SEMINAR ON OVERSEAS DISTRIBUTOR NETWORKS

The Rice, Fowler law firm, the World Trade Center and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development are sponsoring a luncheon seminar at the WTC in New Orleans on Tuesday, May 23 on the topic "Developing and Managing an International Distributor Network."

The seminar will be conducted by Glenn Stoudt, President of the International Division of Rochester Midland Corporation, a 112-year-old manufacturing company specializing in chemical products for industrial maintenance applications. The company is operating through distributors in 35 overseas markets

The seminar is designed for small-to-medium-size businesses and will cover the identification of suitable international markets, conducting market research, selecting overseas agents and distributors, and successfully managing a distributor network.

For additional information and to register, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222 or 254.

GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL TRADE

The Southern Regional Agricultural Trade Research Committee is sponsoring a two-day conference on "Global Agricultural Trade in the New Millennium." The conference will be held on May 25-26 at Le Meridien Hotel in New Orleans. The focus of the conference is to evaluate expected changes in agricultural trade and to reassess the competitiveness of U.S. agricultural commodities and products. Specific themes include: (1) accomplishments and progress of the Uruguay Round Agreement and critical issues for the upcoming WTO negotiations, (2) impacts of regionalism, such as the Free Trade Area of the Americas and the European Union, on agricultural trade, and (3) analysis of major trade issues specific to individual commodities.

A conference program, registration material, and other important information can be found at the following website: www.agecon.msstate.edu/s-287/. Those interested in attending the conference should complete the registration form and return it to Parr Rosson, Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2124. The conference registration fee is $225. If you have any questions, please contact P. Lynn Kennedy, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Louisiana State University, by phone at (225) 388-2726 or via e-mail at lkennedy@agctr.lsu.edu.

IDB MEETING A SUCCESS

The annual meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which was held in New Orleans March 23-29, was considered a major success from every standpoint. The meeting attracted a record 5,300 IDB delegates to New Orleans, including official delegations, representatives of the private sector, journalists, and guests. A good summary of the substantive results of the meeting is contained on the IDB’s website at www.iadb.org/exr/ PRENSA/2000/cp7000e.htm.

JUNE 16 CENTRAL AMERICAN BUSINESS BRIEFING

The U.S. Commercial Attachés in Guatemala and Panama will conduct a luncheon briefing at the World Trade Center in New Orleans on Friday, June 16 on the subject "Business Outlook for Central America: Issues and Opportunities." Dan Thompson from Guatemala City and Richard Benson from Panama City will discuss a wide range of new trade and investment opportunities for Louisiana companies in Central America arising out of the reconstruction efforts following Hurricane Mitch, the transfer of the Panama Canal, the recent Inter-American Development Bank meeting held in New Orleans, the Caribbean Basin trade bill currently before Congress, and other developments.

The June 16 luncheon program is sponsored by the New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center, the Louisiana Export Council, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, the WTC, and other organizations. For details, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222 or 254.

RODNEY SLATER ADDRESS

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater was the guest of honor at an April 20 dinner at the World Trade Center which was hosted by new Orleans Mayor Marc Morial and the WTC. Secretary Slater addressed the gathering on the topic "Renewed Leadership in Western Hemisphere Trade." In his address (the text of which is contained on the Trade Programs Section of the WTC’s website), Secretary Slater discusses a range of initiatives which New Orleans and Louisiana have taken on Latin America and the Caribbean in recent years and the opportunities for future leadership as a Gateway for the Western Hemisphere.

CALENDAR OF LOUISIANA EVENTS

May 11 -Membership Meeting of the U.N. Association of Greater New Orleans at the WTC, 5:30 p.m. Call(504) 488-0856.

May 11 -Foreign Relations Association dinner program on "Cyber-Terrorism and the FBI Response" featuring Sidney J. Reed, Special Agent of the New Orleans Field Division of the FBI, 6:30 p.m. cash bar, dinner at 7:00 p.m. Call (504) 523-2201.

May 16 -Import/Export Strategies and Market Research seminar from 8:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the WTC in New Orleans. Call the Louisiana International Trade Center (LITC) at (504) 568-8222.

May 18 -Pricing, Terms, Quotations and Customs Entry Procedures seminar from 8:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the WTC in New Orleans. Call the LITC at (504) 568-8222.

May 19 -Luncheon address at the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge by Mr. Pierre Lepetit, Senior Advisor with the French Embassy. Call the French-American Chamber at (504) 561-0070.

May 23 -Luncheon seminar at the WTC in New Orleans on "Developing and Managing an International Distributor Network," conducted by Glenn Stoudt, President, International Division, Rochester Midland Corp. Call 529-1601, ext. 222.

May 23 -International Banking, Financing, Transportation, and Documentation seminar from 8:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the WTC in New Orleans. Call the LITC at (504) 568-8222.

June 9 -Annual Membership Meeting of the Foreign Relations Association at the Intercontinental Hotel in New Orleans with Professor Anthony Pereira at Tulane University speaking on "New Democracies: Emerging or Submerging?" 6:30 p.m. cash bar, dinner at 7:00 p.m. Call (504) 523-2201.

June 9-23 -Muscadet Festival in New Orleans. Call the French-American Chamber at (504) 561-0070.

June 16 -Luncheon Seminar on Central America featuring the U.S. Commercial Attaches in Guatemala and Panama. Call the World Trade Center in New Orleans at (504) 529-1601, ext. 254.

June 19 -Import/Export Strategies and Market Research seminar from 3:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at the WTC in New Orleans. Call the LITC at (504) 568-8222.

June 21 -Pricing, Terms, Quotations, and Customs Entry Procedures seminar from 3:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at the WTC in New Orleans. Call 568-8222.

June 28 -International Banking, Financing, Transportation, and Documentation seminar from 3:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. at the WTC in New Orleans. Call the LITC at (504) 568-8222.

June 29 -Global Trade on the Internet seminar from 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the WTC in New Orleans. Call the LITC at (504) 568-8222.

DONALD VAN DE WERKEN APPOINTED USEAC DIRECTOR

Sandra Gerley, International Trade Administration (ITA) Mid-Western Regional Director, has announced the selection of Donald C. van de Werken as the Director of the New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC) in New Orleans. Mr. van de Werken previously worked as an Outreach Specialist for the Office of the Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), based in Atlanta. His main responsibility was to help increase awareness of export opportunities for U.S. agriculture, food, fiber, and forestry industries, particularly small-and-medium-sized enterprises.

From 1993 to 1998, he served in the Dairy, Livestock and Poultry Division (DLP) of FAS as an agricultural marketing specialist, with oversight responsibility for four commodity groups that receive USDA funding under the Foreign Market Development and Market Access Programs. His duties at DLP included overseeing and assisting with the international promotional activities of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, the U.S. Livestock Genetics Export Inc., the U.S. Beef Breeds Council, and the U.S. Dairy Export Council. He has an extensive background in international market research for livestock products through his previous work with FAS as an international livestock analyst.

Prior to FAS, Mr. van de Werken worked for the USDA-Farmers Home Administration in Texas as an Assistant County Supervisor. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Master’s in Agricultural Economics, both from Texas A & M University. Mr. van de Werkin is a first-generation American with Dutch-Indonesian heritage. Born in Elgin, Illinois, he spent most of his childhood in Texas. Mr. van de Werken can be reached at the USEAC in New Orleans at (504) 589-6546.

JEAN COLLINS AWARDED COMMERCE BRONZE MEDAL

Jean M. Collins, Trade Reference Assistant and Computer Systems Administrator of the New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center in New Orleans, received the U.S. Department of Commerce 1999 Bronze Honor Award Medal for Outstanding ITA Technical, Secretarial or Clerical Employee last month in Washington, D.C. Ms. Collins was recognized for her superb organizational, training, and technical skills in support of the Center, as well as her back-up support for the Export Assistance Centers in Shreveport, Louisiana, and Raymond, Mississippi. The award is the highest honorary award given by Commerce’s Under Secretary for outstanding performance and achievement of major significance to the International Trade Administration.

FREE WEBSITE ON WTCA ON-LINE CATALOG

Now even a small or medium-sized business can establish a global website presence and become part of an active and respected on-line international trading community through the World Trade Centers Association’s (WTCA) network of more than 300 WTCs and 500,000 affiliated businesses with WTCA On-Line Catalog.

The WTCA On-Line Catalog at www.wtca.org is an Internet-based collection of catalogs showcasing the products and services of WTC member companies. By simply completing an easy on-line form, WTC members can create a professional website catalog in minutes. And if your company already has its own website, hyperlinking it to WTCA On-Line Catalog provides an additional Internet venue to drive even more traffic. What's more, with the WTCA On-Line Catalog, you can find out complete contact information on any prospect that views your site and also access vital marketing statistics.

Best of all, website creation and maintenance are available to WTC members for no fee, making participating in the WTCA On-Line Catalog more cost-effective than developing or maintaining your own website, or launching an advertising or direct mail campaign. For details on WTC New Orleans membership and the WTCA On-Line Catalog, call WTC Membership Director Natalie Rideau at (504) 529-1601, ext. 226.

SUMMER FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES AT THE WTC

The World Trade Center will commence its summer session of foreign language classes the week of June 5. The classes are conducted by the faculty of Alpha Tech Communications. The session will last seven weeks; classes will meet once a week for 1-1/2 hours. The following languages will be offered: Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, and English as a Second Language. Tuition is $95 for WTC members and $190 for non-members. (Registration and materials cost $45.) Classes are held at the WTC building, with free parking at the WTC garage. Call Alpha Tech at (504) 454-6554.

PONCE DE LEON NAMED TAX FREE SHOPPING DIRECTOR

The Louisiana Tax Free Shopping Program has announced the appointment of Lisa Ponce de Leon as the new Director of the program, effective May 1. Ms. Ponce de Leon succeeds Ana Cherenek, who held the position since 1998.

Ms. Ponce de Leon, a native of New Orleans who grew up in Mexico City, is a graduate of the University of New Orleans. She comes to Tax Free Shopping from the MetroVision Partnership in New Orleans, where she served as Director of International Business since 1995. Prior to MetroVision, Ms. Ponce de Leon was Executive Director of Encuentro, an Inter-American Business matchmaker and trade show held annually in New Orleans. Earlier in her career, she served as Director of Special Events for the Louisiana Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, was a real estate sales associate, and owned a boutique in the French Quarter in New Orleans.

Louisiana Tax Free Shopping was established in 1989 and continues to be the only program of its kind in the United States which refunds the sales tax to international visitors who shop at any of the more than 1,000 participating stores throughout the state. In 1999, visitors from 125 countries around the world spent $32 million on retail purchases statewide. The top five countries in spending under the Tax-Free Shopping Program last year were Honduras, Mexico, Great Britain, Germany, and France.

U.N. ASSOCIATION TO SPRUCE UP DAY CARE CENTER

The United Nations Association of Greater New Orleans (UNA) is organizing "Spring Cleaning," on June 10 at the Louise Day Care Center in New Orleans. The center provides day care for 85 children, ages 2-5. UNA volunteers will be sprucing up the center with paint, plants, pictures, and other decorations. You are invited to donate either time or supplies. Call Tiffany Roberts at (504) 269-5836 or Graciela Seng at (504) 523-3755, ext. 2621.

DIRECTORY OF AMCHAMS ABROAD

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is selling its new Spring 2000 Directory of American Chamber’s of Commerce Abroad, which lists the full contact information for all of the 85 AmChams located overseas. The price is $15 per copy. For details, call (202) 463-5460.

WEBSITE MATCHES EXPORTERS WITH FINANCIAL RESOURCES

The U.S. Department of Commerce has a free website that matches exporters with financial institutions. After filling out a site form, the computer searches the Commerce database for a financial company that matches the exporter’s needs. Log on to www.ita.doc.gov/td/efm and visit the Export Finance Matchmaker's web site.

MAY 11 UNA MEETING

The United Nations Association of Greater New Orleans (UNA) will meet next on Thursday, May 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the World Trade Center. In addition to the election of officers for the year ahead and reports from the standing committees, Ms. Mayra Grimaldi, who serves on the UNA Board of Directors, will be recognized for her outstanding service to the international community in Louisiana. Ms. Grimaldi will be ending her term as Consul General of Nicaragua and Dean of the Consular Corps on May 15. A reception in her honor will follow the meeting. For information on UNA memberships, call Dr. Dwight Ramsey, President at (504) 488-0856.

MEXICO YELLOW PAGES ON-LINE

Log on the Internet at www.seccionamarilla.com.mx to view the Mexican Yellow Pages. Searches can be done in Spanish or English.

CHINA DEBATE

President Clinton submitted legislation to Congress on March 8 to extend Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) to China. This would amend the 1974 Trade Act (PL93-618) by excluding China from Title IV, which requires the U.S. to conduct an annual review of its trade status. The U.S. and China completed bilateral negotiations on China’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November of 1999, but China must still complete agreements with its other key trading partners and finish negotiating the terms of its accession that will face multilateral approval within the WTO.

In its agreement with the U.S., China pledges to make significant market openings in almost every sector of its economy while the U.S. is required only to make permanent the status (formerly known as Most Favored Nation, or MFN) it has accorded China every year since 1980. The agreement would increase access into China for U.S. goods by reducing tariffs, eliminating trade-distorting export subsidies on agricultural products, doing away with barriers on distribution, and eliminating quotas on imports from the U.S.

In 1999, Louisiana shipped $704 million in exports to China, almost half of which was in agricultural products. As a part of its agreement with the U.S., China will lower tariffs on many important Louisiana and other U.S. exports. Its elimination of agricultural export subsidies will make many Louisiana products (and others exported from Louisiana ports) more competitive in markets outside of China. Louisiana’s maritime industry stands to benefit greatly from the projected expansion in trade between the U.S. and China.

Failure by the U.S. to extend PNTR to China would not block its entry into the WTO. It would, however, allow China to exclude the U.S. from the benefits it will provide to other members and deprive the U.S. of the right to utilize WTO dispute settlement procedures to enforce China’s concessions. The Clinton administration hopes to bring PNTR to a vote in Congress shortly, before the national political season shifts into high gear. The vote looks close, and various domestic groups are organizing strong opposition.

IMF GLOBAL ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released an economic outlook report on April 12 stating that the world economy regained its footing in 1999 and forecasting growth this year at the fastest pace in more than a decade. The IMF revised its earlier estimate for the increase in economic output in 1999 to 3.3%, up sharply from 2.5% in 1998 during the global financial crisis. The IMF also predicted that global output will expand by 4.2% this year and continue growing at 3.9% in 2001.

AFRICAN/CARIBBEAN BASIN ACT

A compromise bill that would ease access to the U.S. market for Caribbean and African goods (HR 434) passed the U.S. House on May 5 by a vote of 309-110 after emerging from a House-Senate ConferenceCommittee. The measure is now awaiting a vote in the Senate, where it is also expected to pass. It was originally comprised of two separate bills, the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Caribbean and Central American Relief and Stabilization Act. The bill is intended to stimulate economic growth in Africa and nurture the increasing number of fledgling democracies there, while allowing countries in Central America and the Caribbean to compete more strongly in a region that has been hurt by NAFTA.

The basics of a compromise House-Senate bill were agreed to on April 13. It would allow apparel from both regions (Africa and the Caribbean Basin) made with U.S. fabrics or yarns into the U.S. free of duties and quotas. The amount of apparel made from African components that could be imported duty-free would be capped for eight years, initially at 1.5% of total U.S. apparel and rising to about 3.5%. Apparel from the poorest African nations made from fabrics manufactured outside the U.S. or sub-Saharan Africa would be free of duties for four years. For Caribbean nations, there would be no duties on the first 25 million square meters of imported clothing made from regional fabrics, with the exception of T-shirts, which could be imported free of duties until the volume of imports reaches current levels.

Foreign Sales Corporation (FSCs)

The U.S. has offered to repeal a $4.1 billion-a-year tax break for exporters as part of its efforts to comply with a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling that the provision violates global trading rules. Deputy Treasury Secretary Stuart Eizenstat made the offer during meetings with European Union officials in Brussels in early May. He said Congress could vote by October to repeal the sections of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code establishing special tax treatment for Foreign Sales Corporations (FSCs), substituting them with one that complies with WTO regulations. A WTO panel earlier this year ruled that the tax break, which provides an exemption on export profits on U.S.-produced goods sold abroad through offshore units of U.S. companies (FSCs), breached WTO rules barring such subsidies.

Of the proposals under consideration, one would eliminate the FSC and replace it with an indirect tax on gross receipts coming from the sale of goods and services, while the other would reform the FSC to allow for the extension of tax breaks to income other than that generated by the sale of exports.

U.S. ARREARS TO THE UN

President Clinton signed legislation on November 29, 1999 that will enable payment of U.S. arrears to the United Nations and other international organizations. The full value of the package is $926 million, comprised of $819 million in cash payments and a $107 million credit against amounts owed by the UN to the U.S. The payments will be made in three stages, contingent upon completion of a separate set of reforms by the UN to be enacted by the end of 2001.

For additional information on these or other international trade issues, contact Lawrence Marino, WTC Manager of Government and Transportation Affairs by phone at (504) 529-1601, ext. 262 or by e-mail at wtc-info.wtc-no.org

U.S. LEGISLATIVE AND TRADE POLICY UPDATE

Louisiana’s worldwide exports declined by 6.5% to $17.2 billion in 1999, according to a report released by the World Trade Center of New Orleans (WTC). While the state’s total exports reflected a downturn last year compared to 1998, Louisiana shipments to the United States’ two neighboring NAFTA partners, Mexico and Canada, each grew by more than 10% in 1999, ranking those countries second and third, respectively, behind Japan as the state’s largest export markets. The reduced level of total exports from Louisiana in 1999 -- $1.2 billion less than in 1998 -- was due mainly to lower export shipments of processed foods, agricultural commodities, and paper products, especially to China, Japan, Spain, Colombia, Brazil, and the U.K.

The WTC report for 1999, which covers the export of both Louisiana-made products and goods produced in other states shipped abroad through Louisiana’s ports, is generated by the Massachusetts Institute for Social and Economic Research (MISER) and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Japan continued to be Louisiana’s number one export destination in 1999, taking $2.2 billion of the state’s $17.2 billion of international shipments, representing a 13% decrease in value of exports to Japan from the prior year. Louisiana’s second-largest export market, Mexico, showed an increase of 10.5% to $1.3 billion compared to 1998, and Louisiana’s shipments to third-ranking Canada grew 11% in 1999 to $1.1 billion. Taiwan was Louisiana’s fourth-largest market, posting a 15% increase to $791 million in 1999, while South Korea slipped one place to fifth with $754 million, a decline of 18% from 1998. China, which ranked third among Louisiana’s export markets in 1998, dropped to seventh place in 1999 ($703 million vs. $1,070 million in 1998, a year in which Louisiana’s shipments to China reached record-high levels, especially those of processed foods).

Of Louisiana’s top ten export destinations during 1999, four were located in Asia (Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and China), three were in the Western Hemisphere (Canada, Mexico, and Venezuela), two were in Europe (the Netherlands and Belgium), and one was in the Middle East (Egypt). "With Louisiana’s top five export markets located in Asia and the Americas, the economic growth expected in both those regions this year is a promising sign for statewide exports," stated Lawrence Collins, International Trade Director for the Louisiana Department of Economic Development.

Louisiana’s number one worldwide export sector, agricultural commodities, fell in total value in 1999 by 2.0% to $7.9 billion. Chemicals and allied products were the state’s second largest export category at $3.3 billion, an increase of 3.5% over 1998. Processed food exports were third at $3 billion, a decline of 25% from 1998.

Traditionally ranking among the top ten exporting states, Louisiana placed eleventh overall in 1999. For the U.S. as a whole, export shipments increased over 1998 by almost 2% to $693 billion.

Trade reports that provide information on 33 product categories of Louisiana exports to more than 200 countries worldwide are available by calling the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 262.

BATON ROUGE TALK ON U.S.-EUROPE RELATIONS

The French-American Chamber of Commerce (FACC) and the Baton Rouge Center for World Affairs are holding a luncheon at the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge on Friday, May 19. Mr. Pierre Lepetit, Senior Advisor for Energy and Environment with the French Embassy, will make a presentation on U.S.-Europe relations. Louisiana Lt. Gov. Kathleen Blanco will deliver introductory remarks. Baton Rouge Mayor-President Tom Ed McHugh is the guest of honor. The luncheon will be followed by a tour of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University. Tickets are $35 for FACC/LA members and $40 for non-members. For details, call Valerie Guillet at the French-American Chamber of Commerce at (504) 561-0070.

MUSCADET WINE FESTIVAL IN NEW ORLEANS JUNE 9-23

The French-American Chamber of Commerce (FACC) and the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Nantes (CIVN) will celebrate the 2nd Annual Muscadet Wine Festival in New Orleans June 9-23. This year’s theme is "Le Mariage du Muscadet." For two weeks 20 area restaurants will promote the wine, offering a meal and Muscadet special to their clientele. The public may sample these specials at a food and wine tasting on June 23, 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. at the Maison St. Charles Hotel. Guests will vote for their favorite Muscadet and meal combination, celebrating their "marriage" in traditional French fashion. Tickets are $35 per person, and may be purchased through the FACC. For tickets and additional information, call ValŽrie Guillet at the FACC at (504) 561-0070.