letters: If you receive correspondence from Nigeria or West Africa that you suspect is a scam, log onto http://travel.state.gov/tips_nigeria.html for guidelines on what to do. You may also call the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Market Access Program at (202) 284-5149 for assistance. Once you have determined that it is not a legitimate deal, report it as an "advanced fee fraud" to your local office of the Secret Service. Locate the nearest Secret Service at www.treasury.gov/usss/.

Pakistan—War Risk Premiums: All exports from U.S. ports to Pakistani ports will be assessed a war risk premium as follows: $450 per 20-ft. container; $900 per 40-ft. container and 40-ft. h/c container.

United Arab Emirates Customs Tightening: The Dubai Customs Department has been strict regarding the listing of Harmonized Schedule Codes on air and sea freight shipment invoices. Failure to mention the H.S. Codes will result in a fine of 10 Emirati Dirham for each item.

BRAZIL TRADE EXPO HIGHLIGHTS U.S. PRODUCTS

The U.S. Commercial Center in Sao Paulo, Brazil invites Louisiana companies to explore new business opportunities in the largest market in Latin America by participating in the Second Annual RepCom Brazil trade exhibition of new-to-market U.S. products and services March 19-21, 2002.

Last year’s show generated immediate sales of $410,000 and projected 12-month sales in excess of $3 million. Much of this success resulted from the 450 individual meetings scheduled for exhibitors with potential Brazilian representatives and distributors under the auspices of the show’s RepFind service. The $1,500 fee includes the RepFind service, and a furnished booth. For more information, call the New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center at (504) 589-6546 or the Shreveport USEAC at (318) 676-3064, or log on to www.focusbrazil.org.br.

GLOBAL JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Four international football teams will compete in the sixth consecutive Global Junior Championship in New Orleans in January. This official international event of Super Bowl week will feature teams from Canada, Europe, the U.S. and Japan. The Honorary Chairmen of the event are New Orleans Saints defensive tackle La’Roi Glover and quarterback Jake Delhomme. The event has become a showcase for amateur tackle football initiatives around the world and in the host communities. More than 3,000 media, including 400 from outside the United States, will be in New Orleans for Super Bowl XXXVI. All games will be played at Hahnville High School on Wednesday, January 30 and Saturday, February 2. For more information about the Global Junior Championship games or sponsorship opportunities for the event, call (817) 326-3578.