A handful of large companies dominate export markets in developing and developed countries, according to a new World Bank database. The bank said the data indicate the top one percent of companies often account for more than half -- and sometimes nearly 80 percent -- of total exports.
The Census Bureau reminded exporters to be mindful of electronically-transmitted information, particularly sending the Employer Identification Number (EIN) via email to Census in requests for Automated Export System (AES) information. Census said the Internal Transaction Number (ITN) is directly linked to the EIN, and can be used by Census to safely and securely identify a company’s information.
China agreed to a six-month pilot project which will begin re-opening the Chinese market to Virginia's hardwood and softwood log exporters, Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell announced after a visit to the state by Chinese plant pest officials. Some details are being finalized, but Virginia logs will be allowed to re-enter China beginning June 1 via certain designated ports and with enhanced pest treatment and testing protocols under the terms of the pilot project, he said. China banned log exports from Virginia and South Carolina in April 2011, citing pest interceptions on logs exported from the U.S.
Dominion asked a Calvert County, Md., court to confirm its right to construct a natural gas liquefaction project at its Cove Point liquefied natural gas terminal in Lusby, Md., in a suit filed May 18. The company seeks a declaratory judgment in response to an erroneous claim by the Sierra Club that the club has the authority to block the project. Dominion has previously said that it has authority to build the export terminal despite a 2005 agreement with the Sierra Club (see ITT Online Archives 12042648). The LNG project is expected to handle natural gas exports that would reduce the U.S. trade deficit by more than $2.8 billion per year, dominion said. The suit said nothing in the 2005 agreement prohibits expansion of liquefaction capabilities at Cove Point or the export of LNG, and cited several sections of the 2005 agreement as expressly allowing the liquefaction project and loading LNG onto tanker ships for export. Construction of the liquefaction project is expected to begin in 2014, with an in-service date in 2017, pending receipt of necessary approvals, negotiating binding terminal service agreements with the shippers and successful completion of engineering studies.
The President’s Export Council Subcommittee on Export Administration (PECSEA) scheduled an open meeting June 4, 2012, in Washington, DC, said the Bureau of Industry and Security. PECSEA advises the Department of Commerce on those portions of the Export Administration Act that deal with U.S. policies of encouraging trade with all countries with which the U.S.has diplomatic or trading relations and of controlling trade for national security and foreign policy reasons. The subcommittee will hear an update on Export Control Reform (ECR), presentations of papers or comments by the public, working group updates, and the deemed export panel. A limited number of seats will be available for the public session.
The Census Bureau issued AES Broadcast #2012034 as part of a series of monthly educational broadcast messages on the Automated Export System. This month Census is highlighting AES error codes 073 (Shipment Cannot be Canceled) and 088 (Line On File, Action Not Allowed). The broadcast covers the reasons for these error messages and how to resolve them. Email documents@brokerpower.com for a copy of the May 21, 2012, broadcast.
The Commerce Department said 41 companies and organizations are recipients of the 2012 President’s “E” Award, the highest U.S. government recognition a U.S. entity may receive for supporting export activity. The “E” Award recipients are contributors to the President’s National Export Initiative (NEI) goal of doubling U.S. exports by 2015.
The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. signed an MOU with Bancóldex to facilitate trade between U.s. and Colombia, they said. They agreed to exchange information on trade and business prospects that may present opportunities for cooperation, including expanding use of Ex-Im Bank financing by Colombian buyers for their purchases of U.S. goods and services. Bancóldex is Colombia’s government-owned development and foreign trade bank.
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency launched Making Global Local, an initiative designed to connect towns and cities across the country with USTDA's export-promoting programs, it said. USTDA announced the following partners in the initiative: World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, Missouri International Trade and Investment Office, Erie County (NY) Industrial Development Agency, Duquesne University Small Business Development Center, Vermont Economic Development Authority, World Trade Center of New Orleans, Export Finance Assistance Center of Washington, Denver Sister Cities International, and the Virginia Small Business Development Center. The goal is to help U.S. companies target emerging economies as export destinations, it said.
The State Department issued a proposed rule to revise USML Category XIII (materials and miscellaneous articles) to narrow the articles controlled on the USML, and to make this list of items more positive. At the same time, BIS is proposing the creation of five new 600 series ECCNs to control auxiliary and miscellaneous military equipment and related articles the President determines no longer warrant control under Category XIII of the USML. The State Department is also not proposing any tiering at this time, and is still developing its definition of "Specially Designed."