S

ecretary of Commerce Gary Locke led 

a delegation of representatives from 

24 U.S. companies to China on May 

16–21, 2010. Clean energy, the focus of this 

weeklong trade mission, is a sector that holds 

great importance for the future economic 

well-being of the United States and China.

At the start of the mission on May 16, 

Locke spoke at a press conference in Hong 

Kong about the importance of developing 

clean-energy resources. “With global energy 

demand slated to double by 2050, we’re going 

to have to mobilize every innovative company 

and every bright mind we can behind discovering cleaner, greener energy solutions.... 

The United States and China—as the world’s 

two biggest emitters of carbon—have a moral 

responsibility to lead the world in this effort.”

Growing Demand Fuels Expansion

As China continues to expand its economy, 

the domestic demand for energy has experienced dramatic growth. China’s central 

planners have attempted to accommodate 

this increased demand by setting targets for 

reducing the emissions of pollutants and for 

increasing the use of renewable sources of 

energy. In addition to expanding ties with 

resource-rich countries, China is taking a 

number of steps to reduce emissions of pollutants in key sectors, including the following:

On the plaza outside the Disney Hotel Conference Center in Hong Kong 

on May 17, 2010, Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke saw firsthand some 

innovative U.S.–made automotive technologies. The visit was part of the 

clean-energy business development mission that Locke led to China on 

May 16–21. (U.S. Department of Commerce photo)

I N S I D E

Trade Delegation to China Sees Opportunities, 

Challenges in the Clean Energy Sector

Representatives from 24 U.S. businesses in the clean-energy sector visited China in May and 

participated in the administration’s first cabinet-level business development mission, led by 

Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke. They experienced firsthand the many opportunities—

and numerous challenges—that await them in this burgeoning market.

b y J o h n Wa r d

1

Trade Delegation to China Sees 

Opportunities, Challenges in 

the Clean-Energy Sector

4

A Prosperous Trading Partner 

Looks for U.S. Products and 

Know-How

6 

Short Takes: News from 

the International Trade 

Administration 

8

International Trade Calendar 

10 

Building a Prosperous and 

Sustainable Future for 

the Americas

U.S. Department of Commerce

International Trade Administration

UPDATE

 International Trade

www.trade.gov June 2010 

continued on page 2
• Renewable energy. The Chinese government 

has mandated that 15 percent of its energy come 

from renewable sources by 2020.

• Nuclear energy. China currently has 11 nuclear 

reactors with an additional 20 under construction.

• Coal. Today, 80 percent of China’s electricity is 

generated by coal. The government has allocated 

significant funds for reducing emissions and for 

increasing efficiency.

• Clean technology. China’s current Five-Year Plan 

sets targets for reducing the emissions of major 

pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, 

and carbon dioxide by 10 percent.

• Transmission infrastructure: with electricity 

consumption forecast to grow 7 percent annually 

through 2020, China’s power grid is in need of 

significant upgrades and expansion.

Three Cities, One Message

Those specific energy needs were drivers of the 

trade delegation’s agenda as the members spent 

time in three major Chinese cities: Hong Kong, 

Shanghai, and Beijing.

The first stop was Hong Kong, which is a special 

administrative region of China and a key center of 

commerce. The delegation participated in a forum 

at the Green Technology Showcase, had one-onone meetings with representatives of Hong Kong 

businesses, and visited the Hong Kong Science and 

Technology Park.

In Shanghai, China’s largest city, the delegates 

met with Yu Zhengsheng, the Shanghai Municipal 

Committee party secretary, and with representatives of Chinese green companies. They also participated in site visits to Pratt & Whitney’s engine facility and a Dow Chemical Company facility. There 

were also meetings with companies participating 

in the U.S.–China Energy Cooperation Program, 

which is a public–private partnership that deploys 

the expertise of U.S. companies to help develop 

clean-energy solutions.

On May 20 and 21, the delegation’s final stop was 

the capital city of Beijing. The delegation met with 

senior Chinese government officials, visited the 

China Business Innovation Center, and participated 

in a town hall meeting with students and scientists 

at Tsinghua University.

Challenges Remain

Despite the many potential opportunities encountered by the U.S. delegation during its visit, companies that are seeking to do business in China face 

several policy and regulatory impediments. Those 

issues include a lack of transparency in government decision-making processes, China’s recently 

announced “indigenous innovation” product 

accreditation system, inconsistent market access 

at the provincial and local levels, and the need to 

strengthen the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Locke spoke about those trade impediments 

during his speech in Shanghai on May 19 to the 

American Chamber of Commerce and the U.S.–

China Business Council. Speaking specifically 

about transparency, Locke noted that “businesses 

frequently don’t know what the rules are, how they 

are enforced, or how decisions are made.... Especially in the energy sector, where upfront capital 

investment can be in the hundreds of millions of 

Trade Delegation

continued from page 1

2 International Trade UPDATE

June 2010

In today’s global economy...

we need to do everything we can 

to keep markets open.

—Gary Locke, secretary of commerce
dollars and have multidecade time horizons, this 

uncertainty has the potential to inhibit foreign 

corporate investment in China.”

Future Growth, with U.S. Help

Although those challenges to doing business in 

China can be daunting, they are not insurmountable. In fact, many U.S. companies are finding 

markets in which they not only grow but prosper, 

often with the help of the U.S. Department of Commerce and other federal agencies (see sidebar).

Trade between the United States and China can 

work to everyone’s mutual advantage. “When ... 

American companies find success here in Beijing, 

it creates economic value throughout the supply 

chain in China and in manufacturing towns across 

America,” said Locke. “That is the definition of a 

win–win for the United States and for China.... In 

today’s global economy—where ideas are just as 

likely to be discovered in Beijing as in Boston—we 

need to do everything we can to keep markets 

open and to allow for the free flow of capital and 

ideas across our borders.”

John Ward is a writer in the International Trade Administration’s Office of Public Affairs. Steven Chan of the 

International Trade Administration’s Market Access and 

Compliance unit assisted with this report. 

3

For More Information

The Department of Commerce has a number of programs to assist U.S. 

businesses of any size that wish to enter the Chinese market. Those 

programs include a network of commercial officers in five Chinese 

cities, trade specialists located in more than 100 U.S. Export Assistance 

Centers located throughout the United States, and the China Business 

Information Center. For more information, go to www.export.gov or call 

the Trade Information Center at 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723).

On May 19, 2010, Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke (center) and members of a U.S. business delegation visited the U.S. 

pavilion at the Shanghai Expo. Accompanying Locke was José H. Villarreal (right), the commissioner general of the U.S. 

pavilion. (Photo courtesy USA Pavilion)

A n Ag r e e m e n t o n W i n e an d a V i s i t to t h e Shan g hai Ex p o 2010

Aside from its focus on clean energy, the visit to 

China by Secretary Locke was an occasion to mark 

significant achievements in two other areas of 

U.S.–Chinese commercial relations. In Hong Kong 

on May 17, Locke and Rita Lau, Hong Kong secretary of commerce and economic development, 

signed a memorandum of understanding that 

supports the marketing and promotion of wine 

from both countries. The memorandum follows 

the 2008 elimination of Hong Kong’s excise tax 

on wine.

Later, in Shanghai on May 19, Locke and the trade 

delegation visited the U.S. pavilion at the Shanghai Expo, the world’s fair that opened recently in 

that city (see related stories in the July 2009 and 

August 2009 issues of International Trade Update). 

The theme of the U.S. pavilion is “Rising to the 

Challenge.” According to the pavilion’s organizers, 

it will demonstrate “the dynamic and emotional 

story about the American spirit of perseverance, 

innovation, and community building.” The U.S. 

pavilion is expected to draw 6 million visitors 

before the close of the expo on October 31, 2010.
International Trade UPDATE

June 2010

4

On June 5–10, 2010, Francisco Sánchez, 

under secretary for international trade, 

will lead a trade mission to Saudi Arabia 

and Qatar. Representatives from 11 U.S. businesses 

will participate. Recently, Doug Barry of the Trade 

Information Center spoke with Dao Le about 

opportunities for U.S. firms in this growing and 

prosperous market. 

Le began his career with the U.S. and Foreign 

Commercial Service in 1994, with postings to 

several emerging markets in the Middle East, south 

Asia, and southeast Asia. He also has domestic 

experience as director of the U.S. Export Assistance 

Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Le has been at the U.S. 

embassy in Doha, Qatar, since 2008.

Barry: What’s it like in Doha today?

Le: Cranes moving and a lot of vibrancy and activity. This city is a fascinating place that is growing at 

a very rapid clip.

Barry: The architecture is an eclectic mix. Many of the 

buildings are brand new and ultramodern looking. 

Le: Yes. You find that some countries have visionary leadership but lack the resources, while other 

countries have tremendous resources but no 

vision. Qatar has both. Emir Hamad bin Khalifa 

al-Thani, who is the head of the country, knows 

exactly where he wants to take Qatar, and he has 

the resources to achieve it. The Qataris have a 

national vision for 2030. They want to be a financial 

hub, a sports capital, an education capital, and also 

a medical tourism capital. The way they are doing 

that is through the adoption of U.S. technology and 

know-how. So when you look at the architecture in 

Qatar—for example, the new Doha International 

Airport—that’s being done by a U.S. firm, Bechtel. 

If you look at the world’s largest causeway—the 

Qatar–Bahrain causeway—the program management is being done by another U.S. firm, Kellogg 

Brown & Root.

Barry: You visited the United States recently and 

brought with you a delegation of Qatari officials. 

What opportunities for U.S. companies arose from 

that visit?

Le: We met with representatives of about 100 U.S. 

firms and unveiled about two dozen infrastructure 

projects. They include Dohaland’s Heart of Doha 

project, which is a fascinating 35-hectare LEED 

[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] 

Gold Standard project. It is a blueprint for how 

all mixed end-use developments will look in this 

country. There is also Ashghal, which is the public 

A Prosperous Trading Partner Looks for U.S. 

Products and Know-How

Qatar, a Middle Eastern country with nearly 1 million inhabitants, is a stop on a trade mission 

this month led by Francisco Sánchez, under secretary for international trade. According to 

Dao Le, senior commercial officer in Qatar for the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, the 

country offers a vibrant, growing market that holds many opportunities for U.S. businesses.

Dao Le (fourth from left), senior commercial officer in Doha, Qatar, for the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, with a Qatari 

business delegation in Washington, D.C., in December 2009. (U.S. Department of Commerce photo)
5

works authority’s group of 20 or so projects that 

involves the construction of roads, bridges, and a 

network of expressways that will help Qatar achieve 

its goal of hosting the 2022 World Cup. These represent major market opportunities for U.S. firms and 

technology, because over the next five years, Qatar 

plans to spend about $20 billion on the design, 

construction, and operation of such things as highways, drainage systems, and government buildings. 

So it was a very timely visit, and I’m glad we had the 

opportunity to do it.

Barry: During your visit here with the Qatari delegation, did you encounter any negative reactions 

from Americans?

Le: People occasionally have negative perceptions 

about the Middle East. That is unfortunately based 

on images we sometimes see in the media. But 

what’s great about Qatar is that it is a country that is 

not interested in just building the tallest buildings 

in the world, but in creating systems—and adopting 

the best practices of the United States—to fit its vision of the future. That includes things that Americans can easily identify with, such as seeking a 

balance between the needs of a growing population 

and the country’s economic, social, and environmental resources. It also includes an interpretation 

of their religious tradition, based on the Koran, that 

allows for women’s empowerment and the elimination of all forms of subjugation of women.

Barry: I’ve heard that you are really quite an expert 

on sewer and waste disposal projects. What are the 

opportunities in this sector?

Le: Qatar has extremely limited water resources. 

It falls well below the World Bank’s water-poverty 

threshold of 1,000 cubic meters per capita. Most 

of Qatar’s water production comes from desalination, not rainfall, and clearly Qatar doesn’t have 

any lakes or rivers. So understanding that, what 

do Qataris have to do? The only way that they can 

go forward in such an environment is through the 

use of superior technology. This presents terrific 

opportunities for U.S. firms in areas such as desalination technologies and the treatment of sewage 

effluence. But U.S. companies need to get in front 

because it’s all about timing and prepositioning. 

The trade mission this month [to Saudi Arabia and 

Qatar] is a wonderful opportunity for U.S. firms to 

get involved in the Qatari market.

Barry: And when is the mission?

Le: The mission takes place June 5–10, and we are 

a follow-on stop after Saudi Arabia. U.S. firms have 

terrific offerings in terms of technologies and solutions. They just need to be exposed to this market 

and to learn more about it. They will then see that 

the opportunities in Qatar are limitless.

For More Information

Qatar’s commercial ties have been expanding at a rapid pace, with 

trade volumes growing by more than 387 percent during the past 

five years—from $841 million in 2004 to $3.2 billion in 2009. 

During the same period, U.S. exports to Qatar surged by 600 

percent. The United States is Qatar’s largest trading partner and had 

a positive trade balance in 2009, posting $2.7 billion in exports. 

For more information about doing business in Qatar, visit the U.S. 

and Foreign Commercial Service page devoted to the country at 

www.buyusa.gov/qatar. For more general information about 

exporting, or for information on how to contact the nearest U.S. 

Export Assistance Center, visit www.export.gov or call the Trade 

Information Center at 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723).

[S]ome countries 

have visionary 

leadership but lack 

the resources, while 

other countries 

have tremendous resources but no vision. 

Qatar has both.

—Dao Le, senior 

commercial officer, 

Doha, Qatar
News from the International Trade Administration

Short Takes Meeting, Memorandum Signal Continued 

U.S.–Russian Commercial Engagement

The wheels set in motion by U.S. President Barack 

Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev 

during their Moscow summit in 2009 to improve 

U.S.–Russian commercial relations generated 

continued activity recently, when representatives 

from both countries met in Washington, D.C., this 

past April.

On April 27, Gary Locke, U.S. secretary of commerce, and Elvira Nabiullina, Russian minister of 

economic development, held senior-level talks 

that were aimed at strengthening commercial 

relations between the two countries. The talks 

were the first full plenary session of the Working 

Group for Business Development and Economic 

Relations, which is a joint U.S.–Russia body that 

is cochaired by the U.S. secretary of commerce 

and the Russian minister of economic development. Their discussions focused on identifying 

new areas of cooperation that could benefit U.S. 

exporters trying to access the Russian market. 

Those areas include implementing procedures to 

ease business travel between the two countries 

and encouraging closer cooperation on customs 

and other matters, as well as Russia’s interest in 

modernizing its economy.

Michelle O’Neill, deputy under secretary for 

international trade and a participant in the talks, 

noted that “our two presidents have highlighted the 

need to increase the levels of trade and commercial 

interaction between our two countries. This meeting is an important step in creating an environment 

where bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade and 

economic development can thrive.”

Observers from major U.S. and Russian business associations attended the session and 

provided recommendations to the working group. 

The group is part of the Bilateral Presidential 

Commission that was announced by Obama and 

Medvedev at their 2009 Moscow summit.

After the session, O’Neill and Andrey Slepnev, 

Russian deputy minister for economic development, signed a memorandum of intent on the 

exchange of information about the promotion of 

investment. Offices in the two agencies plan to 

exchange information on programs and policies to 

attract foreign investment. 

Roundtable Looks at Green Finance Trends 

and Challenges

On May 21, 2010, more than 70 attendees at the 

Department of Commerce’s Green Finance Roundtable heard about trends and strategic issues in the 

“green” finance space—that is, loans, programs, 

policies, and initiatives emanating from the financial services sector that promote and encourage 

adoption of sustainable business practices.

The International Trade Administration’s Office 

of Financial Services Industries and the Department of Commerce’s Sustainable Manufacturing Initiative (SMI) organized the roundtable. It 

International Trade UPDATE

June 2010

6

Gary Locke, secretary of commerce, and Michelle O’Neill, deputy under secretary of 

commerce for international trade, at a meeting of the Working Group for Business 

Development and Economic Relations, which is a joint U.S.–Russia group that met 

in Washington, D.C., on April 27, 2010, to discuss ways of improving commercial 

relations between the two countries. (U.S. Department of Commerce photo)
7 7

attracted representatives from numerous sectors, 

including private equity firms, insurance companies, banks, manufacturing companies, government, and non-governmental organizations. Panel 

sessions focused on trends in the green private 

equity, underwriting, and insurance sectors and on 

the challenges U.S. manufacturers face in accessing 

green financing.

“By fostering a meaningful partnership between 

the U.S. financial services industry and other green 

economy participants, we can identify and leverage 

opportunities to ensure that the United States is 

home to the green economy,” said Joel Secundy, 

deputy assistant secretary for services, in his introductory remarks to the roundtable.

Presentations at the event included a description 

of New York City’s Green Economy Plan by Seth 

Pinsky of the New York City Economic Development 

Commission and a description of the economic 

opportunities of sustainable manufacturing by Bob 

Bechtold of Harbec Plastics of Ontario, New York.

SMI is a public–private dialogue that aims to identify the most pressing sustainable manufacturing 

challenges and to coordinate public- and privatesector efforts to address those challenges. For more 

information about SMI, or to obtain more information about the Green Finance Roundtable (including 

the agenda and copies of the presentations), visit 

SMI’s Web page at www.trade.gov/competitiveness/

sustainablemanufacturing or contact the International Trade Administration’s Office of Financial 

Services Industries at info@greenfinance.gov.

Partners Commit to Outreach in Support of 

National Export Initiative

On April 29, 2010, senior officials from the Department of Commerce and UPS met in Washington, D.C., to discuss their ongoing strategic 

partnership and to renew their commitment to 

helping U.S. businesses increase exports. Gary 

Locke, secretary of commerce; Francisco Sánchez, 

under secretary for international trade; and Daniel 

J. Brutto, president of UPS International, attended 

the meeting. Their discussions focused on engagement strategies that will help UPS customers that 

already export to think about new business opportunities in more countries and in new markets.

The partnership with UPS is one of several that the 

U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, a unit of the 

International Trade Administration, has undertaken 

since 2004 with corporations and trade associations.

According to Adam Wilczewski, director of the 

ITA’s Office of Strategic Partnerships, “By leveraging 

the resources of these partner organizations, ITA is 

building awareness of exporting opportunities for 

small and medium-sized businesses to help promote job creation here at home. These efforts support our national export goals by communicating to 

millions of U.S. businesses about export opportunities and how we can lead them to success.”

The meeting with UPS was part of an effort by 

ITA to engage three of its strategic partners—UPS, 

FedEx, and the U.S. Postal Service—in a new market 

exporter initiative that identifies customers that sell 

to only one or two international markets and that 

helps them to identify and export to an additional 

market overseas. The meeting was also a response 

to President Barack Obama’s call—in the National 

Export Initiative announced earlier this year—to 

double U.S. exports over the next five years to support 2 million new U.S. jobs.

Contributors to this section include Ellen House and Matthew Edwards of the International Trade Administration’s 

Market Access and Compliance unit; William McElnea 

and Paul Thanos of the International Trade Administration’s Manufacturing and Services unit; and Stephanie 

Smedile of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service.
Calendar

International Trade Calendar

June 5–10

Middle East Public Health 

Trade Mission

Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 

Doha, Qatar

www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_trade_

events.asp?EventID=29486

The United States is the largest import partner to Qatar and 

Saudi Arabia. This trade mission will seek to build on that 

relationship and will focus on two important public health 

sectors: (a) patient health care and (b) water and waste 

management. For more information, contact Lisa Huot of the 

USFCS, tel.: (202) 482-2796; e-mail: lisa.huot@trade.gov.

June 8–13

Berlin Air Show 2010

Berlin, Germany 

www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_trade_

events.asp?EventID=29923

This event is one the most important aerospace, defense, and 

space industry shows for generating new sales leads and for 

creating new business contacts in Germany, the European 

Union, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. In 2008, the show 

had more than 1,000 exhibitors with 120,000 trade visitors 

and 4,300 media representatives from 70 countries. The 

Department of Commerce will be sponsoring an Aerospace 

Products Literature Center. For more information, contact 

Deborah Semb of the USFCS, tel.: (202) 482-0677; e-mail: 

deborah.semb@trade.gov.

June 9

The Business of Smart Grid

St. Paul, Minnesota

www.regonline.com/checkin.

asp?eventid=854845

This one-day workshop, which was developed by the 

Minnesota Smart Grid Coalition, the International Trade 

Administration, and the U.S. Department of Energy, will 

highlight the benefits that smart grid development and 

deployment will bring to smart grid and clean-technology 

companies in the Midwest. Mary Saunders, deputy assistant 

secretary for manufacturing and services, will be a featured 

speaker. For more information, contact Shannon Fraser of 

the Department of Commerce, tel.: (202) 482-3609; e-mail: 

shannon.fraser@trade.gov.

June 9–10

Leveraging Your Web Site to 

Increase International Sales 

Boston, Massachusetts

www.buyusa.gov/newhampshire/emarketing.html

This Web conference is for small and medium-sized enterprises to help them learn how to attract and maintain new 

overseas customers and to execute sales internationally through their Web sites. The USFCS, its corporate 

partners, and expert speakers will participate. For more 

information, contact Joel Reynoso of the USFCS, tel.: 

(617) 565-4783; e-mail: joel.reynoso@trade.gov.

June 10–11

Building a New Haiti: 

Commerce, Business, and 

Investment 

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_trade_

events.asp?EventID=16466

This event targets U.S. investors and Haitian and Dominican 

businesses. It will feature presentations from major international funding institutions on business opportunities related 

to the reconstruction of Haiti. An exhibition area will allow 

participants to showcase their products and services and to 

develop business alliances with companies from all three 

countries. For more information, contact Inés Gerez of the 

USFCS, tel.: (809) 227-2121, ext. 234; e-mail: 

ines.gerez@trade.gov.

June 10

Webinar: U.S. Export 

Opportunities: Thailand’s Rail 

Systems Developments

Bangkok, Thailand 

www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_trade_

events.asp?EventID=30364

The government of Thailand recently approved funding for 

a number of mass rapid transit systems that will be built 

during the next five years. With a total estimated budget of 

nearly $8 billion, these projects will offer many opportunities 

for U.S. suppliers. Details about the systems will be presented 

in this one-hour Webinar. For more information, contact Terri 

Batch of the USFCS, tel.: (310) 882-1750; e-mail: terri.batch@

mail.doc.gov.

8

June 14–18

Trade Mission to the 

Dominican Republic and 

Jamaica

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; 

Kingston, Jamaica

www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_

trade_events.asp?EventID=29720

The Caribbean is a growing market with many business 

opportunities for U.S. companies. To help companies 

realize their potential in the region, the Department 

of Commerce will lead a trade mission to introduce 

participants to firsthand market information. The 

mission will also give them access to government 

decision-makers and will offer one-on-one meetings 

with prescreened business contacts. For more 

information, contact Ashley Wilson of the USFCS, tel.: 

(405) 608-5302; e-mail: ashley.wilson@trade.gov.

June 15–17

Rebuild Chile Expo 2010 

Santiago, Chile

www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_

trade_events.asp?EventID=30896

This trade event responds to the enormous need 

of rebuilding Chile in the wake of the devastating 

earthquake in February 2010. The three-day event will 

include presentations by representatives from the Chilean 

Ministries of Reconstruction, Public Works, Housing, 

Energy, Finance, and Health. U.S. companies have several 

participation options, including exhibition, attendance, 

and participation in a product catalog display. For more 

information, contact Kevin Haley of the USFCS, tel.: 

(202) 482-6434; e-mail: kevin.haley@trade.gov.

June 29

Web Site Design for a Global 

Marketplace 

Jacksonville, Florida

www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_

trade_events.asp?EventID=31104

According to researchers, about 50 percent of Internet 

traffic in the United States now comes from abroad. This 

non-technical presentation will show U.S. companies, 

and particularly small and medium-sized businesses, how 

they can make low-cost or no-cost modifications to their 

Web sites that can help grow their international sales. For 

more information, contact Jorge Arce of the USFCS, tel. 

(904) 232-1270; e-mail: jorge.arce@trade.gov.

June 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

July 7

A Basic Guide to Exporting: Using 

E-Commerce and Social Media 

Washington, D.C.

www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_trade_events.

asp?EventID=30315

The Internet is a great way to promote products and to generate orders 

worldwide. This Webinar will focus on helping companies maximize 

exposure for their products and services. Discussion will cover analyzing 

customers and their new buying habits, using Web sites as an effective marketing channel, making Web sites “visible” to customers, optimizing search 

engines, and attracting buyers from different countries. Participants receive 

a free copy of A Basic Guide to Exporting. For more information, contact 

Doug Barry of the USFCS, tel.: (202) 482-4422; e-mail: 

doug.barry@trade.gov.

July 19–25

Farnborough International Airshow 

2010 

Farnborough, United Kingdom 

www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_trade_events.

asp?EventID=29967

The 57th edition of this airshow, which is a premier showcase for aviation 

products and services, will bring together buyers and sellers from all over 

the world. In 2008, 220 U.S. companies participated in the U.S. 

International Pavilion, and 145 U.S. companies exhibited at large. The 

show attracted 153,000 visitors and recorded $88.7 billion in orders. For 

more information, contact Kevin Haley of the USFCS, tel.: 

(202) 482-6434; e-mail: kevin.haley@trade.gov.

July 29

Export University 301: Adapting 

Products to Individual Markets

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

www.export.gov/eac/show_detail_trade_events.

asp?EventID=29973

This program is one in a series of four sessions designed to prepare companies to do business overseas, to review market penetration considerations, 

to discuss joint ventures and licensing, and to learn how to adapt their 

products to individual markets. Sessions take place at various locations in 

the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area. For more information, contact 

Leandro Solorzano of the USFCS, tel. (215) 597-6127; e-mail: leandro.

solorzano@trade.gov.

Featured Trade Event

Trade Mission to Iraq

October 2010

Baghdad, Iraq

www.export.gov/iraqmission2010

Interest from U.S. companies in exporting to the Iraqi market is at an 

historical high following the successful U.S.–Iraq Business and Investment 

Conference in October 2009 and the meeting of the U.S.–Iraq Business 

Dialogue (see the November 2009 issue of International Trade Update). This 

trade mission will build on those events and will take representatives from 15 

to 20 U.S. companies to Baghdad for four days of briefings and one-on-one 

business appointments.

Security continues to improve in Iraq, and the government has made 

progress in building a commercial environment that is more conducive to 

trade and economic development. In November 2009, for example, the Iraqi 

parliament passed an amendment to the country’s investment law that 

allows foreigners to own land for housing projects. The government has also 

budgeted more than $80 billion for infrastructure development, which will 

focus on a number of large construction, highway, railway, telecommunications, and security and defense projects.

Iraqi business culture emphasizes personal contacts; therefore, this 

trade mission will allow participants to personally meet a broad range of 

Iraqi government officials and potential business partners.

The fee to participate in the mission is $5,200 for a single participant 

from a small or medium-sized enterprise and $6,000 for a participant from a 

large firm. Interpretation and security detail services are included in the fee. 

The deadline for applying is July 19, 2010. Applications received after that 

date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

For more information, visit the mission’s Web page or contact Jessica 

Arnold of the USFCS, tel.: (202) 482-2026; e-mail: iraqmission@trade.gov. 

Sunrise, Baghdad, Iraq. (photo © Craig DeBourbon/iStock)

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, 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 J. Sánchez

Acting 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:

Michele Robinson

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.
International Trade UPDATE

June 2010

10

The fourth Americas Competitiveness Forum 

(ACF), which is a gathering of representatives from countries throughout the Western 

Hemisphere, is set to take place November 14–16, 

2010, in Atlanta, Georgia. Secretary of Commerce 

Gary Locke will convene the meeting along with 

Mayor Kasim Reed of Atlanta, CIFAL Atlanta (a 

United Nations affiliate organization), and other 

stakeholders from throughout the region.

The ACF is an initiative co-hosted by the Department of Commerce. It grew out of a commitment 

made by the United States at the November 2005 

Summit of the Americas to cooperate to advance 

common prosperity, combat inequality, and achieve 

sustainable economic growth.

Since that time, the ACF has established itself as 

the preeminent economic and commercial event in 

the Americas. It attracts approximately 1,000 participants from the Western Hemisphere’s public and 

private sectors, including heads of state; ministers of 

economy, commerce, trade, and industry; and leaders from academia, civil society, and business. 

Unique Blend of Policy and Business

The ACF distinguishes itself from other international gatherings by presenting a unique blend of 

policy dialogue on national, regional, and local 

best practices in competitiveness. It combines this 

dialogue with business-to-business and businessto-government interaction. 

This year, ACF attendees will focus on four main 

topics: (a) innovation and green technologies; (b) 

education and workforce development; (c) entrepreneurship and small business development; and 

(d) trade facilitation, border clearance, and supplychain logistics.

Opportunities for Business Interaction

This year, the ACF will offer ways to explore new 

business models and to hear about innovative 

practices and experiences that are designed to 

create jobs, to increase trade and investment, and 

to enhance hemispheric productivity. In addition, 

during the three-day event, the Department of 

Commerce’s International Trade Administration 

(ITA) will facilitate tailored business-to-business 

and business-to-government meetings, which will 

promote export opportunities and other business 

partnerships. During ACF 2008, ITA provided more 

than 200 one-on-one export-counseling sessions. 

ACF participants will also hear firsthand from 

numerous foreign government officials about new 

trade and investment opportunities in the region. 

Building a Prosperous and Sustainable Future 

for the Americas

The fourth Americas Competitiveness Forum, which is a unique gathering of representatives 

from market-based economies throughout the Western Hemisphere, is scheduled to take 

place November 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia.

b y Pe t e r B o w m a n

continued on page 12

In 2009, leaders from throughout the Western Hemisphere met in Santiago, Chile, to participate in the 

third Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF). The fourth ACF will be held November 14–16 in Atlanta, 

Georgia. (U.S. Department of Commerce photo)
U.S. Export Assistance Centers

11

ALABAMA

Birmingham: (205) 731-1331

ALASKA

Anchorage: (907) 271-6237

ARIZONA

Phoenix: (602) 640-2513

Tucson: (520) 670-5540

ARKANSAS

Little Rock: (501) 324-5794

CALIFORNIA

Bakersfield: (661) 637-0136

Fresno: (559) 227-6582

Indio/Cabazon: (760) 342-1310

Ontario: (909) 466-4134

Los Angeles (Downtown): (213) 894-8784

Los Angeles (West): (310) 235-7104

Monterey: (831) 641-9850

Newport Beach: (949) 660-1688

Oakland: (510) 273-7350

San Rafael (North Bay): (415) 485-6200

Sacramento: (916) 566-7170

San Diego: (619) 557-5395

San Francisco: (415) 705-2300

San Jose (Silicon Valley): (408) 535-2757

Ventura County: (805) 488-4844

COLORADO 

Denver: (303) 844-6623

CONNECTICUT 

Middletown: (860) 638-6950

DELAWARE 

Served by the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 

U.S. Export Assistance Center

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 

Served by the Arlington, Virginia,

Export Assistance Center.

FLORIDA 

Clearwater: (727) 893-3738

Ft. Lauderdale: (954) 356-6640

Jacksonville: (904) 232-1270 

Miami: (305) 526-7425 ext. 27

Orlando: (407) 648-6170 

Tallahassee: (850) 942-9635

GEORGIA 

Atlanta: (404) 897-6090

Savannah: (912) 652-4204

HAWAII/PACIFIC ISLANDS 

Honolulu: (808) 522-8040

IDAHO 

Boise: (208) 364-7791

ILLINOIS 

Chicago: (312) 353-8040

Libertyville: (847) 327-9082 

Peoria: (309) 671-7815

Rockford: (815) 316-2380 

INDIANA 

Indianapolis: (317) 582-2300

IOWA 

Des Moines: (515) 284-4590 

KANSAS 

Wichita: (316) 263-4067

KENTUCKY 

Lexington: (859) 225-7001

Louisville: (502) 582-5066

LOUISIANA 

New Orleans: (504) 589-6546

Shreveport: (318) 676-3064 

MAINE 

Portland: (207) 541-7430

MARYLAND 

Baltimore: (410) 962-4539

MASSACHUSETTS 

Boston: (617) 565-4301

MICHIGAN 

Detroit: (313) 226-3650

Grand Rapids: (616) 458-3564

Pontiac: (248) 975-9600

Ypsilanti: (734) 487-0259

MINNESOTA 

Minneapolis: (612) 348-1638

MISSISSIPPI 

Mississippi: (601) 965-4130

MISSOURI 

Kansas City: (816) 421-1876

St. Louis: (314) 425-3302

MONTANA 

Missoula: (406) 542-6656 

NEBRASKA 

Omaha: (402) 597-0193

NEVADA 

Las Vegas: (702) 388-6694

Reno: (775) 784-5203

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Durham: (603) 953-0212

NEW JERSEY 

Newark: (973) 645-4682

Trenton: (609) 989-2100

NEW MEXICO 

Santa Fe: (505) 231-0075

NEW YORK 

Buffalo: (716) 551-4191

Harlem: (212) 860-6200

Long Island: (212) 809-2682

New York: (212) 809-2675 

Rochester: (585)-263-6480

Westchester: (914) 682-6712

NORTH CAROLINA 

Charlotte: (704) 333-4886 

Greensboro: (336) 333-5345

Raleigh: (919) 281-2750 

NORTH DAKOTA

Fargo: (701) 239-5080 

OHIO 

Akron: (330) 678-0695

Cincinnati: (513) 684-2944

Cleveland: (216) 522-4750

Columbus: (614) 365-9510

Toledo: (419) 241-0683

OKLAHOMA 

Oklahoma City: (405) 608-5302

Tulsa: (918) 581-7650

OREGON

Portland: (503) 326-3001

PENNSYLVANIA 

Harrisburg: (717) 872-4386 

Philadelphia: (215) 597-6101

Pittsburgh: (412) 644-2800

PUERTO RICO 

San Juan (Guaynabo): (787) 775-1992

RHODE ISLAND 

Providence: (401) 528-5104

SOUTH CAROLINA 

Charleston: (843) 746-3404

Columbia: (803) 777-2571

Greenville (Upstate): (864) 250-8429

SOUTH DAKOTA 

Sioux Falls: (605) 330-4264

TENNESSEE 

Knoxville: (865) 545-4637

Memphis: (901) 544-0930

Nashville: (615) 736-2222

TEXAS 

Austin: (512) 916-5939

El Paso: (915) 929-6971

Fort Worth: (817) 392-2673

Houston: (713) 209-3104

Grapevine: (817) 310-3744

San Antonio: (210) 228-9878

South Texas: (956) 661-0238

West Texas: (432) 552-2490

UTAH 

Salt Lake City: (801) 255-1871 

VERMONT 

Montpelier: (802) 828-4508 

VIRGINIA 

Arlington: (703) 235-0331 

Richmond: (804) 771-2246

WASHINGTON 

Seattle: (206) 553-5615

Spokane: (509) 353-2625

WEST VIRGINIA 

Charleston: (304) 347-5123

Wheeling: (304) 243-5493

WISCONSIN 

Milwaukee: (414) 297-3473

WYOMING 

Served by the Denver, Colorado,

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

Building a Prosperous and Sustainable Future

continued from page 10

These targeted market-opportunity sessions and 

one-on-one business-counseling sessions will 

focus on small and medium-sized enterprises and 

will provide numerous avenues for companies to 

develop trade and investment opportunities with 

governments and companies throughout the Western Hemisphere. 

Growing Institutional Commitment

The United States hosted the forum for its first two 

years, and since then, it has grown to attract institutional commitments from a variety of national 

and regional organizations. The third ACF, which 

convened in September 2009, was held for the first 

time outside the United States, hosted by Chile’s 

Ministry of Economy in Santiago, Chile. 

That same year, the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development of the Organization of American 

States (OAS) formally joined ACF and took responsibility for coordinating the future actions of the region’s public and private competitiveness councils. 

As a result, the Inter-American Competitiveness Network (IACN) was officially launched with support 

from the participating governments and the OAS. 

The first annual meeting of the IACN will be held at 

this year’s ACF to encourage the implementation of 

joint initiatives to strengthen and promote competitiveness in the Americas.

Peter Bowman is an international economist in the Market 

Access and Compliance unit of the International Trade 

Administration.

For More Information

Additional information on the fourth annual Americas Competitiveness 

Forum, as well as registration instructions, can be found on the forum’s 

Web site at www.competitivenessforum.com.

Sender: OPA, H-3416

U.S. Department of Commerce

International Trade Administration

Washington, DC 200230

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use, $300