SWISS AMBASSADOR TO SPEAK AT WTC ON APRIL 15

On Friday, April 15 the Honorary Consulate of Switzerland, the World Trade Center, and other organizations will sponsor a luncheon briefing in the WTC’s Plimsoll Club on “Switzerland Between Two Worlds: the U.S. and the EU” featuring H.E. Christian Blickenstorfer, Ambassador of Switzerland to the United States. The Ambassador’s visit also commemorates the celebration of the 150^th anniversary of the Swiss-American Society of New Orleans and the 175^th anniversary of the Consulate of Switzerland in New Orleans. Christian Blickenstorfer was appointed Ambassador of Switzerland to the U.S in 2001. From 1993 to 1997 he was Ambassador of Switzerland to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and the Yemen. To register for the luncheon, call the World Trade Center at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222 or 271, or click here.

APRIL 22 SEMINAR ON FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT

On Friday, April 22 the World Trade Center will hold a seminar from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. on “The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Competing and Complying in Foreign Markets” conducted by Stuart H. Deming, a Washington, D.C. attorney. A light luncheon will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. (Two CLE credit hours for attorneys have been approved by the Louisiana State Bar Association.) An outgrowth of the Watergate era, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act was principally adopted to prohibit the offer or payment of bribes to foreign officials to obtain or retain business. To register for the seminar, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222 or 271, or click here.

APRIL 29 SEMINAR ON THE IMPORT PROCESS

On Friday, April 29 the WTC will hold an all-day seminar on “The Import Process” featuring Donna Bade, an attorney in the Chicago office of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg. The morning session will cover “Clearing Your Imports Through Customs: A Step-by-Step Approach” and the afternoon session will be on “Improving your Customs Compliance: A Step-by-Step Review.” Attorneys who attend will receive three Continuing Legal Education credits for each session. For more information, call (504) 529-1601, ext. 222 or 271 or click here.

DOING BUSINESS IN ARGENTINA AND PERU LUNCHEON PROGRAMS

The Trade Capacity Building Institute, in collaboration with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, LSU Law Center, and the World Trade Center, is holding two special luncheon programs at the WTC’s Plimsoll Club featuring business delegations from Peru (April 29) and Argentina (May 6). Each delegation is comprised of professional lawyers working in the private sector, government, and academia seeking to learn about the legal aspects of doing business with Louisiana and the U.S. The members of each delegation will talk about the trade and investment opportunities available in their countries. The visitors also are eager to learn about and discuss business opportunities in Louisiana. These two programs offer excellent networking for all participants. For details, call the WTC at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222 or 271 (details to be posted shortly).

APRIL 30 BREAKFAST TO HONOR EIGHT U.N. AMBASSADORS

On Saturday, April 30, the World Trade Center will honor a delegation of eight U.N. ambassadors at a Champagne Jazz Breakfast at 9:30 a.m. in the WTC’s Plimsoll Club on “Women in Diplomacy.” The delegation’s visit to New Orleans is sponsored by the Humpty Dumpty Institute, a New York-based organization dedicated to raising the level of understanding between the U.S. and the U.N., and will include Anne Patterson, Acting U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., as well as the Ambassadors of Bahamas, Cape Verde, Denmark, Finland, Kuwait, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Turkmenistan. For details, call the WTC at (504)529-1601, ext. 222 (details to be posted shortly).

MAY 25-26 GULF COAST STATES WORLD TRADE CONFERENCE

An alliance of organizations in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Northwest Florida are joining together to hold the 2005 Gulf Coast States World Trade Conference on May 25-26 at the Plimsoll Club of the World Trade Center in New Orleans. The event will commence with a Welcoming Jazz Reception from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25. The following day’s program will start with a welcome by Donald Pierson, Assistant Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development, and a presentation on “Current U.S. Trade Policy Issues and Their Impact on the Gulf South” by Mark Smith, Managing Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs, U. S. Chamber of Commerce. The agenda also includes panel discussions on Canada and Brazil featuring Thomas Boam, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa; Bob Armstrong, Senior Vice President, PBB Global Logistics in Toronto, and Vice Chairman, Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters; and Frank Carrico, Principal Commercial Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Sao Paulo; and other speakers. The keynote luncheon speaker is Hon. Rhonda Keenum, Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service. An afternoon panel of directors of the ports along the Gulf will address the topic “Port Perspectives on International Trade” and will be moderated by Gary LaGrange, President and CEO of the Port of New Orleans and current Chairman of the Association of American Port Authorities. The final session will be a roundtable discussion on “Gulf States International Issues and Areas of Cooperation” moderated by Carol Conway, Deputy Director of the Southern Growth Policies Board. A closing wine and cheese reception will allow all conference participants to meet the speakers and network with other participants. Additional information about the conference is available by clicking here, or by calling the World Trade Center at (504) 529-1601, ext. 222.

COMMERCIAL SERVICE PROGRAM FEES INCREASED

The U.S. Commercial Service (CS), which celebrates its 25^th anniversary this month, offers a variety of assistance to U.S. companies of Export Assistance Centers (USEACS) throughout the United States and Commercial Service offices worldwide. Many of its services are free, such as export counseling and market research; other specialized programs are fee-based. Recently, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget mandated the CS to fully recover the cost of its specialized services. To comply, the CS has increased the fees for the International Partner Search; International Company Profiles (background checks on prospective business partners); Gold Key Service (pre-screened matchmaking appointments overseas), and Trade Missions. Visit www.export.gov for more information on Commercial Service programs and to locate the nearest USEAC. In Louisiana, call the New Orleans USEAC at (504) 589-6546, or the Shreveport USEAC at (318) 676-3064.

WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL UPCOMING EVENTS

April 7 -  “The U.S. & the World: Views from Abroad,” Dr. Reinhold Wagnleitner, co-sponsored with UNO CenterAustria, 3:00 p.m. Free. See www.centeraustria.uno.edu.

April 7 - PubNite at St. Joe’s Bar, 5535 Magazine Street 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

April 7 -  “Slavery in the 21^st Century,” Francis Bok, speaker at the “Trafficking in Persons: Global Crisis, Global Perspective” Symposium at Tulane, which runs through April 9. 5:30 p.m., Dixon Hall. See www.law.tulane.edu/symposium.

April 14 -  “Security, Justice, & Liberty in a Free Society,” the Right Honorable Sir Nicholas Lyell, former Solicitor and Attorney General of England & Wales. 5:30 p.m., Tulane Law School. Co-sponsored with the World Affairs Forum at Tulane. See www.worldaffairsforumtulane.com.

April 21 -  “Dining Internationally” at Clementine’s Belgian Bistrot, 2505 Whitney Avenue, Gretna. 6:30 p.m., cash bar, 7:00 p.m. Dinner: a three course meal with a sample of three different entrees and a beer tasting! WAC/N.O. members $35, non-members $40.

April 26 - “Immigration Policy,” Prof. Wayne Cornelius, UCSD Center for Comparative Immigration Studies. UNO. Details TBA.

April 28 - “America’s Role in Fostering Democracy in Global Trouble Spots,” Gene Bigler, Office Director for Strategic and External Affairs, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, & Labor, U.S. Department of State: 8:00 -9:30 a.m. Breakfast at the WTC’s Plimsoll Club. $15/Students $10. 12:30 p.m. Loyola University, Miller Hall. Contact the World Affairs Council of New Orleans at (504) 523-2201 or wacno@bellsouth.net.

OIL & GAS SECTOR REPORTS AND EVENTS

• Countries with the best prospects for U.S. oil and gas exports: Australia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Peru, Oatar, Russia, Saudia Arabia, Trinidad, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Vietnam. For information on oil sector export opportunities, call the U.S. Export Assistance Center in New Orleans at (504) 589-6546, or in Shreveport at (318) 676-3064.

• May 2-5 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), Houston. The U.S. Commercial Service is again supporting the exporting community at OTC. Buying delegations from many countries are expected to attend, including China, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. An Industry Breakfast Series will feature Canada, Libya and Norway. For more information, log on to www.otcnet.org/2005/conf_info/index.html.
   
• June 6-14 Oil & Gas Trade Mission to Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia. Targets companies in all sectors of the oil and gas industry, with particular focus on pipeline and tubular goods, drilling machinery and equipment, surveying technology, and safety equipment. In addition to receiving a personalized schedule of one-on-one appointments with qualified agents, distributors, representatives, licensees, and joint venture partners, mission delegates will visit Oil and Gas Asia (OGA), a leading trade show in Kuala Lumpur. Details and country briefs on Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia are online at: http://www.trade.gov/doctm/oilgas_malaysia_singapore_vietnam_0605.html.
   
• June 28-30 XIV Latin American Petroleum Show (www.oilonline.com/laps), Maracaibo, Venezuela. The Commercial Service in Caracas is a supporter of this event; its Gold Key Service will be available for U.S. attendees. For details, e-mail Commercial Specialist Javier Jativa at: javier.jativa@mail.doc.gov.

COUNTRIES UNDER U.S. SANCTIONS

The U.S. Department of Treasury/Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) governs economic and trade sanctions based on foreign policy and national security goals against targeted foreign countries, terrorists, international narcotics traffickers, and those engaged in activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Countries currently sanctioned by OFAC include Balkans, Burma, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, and Zimbabwe. To review fact sheets on U.S. sanctioned countries, visit www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sanctions.

COMMERCIAL SERVICE MARKET OF THE MONTH: AUSTRALIA

With the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement expected to create more export opportunities for American firms, the U.S. Commercial Service is featuring Australia as its latest Market of the Month. Australia has been the fastest growing developed economy over the past five years and has been a profitable market for U.S. companies for much longer. The country offers a transparent legal and corporate framework, excellent intellectual property protection and a sophisticated business culture. Best prospects for U.S. exporters are: aircraft and parts; auto parts/accessories; construction machinery; franchising; industrial process controls; information technology services; medical equipment; mining equipment; oil/gas equipment; pollution control equipment; safety and security; telecommunications equipment; and travel/tourism. Learn more export opportunities and doing business with Australia at: www.export.gov/comm_svc/press_room/marketofthemonth/australia/australia.html.

BUILDING MATERIALS TRADE MISSION TO CHINA

The U.S.-China Build Program, a grant recipient from the U.S. Commerce Market Development Cooperator Program (www.ita.doc.gov/td/mdcp/about.html), is organizing a June 6-10 trade mission to China for U.S. suppliers and manufacturers interested in establishing business contacts and investigating China’s building materials market and distribution systems. The U.S.-China Build Program is a cooperative effort between government and industry to promote exports of U.S. building products and services to China’s residential and light commercial construction market. Visit www.uschinabuild.org/events/missionflyer12.11.04.pdf.

LOUISIANA GULF COAST OIL EXPO OCTOBER 25-27

The 2005 Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition (LAGCOE) will be held on October 25-27 at the Cajundome Convention Center in Lafayette. LAGCOE is the second largest petroleum industry event in the U.S.. Admission to the exhibit floor is free and consistently attracts more than 16,000 attendees. The show features 400 companies displaying technologies, products, and services, plus sales, several international seminars and technical sessions.

Each year, the U.S. Department of Commerce/ Commercial Service’s International Buyer Program (IBP) brings thousands of buyers to meet with companies at 28 major trade shows throughout the U.S.. This year, for the second time, LAGCOE is included as an IBP event. Commercial Service officers in embassies and consulates around the world, particularly in the oil-producing countries, are screening and recruiting international buyers to attend. U.S. Commerce International Trade Specialists will be available during the show to assist companies with business counseling and to discuss opportunities in their specific countries or regions. The International Business Center, staffed by Commercial Service trade professionals, will provide meeting rooms, interpreters, Internet service, telephones, and fax machines.

With support from Le Centre International de Lafayette; Louisiana Economic Development; and the U.S. Commerce Department, LAGCOE continues to open new markets for its exhibitors as it gains widespread international attention. For details, contact Amy Broussard, LAGCOE Marketing Assistant, at telephone (337) 235-4055, or e-mail: amy@lagcoe.com, or visit www.lagcoe.com.

“ASIA NOW” TRADE EVENTS

As part of the U.S. Department of Commerce/Commercial Service “Asia Now” program, two outreach events in April will feature briefings by American Embassy Senior Commercial Officers (SCDS) from the East Asia/Pacific region. The “Successfully Exploring and Exporting to Asian Markets” seminar (April 6, in Memphis) and the “Asia Now 2005” seminar (April 13, in Fort Lauderdale) offer insights on how to negotiate in the local business culture and information on current events, available resources, and upcoming marketing activities. One-on-one meetings with SCOs representing Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam will be available. Details and registration for both events are online at: www.buyusa.gov/asianow/asiaprograms.html.

LOUISIANA TRADE MISSION TO VENEZUELA JUNE 28-JULY 1

Louisiana Economic Development, the New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center, and Le Centre International de Lafayette are organizing a trade mission to the Latin American Petroleum Show (LAPS) in Maracaibo, Venezuela June 28-30, with an add-on to Caracas after the show. LAPS has for over 25 years, been the single most important international oil and gas event in Venezuela and one of the most important in Latin America.

The U.S. Commercial Service in Caracas will organize pre-screened, qualified matchmaking meetings in Caracas with up to four potential Venezuela partners, agents, distributors, and/or customers for each participating Louisiana firm. Companies will receive signage and promotion in the Louisiana booth, a private meeting area, and refreshments. Interpreters will be available during the show and to assist with all meetings. Other benefits of joining the trade mission include group hotel rates and airport arrival and departure transportation.

The Caracas portion of the mission on July 1, will include a presentation meeting with one of the following: PDVSA, ChevronTexaco, StatOil, or Total (to be confirmed) and a cocktail reception organized by the U.S. Embassy for the Louisiana delegation with invited guests to include top executives from the multinational petroleum companies operating in Venezuela and other key executives within the oil and gas industry. The total cost for the Latin American Petroleum Show in Maracaibo June 28-30 and the Caracas portion on July 1 is $2,000. The LAPS portion only cost is $1,800. Airfare and most meals are not included.

For more information, contact: Rebekah Robertson, Louisiana Economic Development, at (225) 342-4318 or e-mail rrobertson@la.gov or Delilah DeSouza, New Orleans U.S. Export Assistance Center, at (504) 915-3301 or e-mail delilah.desouza@mail.doc.gov.

2005 HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE AVAILABLE ONLINE

The most recent online version of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is available on the International Trade Commission website at http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/index.htm. A hardcopy of the 2005 edition is for sale by the Government Printing Office at: http://bookstore.gpo.gov (stock #949-021-00000-9.) The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) is not to be confused with Schedule B codes. The USITC/Office of Tariff Affairs and Trade Agreements is responsible for publishing the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated (HTSA). The HTSA provides the applicable tariff rates and statistical categories for all merchandise imported into the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau (www.census.gov) administers export codes (Schedule B numbers) and every exported item is assigned a unique 10-digit identification code. Go online at: www.census.gov/foreign-trade/schedules/b/index.html#search to locate a product’s Schedule B number