Issues & AdvocacyFederal

Webinar for Trade Mission to Brazil, Colombia, and Panama Announced

By Jessica Salmoiraghi, Director, Federal Regulatory Relations & Counsel

The US Department of Commerce announced an updated Trade Mission to Brazil, Colombia and Panama which starts on May 12^th.  This trade mission will focus on a master planning, port redevelopment, airport and security.  Exports have been growing even during the recession.  Growth in the exports of goods and services outpaced the growth of imports in the past year.  For more information about this trade mission, participate in the free webinar with the US Department of Commerce on March 20^th at 1pm-2pm EST or visit the mission website here. 

Panama

The US and Panama recently signed a new Trade Promotion agreement.  There are lower tariffs for doing business in Panama which will help your business grow.  If you have questions about doing business in Panama, then the join the free webinar to ask questions of US government experts in this market. 

The speakers are :

• Jonathan D. Farrar, U.S Ambassador to Panama

• Alejandra Y. Castillo, National Deputy Director, Minority Business Development Agency U.S. Department of Commerce

• Michael Masserman, Executive Director for Export Policy, Promotion & Strategy International Trade Association, U.S. Department of Commerce

For more information and to register, please go to:  http://export.gov/tradeamericas/tradeevents/webinars/takingadvantageofpanamatpa/index.asp

Colombia

The Colombian government is focusing on improving its infrastructure development, earmarking $26 billion over the next 4 years for infrastructure projects.  There is a need for Colombia to improve its infrastructure to remain competitive with its neighbors, so the focus is on the cutting edge technology for that effort.  The US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement provides duty-free entry for 80 percent of US industrial exports to Colombia, with the remaining tariffs being phased out of the next 10 years. 

Brazil

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, in terms of land and population, and the seventh largest country in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). 

Brazil has a number of opportunities through newly discovered oil and gas deposits, large infrastructure projects to support the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic games, and other development projects in the Northeast sector of the country.  Brazil is currently the U.S.’s seventh largest export market. 

PROPOSED TIME TABLE FOR THE MISSION

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

All parties interested in participating in the Secretarial Infrastructure Business Development Mission to Brazil, Colombia and Panama or Colombia and Panama must complete and submit an application package for consideration by the Department of Commerce. All applicants will be evaluated on their ability to meet certain conditions and best satisfy the selection criteria as outlined below. Approximately 20-25 companies will be selected to participate in the mission from the applicant pool. U.S. companies doing business with Brazil, Colombia and Panama, as well as U.S. companies seeking to enter these markets for the first time may apply.

Fees and Expenses:

After a company has been selected to participate on the mission, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of a participation fee is required. The fee schedule for each mission is below:

Brazil, Colombia and Panama (May 12-18):

• $11,750 for large firms

• $9,750 for a small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)1

• $2,750 each additional firm representative (large firm or SME)

Colombia and Panama (May 15-18):

• $7,300 for large firms

• $5,900 for a small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

• $1,750 each additional firm representative (large firm or SME)

Expenses for travel, lodging, most meals, and incidentals will be the responsibility of each mission participant. Flight costs between mission stops are included in the participation fee.

For more information on the trade mission, please click here. To apply for the trade mission, you must contact the Office of Business Liaison at businessliaison@doc.gov or via fax: 202-482-4054.

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