The implementation of the administration’s plan for expanding U.S. 

exports—the National Export Initiative (NEI)—took several important steps forward this July when President Barack Obama 

announced the appointment of new members to the President’s Export Council (PEC), 

held the first meeting of the newly formed 

export promotion cabinet, and released a 

progress report on the NEI.

“Boosting America’s exports strengthens 

our economic growth and supports millions 

of good, high-paying American jobs,” said 

Obama on July 7, 2010, when announcing the 

appointments to the PEC. “That’s why I set a 

goal during my State of the Union address to 

double our exports over the next five years.... 

[T]o build on the progress we’ve made so far, 

I’ve appointed these accomplished men and 

women to serve in these important roles. I 

am confident that their depth of experience 

in the private sector will be valuable as we 

continue working to open new markets for 

American goods, boost our exports, and level 

the playing field for American workers.”

Advisory Body Includes Business, Labor, 

Agriculture

The PEC is an advisory body that was first 

created in 1973. Its private-sector members 

are appointed by the president and include 

representatives from business, labor, and 

In a ceremony at the White House on July 7, President Barack Obama announced the 

appointment of 18 new members to the President’s Export Council (PEC). With the president were (from left to right): Gary Locke, secretary of commerce, and W. James McNerney, 

president and chief executive officer of Boeing and chair of the PEC. (White House photo)

National Export Initiative: Off to a Solid Start

When President Barack Obama announced the new members of the President’s Export Council 

in July, he also took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of the National Export 

Initiative—with its goal of doubling U.S. exports over the next five years to support 2 million 

jobs—to the economic well-being of the United States.

b y J o h n Wa r d

continued on page 2

U.S. Department of Commerce

International Trade Administration

UPDATE

 International Trade

www.trade.gov August 2010 

I N S I D E

1

National Export Initiative: 

Off to a Solid Start

4

Green Jobs, Domestic Growth, 

and Overseas Sales: 

A Winning Combination

6

Short Takes: News from the 

International Trade Administration

8

International Trade Calendar

10

Trade Mission, Agreements 

Promote U.S. Nuclear Technology in 

Eastern Europe
agriculture. The PEC also includes representatives 

from the government, including members of Congress and the heads of several cabinet and federal 

agencies. (See the June 2006 issue of International 

Trade Update.)

In Obama’s announcement, he appointed 18 

new members to the PEC. Earlier in March, he had 

previously appointed W. James McNerney Jr., president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Boeing, as 

chair of the PEC and Ursula Burns, chair and CEO 

of Xerox, as vice chair.

“With this team in place,” commented McNerney, “I am confident we can develop a solid plan 

for the public policy decisions that will expand 

free and fair trade and strengthen the United 

States economically.”

NEI: Progress in Key Areas

The contributions of the PEC will be an important element in achieving the goals of the NEI. But progress is 

already being made on several other fronts. The NEI 

set forth eight objectives for doubling U.S. exports 

during the next five years and for supporting 2 million 

jobs. The progress report released by the president 

on July 7 details some of the actions taken during the 

past several months to advance the objectives. Some 

highlights from the report include the following:

• Improved advocacy efforts on behalf of U.S. 

exporters: The Department of Commerce coordinated 18 trade missions, with more than 160 

companies participating in 24 countries.

• Increased access to export financing: The 

Export–Import Bank of the United States more 

than doubled its loans to U.S. exporters from 

the same period in 2009, helping support nearly 

110,000 jobs.

• Reinforced efforts to remove barriers to trade:

Recent agreements with China (to reopen the 

Chinese market to U.S. pork and pork products) 

and Russia (to reopen the Russian market to U.S. 

poultry) are worth more than $1 billion.

• Enforced trade rules: A recent ruling by the World 

Trade Organization in favor of the United States—

that European governments subsidized Airbus’s 

large civil aircraft—is expected to sustain and even 

restore jobs in the U.S. aerospace industry.

• Increased international promotion of policies 

leading to strong, sustainable, and balanced 

economic growth: The past 18 months “have 

been the most effective period of international 

economic cooperation in generations, with 

global growth replacing economic contraction,” 

the report stated.

International Trade Administration’s Role

As the federal government’s primary export promotion agency, the International Trade Administration 

(ITA) has an important role to play in implementing 

the NEI. ITA recently made a big contribution by 

signing on the U.S. Postal Service to its New Market 

Exporter Initiative (see sidebar, page 3).

“Over the past couple of months, ITA has been 

working hard to help American companies export 

more—from increasing our advocacy on behalf 

of U.S. businesses to leading a record number 

National Export Initiative

continued from page 1

2 International Trade UPDATE

August 2010

I am confident we can develop a 

solid plan for the public policy 

decisions that will expand free 

and fair trade and strengthen 

the United States economically.

—James McNerney, Jr. Chair, 

President’s Export Council
of trade missions overseas,” noted Francisco 

Sánchez, under secretary for international trade. 

With the arrival of the NEI, “across the federal 

government, work is under way to improve coordination and maximize efforts to help American 

businesses take advantage of the increasing 

opportunities in the global marketplace.”

John Ward is a writer in the International Trade 

Administration’s Office of Public Affairs.

3

Co m m e rce D e pa r t m e n t, Po s ta l Se r v ice J o i n i n Ef f o r t to B o o s t U.S. Ex p o r t s

On July 12, 2010, in response to President Barack Obama’s 

call under the National Export Initiative to double U.S. 

exports during the next five years, the Department of 

Commerce and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced 

the launch of a new partnership to help boost U.S. 

exports. The partnership, under the department’s New 

Market Exporter Initiative, will identify current USPS 

customers who are already exporting their goods and 

services abroad and will help them expand their reach to 

additional international markets. 

“We know that American businesses produce worldclass goods and services,” said Secretary of Commerce 

Gary Locke. “What we can improve on is connecting those 

businesses to the 95 percent of the world’s consumers living outside our borders. This partnership with the Postal 

Service will be an important part of the solution.”

Through its network of 32,000 post offices and partner 

posts in 191 countries, the USPS will identify small and 

medium-sized enterprises that already export and will 

alert them to government sources that can help them 

find new overseas markets. In turn, the Department of 

Commerce, with its network of trade specialists in 109 

U.S. cities and in 77 U.S. embassies and consulates, will 

serve as a resource to those businesses by connecting 

them with potential international buyers. 

The Department of Commerce and the USPS will 

also help the businesses identify key markets and build 

market-entry strategies. The two agencies will also provide the businesses with the guidance they need to take 

their products and services to markets worldwide.

In addition to partnering with the USPS, the department has also partnered with UPS and FedEx on the New 

Market Exporter Initiative. FedEx and UPS will also be 

targeting customers who are already exporting and will 

be working with the department to help those customers 

expand into new markets.

For more information, visit www.trade.gov/nei/

new-market-exporter-initiative.asp or contact Adam 

Wilczewski, director of strategic partnerships, tel.: (202) 

482-1636; e-mail: adam.wilczewski@trade.gov.

Stephanie Smedile is an international trade specialist with the 

U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service.

b y S t e p h a n i e S m e d i l e

Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke 

(left) and Postmaster General 

John Potter (right) signing an 

agreement in Washington, D.C., on 

July 12, 2010, that launched a new 

partnership designed to expand 

U.S. exports. (photo courtesy U.S. 

Postal Service)

For More Information

For more information on the President’s Export Council, visit the council’s 

Web page at www.trade.gov/pec. The complete text of the progress report 

on the National Export Initiative is available on the White House Web 

site at www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/exports_progress_report.

pdf. More information about the NEI is also available on the federal 

government’s export portal at www.export.gov/nei. 
International Trade UPDATE

August 2010

4

United Solar Ovonic, a U.S. company with 

facilities in Greenville and Auburn Hills, 

Michigan, is a growing exporter of solar 

panels. It has been selling to the Chinese market 

since 2004. A joint venture, United Solar Ovonic 

Jinneng Ltd., was created in 2009 and is located in 

Tianjin, China.

Doug Barry of the Trade Information Center 

recently spoke with Jim Finn, resident managing 

director in China for United Solar Ovonic, about the 

company’s products, its approach to the Chinese 

market, and how it has benefited from the help and 

advice it has received from the U.S. and Foreign 

Commercial Service.

Barry: Tell us a little bit about the kind of product that your company makes and what makes it 

exceptional.

Finn: We make a triple-junction amorphous 

crystalline solar cell. The reason our product is 

unique is we deposit the solar cells on coils of 

stainless steel and have developed a roll-to-roll 

process where we are able to deposit nine miles of 

solar cells in about 62 hours. These cells are then 

sectioned, and grid wires are put on them. They 

are then assembled into flexible laminates, which 

are Teflon encapsulated and weather resistant. 

So, at the end of the day, we have a product that’s 

extremely lightweight; flexible; and, in real-world 

conditions, capable of generating a lot more electricity than some of our silicon competitors.

Barry: Can you give us a sense of how cost-effective 

this technology is?

Finn: It depends on local conditions, the amount of 

sunlight hours, and the subsidies and feed-in tariffs 

from different government agencies. Our product 

is much more sensitive to low-light conditions and 

has a much better temperature coefficient at high 

temperatures. So what we normally see is something like 20 percent superior energy generation 

over the course of a year.

Barry: Solar panels are usually very heavy things. 

What about yours?

Finn: The solar cells weigh less than a pound per 

square foot. And because they’re flexible and 

lightweight, they don’t need any type of support 

structure. They basically come with an epoxy on the 

back—a kind of tape, actually—and you peel and 

stick the tape on the roof. It’s really not much more 

complicated than that.

Barry: What is the market like in China?

Finn: The Chinese government is very focused on 

renewable energy and has announced some interesting projects. But currently the installed base in 

Green Jobs, Domestic Growth, and 

Overseas Sales: A Winning Combination

With help from the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, a Michigan-based manufacturer 

of solar laminates has expanded its business overseas and created jobs domestically. The 

company’s experience in China points the way for other small and medium-sized manufacturers looking to grow through exports and joint ventures with overseas partners.

Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke visits the plant of United Solar Ovonic’s joint venture partner, Tianjin Jinneng Investment 

Company, on May 22, 2010, during his trade mission to China. From left to right: Li Gengsheng, general manager of Tianjin 

Jinneng Investment Company; Gary Locke, secretary of commerce; Jim Finn, resident managing director for United Solar Ovonic. 

(Photo courtesy United Solar Ovonic)
5

China is about 50 megawatts. That is a relatively low 

number when you consider other markets, such as 

Germany, Spain, and Italy.

Barry: How do you see things developing?

Finn: We’re launching a facility with 15 megawatts, 

which isn’t a huge amount, but we’ve built the facility to handle 60 megawatts. So we will be able to 

deploy additional capacity quickly. And we’re doing 

a lot of up-front work with different design institutes, architectural institutes, and some government 

ministries, such as the Ministry of Urban Housing 

and Rural Development. The way we look at it, we’re 

seeding the market now. And as people see the benefits of it, we expect to ramp up fairly rapidly.

Barry: To what extent does your joint venture in 

China further the goals of the National Export Initiative, which calls for the doubling of U.S. exports in 

five years and the creation of millions of new jobs?

Finn: We’re a U.S.–based company, with several 

plants in Michigan. Every solar module that we 

produce in China uses a base solar cell that’s 

imported from Michigan. Right now, we import 

almost 90 percent of our material from Michigan 

and assemble it here in China, where the product 

stays. We don’t export anything outside of the 

Chinese market. Our focus is completely on the 

Chinese market. 

Barry: How do you see things playing out in the 

future for your parent company and its ability to 

generate jobs back in Michigan? 

Finn: I think we’ve seen the worst of what we’re 

going to see. We’re starting to announce some very 

big contracts and business both in Europe and the 

United States. And that just goes to show that we 

are starting to gain traction again and that business 

is starting to pick up. 

Barry: How has your company handled protection 

of its intellectual property, especially having a joint 

venture with a Chinese partner?

Finn: Technology transfer is a big concern for everyone. In our particular instance, we import the base 

solar cell, and it’s really that technology that is key 

to our uniqueness. We’re quite content to provide 

the technology and the know-how to our Chinese 

partner. I see no reason to believe that they’re going 

to do anything nefarious with our technology at this 

stage. They’re a very good partner and we’ve done 

business with them for quite a long time.

Barry: What is the most important thing that you’ve 

learned about doing business in China and about 

the Chinese themselves?

Finn: The most important thing is relationship 

building. Trust is a big aspect of that, but there 

are other aspects as well: mutual respect, honesty, 

and “up-frontness.” Those are very important 

things in China.

Barry: So the Chinese expression that more and 

more Americans will probably become familiar 

with is guanxi, or “relationships”?

Finn: Yes, guanxi is very important here as well.

Barry: You’ve worked closely with specialists in the 

U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service in expanding 

your company’s exports to China. How were they 

able to help you?

Finn: I can’t say enough about the support we’ve 

had here in China from the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service. The specialists were instrumental 

in getting Ambassador Jon Huntsman to visit our 

facility for an opening ceremony. They also developed the Energy Cooperation Program that was 

announced by President Obama and President 

Hu Jintao in November 2009. It’s a program that 

brings together 29 U.S. companies with different 

expertise in clean energy and related technologies to go out into China and develop projects 

and engage the Chinese government. For a small 

company like United Solar to be able to walk into 

a government office with the likes of General 

Electric, United Technologies, or Dow—it’s really 

invaluable. So the U.S. and Foreign Commercial 

Service has been great. They’ve been a really big 

support. 

For More Information

The China Business Information Center offers U.S. exporters a 

wealth of information on doing business in China, including market 

information, standards and regulations, and links to trade events. 

It can be accessed through the federal government’s export portal, 

Export.gov, at www.export.gov/china, or by telephone at 1-800-USATRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723).
News from the International Trade Administration

Short Takes

International Trade UPDATE

August 2010

6

“The aerospace industry is one of the United 

States’s most globally competitive sectors,” noted 

Lamb-Hale. “It accounts for the largest trade 

surplus among U.S. manufacturing industries and 

will be a key focus of the administration’s export 

promotion efforts under President Obama’s 

National Export Initiative.”

The U.S. aerospace industry supports more jobs 

through exporting than does any other sector. In 

2009, the industry posted exports of $81.5 billion. 

Leading markets included China, France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom. 

During the show, Lamb-Hale held bilateral 

discussions with officials from Brazil, Jordan, 

and the United Kingdom in support of U.S. 

exports. She also cochaired a meeting of the Civil 

Aviation Subcommittee of the U.S.–India HighTechnology Cooperation Group with Madhavan 

Nambiar, secretary of the Indian Ministry of Civil 

Aviation.

“Emerging economies like India are priority 

markets for the United States,” said Lamb-Hale. 

“The planned development of India’s airport 

infrastructure beyond its major cities will be 

an important focus [of U.S. export promotion 

efforts].”

This year, more than 1,400 exhibitors from 38 

countries participated in the Farnborough Airshow. Among the exhibitors were more than 240 

U.S. firms and 130,000 trade visitors.

For more information about the U.S. aerospace industry, visit the Web site of the International Trade Administration’s Office of Transportation and Machinery at http://trade.gov/

mas/manufacturing/OAAI.

U.S. Aerospace Industry Promoted at 

Farnborough Airshow

U.S. aerospace products, technologies, and services were on display to thousands of potential 

international buyers this past July at the Farnborough International Airshow in England. The show 

is held every two years and is one of the largest 

international trade shows in the industry. In 2008, 

the event booked $88.7 billion in orders.

Nicole Y. Lamb-Hale, assistant secretary for 

manufacturing and services, attended the show, 

helped open the U.S. pavilion, and held a town 

hall meeting with U.S. exhibitors.

At the Farnborough Airshow on July 20, Nicole Lamb-Hale, assistant secretary for manufacturing and services, visited the cockpit of a Boeing 787 

Dreamliner. (U.S. Department of Commerce photo by Holly Vineyard)
7 7NEW S

New Deputy Assistant Secretary for 

Manufacturing Named

Peter M. Perez, a 40-year veteran of the manufacturing sector, joined the International Trade 

Administration (ITA) on July 12, 2010, as the 

deputy assistant secretary for manufacturing. 

Perez will be responsible for identifying key factors affecting competitiveness and barriers to 

exports for more than 21 industry sectors. 

“Peter’s extensive experience as a manufacturer 

will be invaluable to the Manufacturing and Services 

unit of ITA as we develop strategies to sustain and 

strengthen manufacturing in the United States to support job creation,” said Nicole Y. Lamb-Hale, assistant 

secretary for manufacturing and services. “Having 

successfully led his business through good times and 

bad using various strategies, including exporting, 

Peter has firsthand knowledge of the opportunities 

and challenges faced by U.S. manufacturers.”

The United States is the world’s largest manufacturing economy, employing nearly 12 million 

Americans who produce $1.6 trillion in manufactured products annually. The United States produces 

18 percent of the world’s manufactured goods.

“I am looking forward to rolling up my sleeves 

and getting to work to support the president’s 

National Export Initiative and to improve the 

competitiveness of American manufacturers,” said 

Perez. “I am very passionate about putting people 

back to work and making sure our companies can 

compete globally on a level playing field.” 

Perez has an extensive background in the 

manufacturing sector, beginning with his role 

at CBS Musical Instruments and culminating 

with his family-owned business, Carter Products 

Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Perez has 

served as the president of the Wood Machinery 

Manufacturers of America and on the board of 

the National Association of Manufacturers as 

a representative for small and medium-sized 

manufacturing companies.

Contributors to this section include Brian Brothman 

and Fred Elliott of the International Trade Administration’s Manufacturing and Services unit.
Calendar

International Trade Calendar

August 11–13

FIME International Medical 

Expo 2010

Miami, Florida

www.buyusa.gov/croatia/en/84.html

This event is one of the largest international medical trade fairs 

in the United States. It will feature medical equipment, supplies, products, technology, and services. More than 29,000 

visitors and 4,000 exhibitors from various sectors of the health 

care industry are expected. For more information, contact 

Carol Rudman of the USFCS, tel.: (202) 482-0905; e-mail: 

carol.rudman@trade.gov

August 18–20

Brazil Nuclear Standards 

Seminar 2010

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

www.focusbrazil.org.br/SendForms/StandardsUS-2010.html

This two-day workshop is organized by the U.S.–Brazil CEO 

Forum and the Department of Commerce’s Civil Nuclear Trade 

Initiative. Attendees will participate in workshops on the benefits of adopting U.S. nuclear codes and in business-to-business 

meetings. For more information, contact Miguel Hernandez of 

the USFCS, tel.: +55 (11) 5186-7402; e-mail: miguel.hernandez@

trade.gov

August 23–27

Minority Enterprise 

Development Week Conference

Washington, D.C.

www.medweek.gov

The 28th edition of this annual conference will focus on the 

National Export Initiative and on educating minority-owned firms 

about government programs and resources available for doing 

business internationally. The event will include visits from senior 

government officials, a business-to-business expo, and networking events with representatives from China, Latin America, and 

South Africa. For more information, contact Alejandra Castillo 

of the Department of Commerce, tel.: (202) 481-4632; e-mail: 

acastillo@mbda.gov.

August 24–27

AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems 

North America 2010

Denver, Colorado

www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_trade_events.

asp?EventID=29085

The unmanned air, land, and sea systems market has the 

potential for significant growth as combat systems are 

upgraded. More than 400 exhibitors and 5,000 attendees 

are expected, representing more than 30 countries. The 

show will feature daily general discussions with more than 

175 international speakers. For more information, contact 

Erik Hunt of the USFCS, tel.: +82 (2) 397-4537; e-mail: 

erik.hunt@trade.gov

August 24–27

ONS 2010: Offshore Northern 

Seas Trade Fair

Oslo, Norway 

www.export.gov/industry/marine/index.

asp?EventID=29929

This event is one of the major oil and gas shows in Europe and 

attracts more than 40,000 visitors and 1,200 exhibitors. It will 

feature new approaches to the economic and environmental 

challenges that the oil and gas industry faces. It will also be 

an ideal venue for U.S. companies to promote their products 

and services. For more information, contact Kevin Haley of the 

USFCS, tel.: (202) 482-6463; e-mail: kevin.haley@trade.gov.

August 25–26

MEDTEC China 2010

Shanghai, China

www.medtec-china.com/website/2010/prereg.asp

There is growing demand in China for new medical technologies and equipment. This show will allow U.S. suppliers of 

medical products and manufacturing technologies to promote 

their products and technological advances to Chinese buyers. 

For more information, contact Lisa Huot of the USFCS, tel.: 

(202) 482-27964; e-mail: lisa.huot@trade.gov.

8

August 25–28

International Woodworking 

Machinery and Furniture 

Supply Fair

Atlanta, Georgia

www.buyusa.gov/finland/en/152.html

This show is one of the premier events in the furniture 

manufacturing and general woodworking industries. 

Despite the economic crisis in 2008, this event attracted more than 20,000 visitors and participants. The 

show participates in the Department of Commerce’s 

International Buyer Program, which brings foreign buyers to the event. For more information, contact Joseph 

English of the USFCS, tel.: (202) 482-3334; e-mail: 

joseph.english@trade.gov.

August 25–29

Moscow International 

Motor Show 2010

Moscow, Russia

www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_trade_

events.asp?EventID=29315

Russia has one of the fastest-growing automotive markets 

in Europe. This show will be a great opportunity for U.S. 

firms to enter this growing market, especially producers of 

spare parts, components, accessories, garage and service 

equipment, and car care products. For more information, 

contact Alexander Kansky of the USFCS, tel.: +7 (812) 326-

2581; e-mail: alexander.kansky@trade.gov.

August 26–28

Great American 

Trucking Show

Dallas, Texas

www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_trade_

events.asp?EventID=29615

This event will showcase major truck and trailer manufacturers as well as product retailers. In addition to more than 

400 exhibitors, the show will also include educational seminars. It is especially targeted at corporate executives, truck 

owners and operators, franchisees of trucking companies, 

fleet operators, and company drivers. For more information, 

contact Youhanidou Wane Ba of the USFCS, tel.: +221 (33) 

829-22-86; e-mail: youhanidou.waneba@trade.gov. 

August 2010

Here is a list of selected 

international trade 

events of interest, 

including ITA-sponsored 

events and upcoming 

international trade fairs. 

The U.S. and Foreign 

Commercial Service 

(USFCS) maintains a 

comprehensive listing 

of industry shows at 

www.export.gov. 

There may be a fee for 

participation in some of 

these events. For more 

information, see the 

full event listing on the 

Web or contact the staff 

person listed in the event 

description.
9

On The Horizon

September 14

Measuring and Enhancing 

Services Trade Data and 

Information Conference

Washington, D.C.

www.infinityconferences.com/InfiniBase/Templates/130607/

Overview.htm

This conference is the kickoff event for the Department of Commerce’s 

initiative to collect and disseminate data and information that are 

needed to enable services industries to make better-informed business 

decisions. Speakers will include well-known policy leaders from the 

Bureau of the Census and Bureau of Economic Analysis, as well as 

private-sector innovators in the services information market. For more 

information, contact Barb Rawdon of the Department of Commerce, 

tel.: (202) 482-0474; e-mail: barb.rawdon@trade.gov.

September 14–19

Automechanika 2010

Frankfurt, Germany

www.buyusa.gov/germany/en/automechanika2010.html

This event will allow U.S. producers of automotive parts, car washing 

equipment, workshop and filling station equipment, and information 

technology products and services to showcase their merchandise. The 

show will offer a variety of lectures and workshops. For more information, contact Michael Thompson of the USFCS, tel.: (202) 482-0671; 

e-mail: michael.thompson@trade.gov.

September 22–23

Complying with U.S. Export Controls

Salt Lake City, Utah

www.buyusa.gov/utah/exportcontrolseminar.html

This two-day seminar is hosted by the Bureau of Industry and Security 

and will examine Export Administration regulations and U.S. export 

control requirements on commercial goods. Hands-on exercises will 

apply the regulations to the export activities of participants’ companies. For more information, contact David Fiscus of the USFCS, tel.: 

(801) 255-1873; e-mail: david.fiscus@trade.gov.

International Trade Update is 

published monthly by the Office of 

Public Affairs of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International 

Trade Administration (ITA). You 

can read or download the newsletter from ITA’s Web site at www.

trade.gov. To receive notification 

by e-mail when new issues are 

published, visit www.trade.gov, 

use the “Publications” pull down 

menu to click on International 

Trade Update, and then click on the 

“Subscribe” link.

For more information and news, 

visit ITA’s Web site at www.trade.

gov or contact the Office of Public 

Affairs, International Trade Administration, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; 

tel.: (202) 482-3809.

Francisco Sánchez

Under Secretary of Commerce 

for International Trade

Mary L. Trupo

Director, Office of Public Affairs

John Ward

Editor

Web edition and electronic 

dissemination:

Jeremy Caplan

Copyediting:

Publications Professionals llc

Calendar editor:

Sophia Shin

Production assistance:

Michele Robinson

Design and composition:

U.S. Government Printing Office, 

Creative Services Division

Material in this newsletter may 

be reproduced unless otherwise 

noted. When reprinting, please 

credit the U.S. Department of 

Commerce, International Trade 

Administration.

Featured Trade Event

Sustainable Manufacturing 

American Regional Tour: 

Energy Efficiency and 

Sustainability in the 

Forest Products Sector

September 14, 2010

Richmond, Virginia

www.manufacturing.gov/sustainability

This event is the eighth in a series of Sustainable Manufacturing 

American Regional Tour (SMART) events organized by the Department 

of Commerce. It will focus on energy efficiency and sustainability in the 

forest products sector. The SMART events are an outreach effort to the 

sustainable manufacturing industry and are part of the department’s 

Sustainable Manufacturing Initiative (see the August 2009 issue of 

International Trade Update).

The forest products industry is a top-10 manufacturing employer in 48 

states. It contributes 5 percent of manufacturing gross domestic product 

and employs more than 900,000 workers. Although the industry has taken 

many steps to improve its energy efficiency, purchased energy is still the 

industry’s third-largest manufacturing cost. On average, forest products 

facilities generate two-thirds of their energy needs on site from renewable 

biomass, but the industry—faced with intense competition in global 

commodity markets—must continue to reduce its energy usage to lower 

manufacturing costs and remain competitive.

This one-day event will include presentations on how the forest 

products industry can become more sustainable through increased energy 

efficiency and on how lowered costs can enhance market competitiveness. 

Information on available resources from government agencies and other 

organizations will also be discussed.

Attendees will learn about the successful planning, financing, and 

implementation of energy efficiency and sustainability enhancement 

projects that have already been put in place by forest products companies. 

They will also tour nearby manufacturing facilities that use sustainable 

manufacturing processes.

For more information, or to register, visit the event’s Web site or send an 

e-mail to sustainability@trade.gov. 
International Trade UPDATE

August 2010

10

Paving the way for future sales of U.S. civil 

nuclear energy technology to the Czech 

Republic, Poland, and Slovakia, was the 

goal of a four-day U.S. trade mission to these countries July 12–16, 2010. Led by Francisco Sánchez, 

under secretary for international trade, the mission 

included representatives from 10 U.S. companies 

and organizations as well as officials from the 

Departments of State and Energy.

All three countries are expected to solicit bids 

from international vendors for building new 

nuclear power plants during the next several years. 

The projects range from an estimated $5 billion 

joint venture project in Slovakia, to an estimated 

$21 billion project in Poland, to an estimated $27.5 

billion project in the Czech Republic.

Long-Term Importance

The projects have potential long-term importance 

to U.S. exports in the region. “It’s not just the $20 

billion and thousands of high-paid U.S. jobs that ... 

one of these deals [could] represent,” said Sánchez. 

“It’s getting a U.S. foot in the door of the emerging 

nuclear energy needs in Eastern Europe and the 

many nuclear plants that will be built there over the 

next decade. If we close one of these deals, many 

others will likely follow.”

Business participants in the mission seconded 

the sentiment. “The mission provided a powerful 

message that brought real results,” noted Anders 

Jackson, Westinghouse’s president for Europe, the 

Middle East, and Africa. “Combining the strengths 

of our offers with ... U.S. government focus and 

support [provides] tremendous opportunities for us 

and our partners.”

In 2008, the U.S. nuclear energy industry 

exported $285.7 million, most of it in fuel and fuelrelated supplies. According to the Nuclear Energy 

Institute, U.S. nuclear companies that same year 

procured $14.2 billion in materials, fuel, and 

services from domestic suppliers for their existing 

operating plants.

Cooperation and Dialogue

The signing on July 13, 2010, of a joint declaration on civil nuclear commercial cooperation with 

Poland and the announcement of the creation of 

a bilateral commercial dialogue with the Czech 

Republic showed the U.S. commitment to developing commercial ties in the region.

The agreement with Poland outlines both countries’ intent to encourage their private-sector entities to participate in constructing nuclear power 

facilities. It also calls for fostering scientific research 

In Warsaw, Poland, on July 13, 2010, Francisco Sánchez (left), under secretary for international trade, 

and Hanna Trojanowska (right), Polish commissioner for nuclear energy, signed a joint declaration on 

civilian nuclear commercial cooperation (U.S. Department of State photo)

Trade Mission, Agreements Promote 

U.S. Nuclear Technology in Eastern Europe

A recent trade mission to the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia promoted sales 

of U.S. civil nuclear energy technology. But it was also an opportunity to strengthen 

U.S. commercial ties in the region.

b y J o h n Wa r d

continued on page 12
11

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Export Assistance Center

U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs) are located in more than 100 cities throughout the United States. They are supported by five 

federal agencies, and serve as one-stop shops that provide small and medium-sized businesses with hands-on export marketing and 

trade finance support. For more information, visit the U.S. government’s export portal, www.export.gov.
UPDATE

International Trade

available on the Web at www.trade.gov

Trade Mission, Agreements in Eastern Europe

continued from page 10

Sender: OPA, H-3416

U.S. Department of Commerce

International Trade Administration

Washington, DC 200230

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use, $300

and development and for promoting fair and open 

tender procedures. 

The initiative undertaken with the Czech 

Republic calls for creating an ongoing dialogue 

to increase and strengthen U.S.–Czech bilateral 

economic and commercial ties. It was announced 

by Sánchez and Milan Hovorka, Czech deputy 

minister of industry and trade, after a meeting in 

Prague on July 15, 2010.

“We expect this new economic and commercial 

dialogue [with the Czech Republic] ... to address 

topics that interest both sides, including market 

access, innovation, business development, and trade 

promotion,” said Sánchez.

John Ward is a writer in the 

International Trade Administration’s 

Office of Public Affairs.

For More Information

The full text of the U.S.–Poland joint declaration is available on the Web 

site of the U.S. embassy in Warsaw at http://poland.usembassy.gov/

joint.html. For more information about exporting to the Czech Republic, 

Poland, or Slovakia, contact the Trade Information Center at 1-800-USATRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723) or visit the U.S. government’s export portal at 

www.export.gov.