Message from the Chairman

As part of our ongoing educational outreach efforts the WV Export Council will participate with partners in an International Business Workshop on June 2, 2005 from 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at West Virginia State University in the School of Business & Economics and the Office of International Affairs located in Institute, West Virginia.

We encourage anyone interested in exporting to attend this valuable workshop to learn more about doing business internationally.

Workshop Location:
WILSON STUDENT UNION
Cost: $10

KEYNOTE LUNCHEON SPEAKER:
Donald L. Gallion, Jr.
President & CEO, FCX Systems, Inc. and Chair of the WV Export Council

Workshop speakers include:
James Pittard, US Department of Commerce
Leslie Drake, WV Development Office – International Division
Robert Henrich, WV Small Business Development Center
Mark Cooper, Cooper Brokerage & Forwarding, Inc.
J.P. Lear, Scanwell

For more information and to register call 766-3063 or email. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Business & International Education Program

New Toyota Plant on
Agenda – More»

Governor welcomes 100 new jobs to Hampshire County: Mill Branch Industries to invest $1.8 million, create as many as 300 – 400 jobs. Visit the website for more information.

WSJ.com - U.S. Trade Gap Fell 9.2% To $54.99 Billion in March

Doing Business in Australia and the Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA).

Thursday, May 19 from 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Summit Conference Center, 129 Summers Street
Corner of Quarrier and Summers Streets - Charleston, WV.

Click here for directions to the Summit Conference Center.

Representatives from the US Department of Commerce in Melbourne will brief you on the current news and business prospects for your industry. Take this opportunity to ask specific questions about selling your products in Australia and what affect the Free Trade Agreement will have on your company.

On January 1, 2005, Australia entered into the Free Trade Agreement with the United States (AUSFTA), which will provide major benefits for both countries immediately, through the removal of tariffs, and longer term, through the phased opening of markets. It is Australia’s first trade agreement with a major economy, and the first agreement that the U.S. has entered with a major economy since 1988. To learn more about the elimination of tariffs, declaring origin, rules of origin, and frequently asked questions regarding AUSFTA, you may visit this website.

Australia has proven an appealing and profitable market for American companies for many years. It offers very few barriers to entry, a familiar legal and corporate framework, and a sophisticated – yet straightforward -- business culture. While it is important to understand and appreciate Australia’s cultural differences, the long and successful history of American firms in Australia suggests that other U.S. companies will also find this market to be rewarding and attractive. This is clearly demonstrated by the US$9 billion trade surplus that the U.S. enjoys with total exports to Australia reaching US$28 billion in 2004.

To register for this event, please contact Ms. Leslie Drake at 304 558 2234 Email: ldrake@wvdo.org or Jim Pittard at 304 347 5123 Ext.11 Email: jim.pittard@mail.doc.gov

You may also register on line by clicking here.

“Asia Now” - Free Newsletter The U.S. Commercial Service's “Asia Now” program brings together the resources of the U.S. Commercial Service offices in 14 Asian countries and our Export Assistance Centers throughout the U.S. to help U. S. companies export goods and services in the region.

The Asia Now/e-News website gives you a single point of access to regional trade events, extensive trade services and research covering Asian markets. Asia Now e-News is a free monthly newsletter full of useful information and trade leads for U.S. exporters who want to increase their sales in the Asia-Pacific region. To access the most recent issue of e-News and to register for a free subscription, please visit the website.

Eastern Mediterranean Study USA Tour - September 21 - October 15, 2005
Education fairs in Morocco, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt. This is a great opportunity for accredited post-secondary educational service providers to tap the demand represented by roughly 21,000 students from these markets currently studying in the United States, not to mention many thousands more requests for information received each year in these markets of 180 million people.

Participants can choose all venues or just those markets of greatest interest to them, including 10-11 fully optional stops in Marrakesh, Casablanca/Rabat, Ifrane or Tangier, Tel Aviv, Ramallah, Amman, Ankara, Izmir, Beirut, Cairo and Alexandria. For more information and registration, click here. For questions, contact Debra Rogers at Debra Rogers at 312-353-6988 or debra.rogers@mail.doc.gov.

Tourism Infrastructure (ACE) Trade Mission to Mexico City - September 6-9, 2005
Substantial opportunities await U.S. building and design firms in Mexico’s burgeoning tourism market. Participants in this mission stand to benefit from one-on-one appointments, in-depth market briefings -- including information on major projects -- and networking at the annual conference of FONATUR, Mexico’s Tourism Infrastructure Agency. With Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism expecting to see more than $1.78 billion invested to further develop the country’s tourism infrastructure, prospects for U.S. firms are better than ever.

If you are interested, please contact Sam Dhir, Project Manager by telephone at 202-482-4756, by fax at 202-482-0178 or by email: Sam.Dhir@mail.doc.gov.

U.S. Department of Commerce Launches Web Site to Aid Small and Medium Sized Businesses in Internet Exporting

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, Office of Technology and Electronic Commerce launched an innovative website to boost small and medium-sized companies’ ability to e-export. The website consolidates information and resources into an e-commerce toolbox that the Commerce Department and other U.S. government agencies offer to American businesses to increase Internet exports.

Please click here to visit the Office of Technology and Electronic Commerce.

Happy 25th Anniversary U.S. Commercial Service!
On April 1, 1980, the U.S. State Department transferred all commercial activities to the U.S. Department of Commerce, creating the Foreign Commercial Service (FCS). A year later, in 1981, domestic offices were added to FCS, creating the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service.

Today, U.S. & F.C.S., otherwise referred to as the U.S. Commercial Service (CS), has a network of 107 U.S. Export Assistance Centers throughout the country and more than 150 offices overseas. In 2004, CS facilitated over $23 billion in U.S. exports and conducted nearly 150,000 counseling sessions with American companies. Exports increase American jobs, and companies that export pay higher wages than those that do not. The U.S. Commercial Service has played and will continue to play a vital role in the growth of U.S. exports.

Our Mission: “The Commercial Service shall place primary emphasis on the promotion of exports of goods and services from the United States, particularly by small businesses and medium-sized businesses, and on the protection of United States business interests abroad.”

Our Vision: We are the U.S. Commercial Service, the best source of customized solutions for U.S. business to compete and win in the global marketplace.

US Department of Commerce - "Market of the Month - Korea"

The Jim C. Hamer Companies
Todd Webb, Export sales executive
P.O. Box 418
Kenova, WV USA 25530
Phone 304) 453 6381
Fax 304 453 6587
www.jimchamer.com
twebb@jimchamer.com

The Jim C. Hamer Companies are backed by four generations of Hamer family members who are forestry professionals. They are dedicated to sustaining the forests of West Virginia and the entire Appalachian region. The Jim C. Hamer Company owns and manages:

600,000 acres of timberland
Five sawmills
1.2 million feet Dry Kiln capacity
50 million board feet/year of green lumber
25 million board feet/year of kiln dried lumber

5 Sawmill locations
Curtin, WV - Mt. Hope, WV - Madison, WV - Rachel, WV - Prestonburg, KY

Dry Kilns and Lumber Yards
Kenova, WV - Curtin, WV - Elkins, WV

Their lumber species mix is:
Red & White Oak (45%); Poplar (28%); Hard & Soft Maple (15%); Basswood ( 5%); Cherry (5%); Other (Ash & Walnut) (2%)

Jim. C Hamer recently participated in the Shanghai Woodbuild show held in March, and Interzum, Cologne, Germany in May. The Germany show offered participants the opportunity to display their company with literature and a large graphic in Europe's largest building and wood products show, held every 2 years. West Virginia companies met one-on-one with pre-screened companies interested in pursuing business with them during the 5 day show. For information on this event and the upcoming trade events, contact Leslie Drake.

Obtaining Patents and Trademarks in Foreign Markets
For more information on how to apply for patents or trademarks in a foreign country, contact the intellectual property office in that country directly. Once a company has registered for protection, it can use that country’s local laws to enforce its rights. A list of contact information for most intellectual property offices worldwide can be found by clicking here.

WARNING: Fraud Scheme Targeting Ag Equipment Companies
The U.S. Commercial Service office in Denver was recently contacted by a Colorado agricultural equipment manufacturer regarding a scam of which they had been a victim.

The Colorado company lost a total of $18,000 before realizing they were being manipulated and now wants our help in alerting other U.S. firms to this fraudulent scheme. The instigators of this scam are apparently targeting agricultural equipment manufacturers and appear to be located in the UK and Turkey. The following is a scenario of the scam:

• The U.S. manufacturer was contacted via e-mail by “Steve Bryan” in the UK who claimed he was representing a buyer in Turkey that had been awarded a government contract to bring equipment into the country to help promote the agriculture industry.
• The U.S. manufacturer provided a list of quotes on equipment, and the Turkish buyer accepted the quotes.
• ”Mr. Bryan” proceeded to require fees to certify the product (health department certificates, etc.) and conduct CE Mark certification.
• “Mr. Bryan” then wanted the U.S. manufacturer to come to Turkey to sign paperwork and receive the payment for goods. If the U.S. manufacturer was not able to travel, “Mr. Bryan” offered to appoint an attorney to do it -–for a fee, of course.
• At this point, the U.S. manufacturer put the pieces together and figured out they were being scammed. Through a variety of industry connections, the U.S. manufacturer learned of two other U.S. companies (one in Colorado, one in North Dakota) that were being scammed by the same “Mr. Bryan” with the same story.

The above situation could easily happen to companies in other manufacturing sectors. If an overseas potential customer contacts you with a similar request or one that appears suspicious in any way, contact your local USEAC – Charleston WV – Jim Pittard, International Trade Specialist, Tel: 304-347-5123 Ext.11. Wheeling WV – Jim Fitzgerald, Manager, Tel: 304-243-5493. We will be glad to contact our counterparts at the U.S. Commercial Service post in that country to check on the legitimacy of the request.

Seeking Assistance with Counterfeit or Pirated Products
The Trade Compliance Center and Commerce Department country experts stand ready to work with U.S. firms to help them protect their intellectual property at home and abroad.

Commerce experts can suggest strategies to evaluate IPR problems encountered abroad and will work with our Embassies around the world to pursue a course of action for resolution of the problems. Commerce established a special telephone and web address designed specifically to deal with companies’ international intellectual property concerns. Companies can contact Commerce at: 1-866-999-HALT (4258).