The International Trade Administration is asking for industry input on ways the U.S. and Mexico can cooperate to improve their bilateral economic relationship through the High-Level Economic Dialogue (HLED). At its September meeting, the HLED produced a list of recommendations for cooperation under the following three areas: promoting competitiveness and connectivity; fostering economic growth, productivity, entrepreneurship and innovation; and partnering for regional and global leadership. The ITA is asking for comments on those three areas, as well as suggested areas for cooperation within each of those areas. Comments are due by Jan. 9.
The International Trade Administration will lead a trade mission to participate in the TradeWinds forum May 19-21 in Bogotá, Colombia. The mission will also include optional stops in May 15-23 in Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile for one-on-one meetings with pre-screened potential buyers, agents, distributors, and joint-venture partners, said the ITA. The mission is open to participants from a wide-range of industries. Applications to participate will be accepted and decided on a rolling basis until April 15.
The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Nov. 21:
The U.S. Census Bureau on Nov. 19 released trouble-shooting techniques to resolve frequent Fatal Error notification issues in the Automated Export System (AES). Fatal Errors occur when a shipment is rejected.
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board will hold two FTZ grantee outreach events on Feb. 10 and 12 in Washington, D.C., in a pair of sessions scheduled to coincide with a National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones seminar. In sessions set for Feb. 10 from 2 to 5 p.m., and Feb. 12 from 9 a.m. to noon, the FTZB will discuss zone schedule requirements and the submission of annual reports with officials of grantee organizations. Sandwiched between will be the NAFTZ Legislative and Regulatory Seminar on Feb. 11. The FTZB had originally scheduled the outreach for Feb. 13, but input from potential attendees was evenly split on holding it on either Feb. 10 or Feb. 12 instead, so the FTZ decided to hold a session on both of those days. To attend, RSVP by Feb. 7 for the Feb. 10 session, or Feb. 11 for the Feb. 12 session.
The International Trade Administration Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting on Dec. 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Department of Commerce. There will be limited time for oral public comments. Those interested in obtaining further information should contact Ryan Mulholland at (202) 482-4693 or ryan.mulholland@trade.gov.
The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Nov. 15:
The Township of Lakewood, New Jersey submitted an application to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board to reorganize FTZ 235 under the Alternative Site Framework, and expand the zone to cover five counties in Central New Jersey, according to an FTZB Federal Register notice. Under the reorganization, the zone's service area would cover Ocean, Middlesex, Monmouth, Union, and Burlington Counties in New Jersey. The zone would be adjacent to the Philadelphia Port of Entry. ASF streamlines processes for designation of new FTZ subzones and usage driven sites within the larger service area by allowing companies to request zone status through the relatively simple "minor boundary modification" process. Comments on the application are due by Jan. 14.
The U.S. international goods and services trade deficit rose to $41.8 billion in September from $38.7 billion in August, the Census bureau said on Nov. 14 (here). The goods deficit specifically increased $3 billion in September, registering at $61.3 billion. Imports of goods increased from $2.8 billion to $193.4 billion, while exports of goods dropped $0.2 billion to $132.1 billion. The decrease in export of industrial supplies and materials drove the overall decrease in exports of goods, while foods, feeds, and beverages exports registered an increase. The increase in import of industrial supplies and materials, automotive vehicles, parts, and engines, capital goods and consumer goods drove the overall increase in imports of goods.
The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for Nov. 13: