Organization of Women in International Trade Sponsors:

Continental Breakfast

Welcome and Introductions

Import Updates:

U. S. Import Requirements:  Celia Ridel, Assistant Port Director - Trade Operations

Import Licensing / Compliance:  Marian Ladner Attorney Ladner & Associates

Cargo Owner/Operator Trends:  Diana Urelius, Manager Trade Compliance & Audit Resources Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift

Newtorking Luncheon

Export Updates:

Export Compliance & Licensing:  Pam Plagens, Senior Trade Specialist, US Department of Commerce and Pamela Nieto Attorney,  Baker & Hostetler

Transportation & Logistics:

Questions & Answers:

Tuesday May 18th

8AM to 3PM

University of Houston

Small Business Development Center

2302 Fannin, Ste 200

Houston, TX  77002

for registration form email:  catherine@dixiecullen.com

U.S. Box Imports Plummet 22 Percent
Bill Mongelluzzo Jun 9, 2009 6:28PM GMTThe Journal of Commerce Online - News Story

Slight April gain over March gives weak signal for peak season

Container volumes at U.S. ports edged up in April compared to March, but remained well below the volumes recorded in April 2008, according to the monthly Port Tracker published by the National Retail Federation and IHS Global Insight.

The second half of 2009 appears to be trending the same way the first half progressed, with containerized imports creeping up compared to the month before, but down noticeably from the same month last year.

It therefore looks like the back-to-school shopping season this summer, traditionally the second busiest period on retailers' calendars, will be disappointing. Prospects for the holiday shopping season that follows look equally bleak.

These developments are reflected directly in the cargo volumes moving through the eight major U.S. container gateways covered by Port Tracker.

"Retailers are still being cautious with their inventory levels in anticipation of slow sales this summer into the fall," said Jonathan Gold, vice president for supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation.

Containerized imports in April increased 2 percent over March, but were down 22 percent compared to April 2008, according to Port Tracker. April was the third lowest month since 2004 and marked the 22nd month in a row of year-over-year declines in volume.

Projections call for May to be down 21 percent and June 19 percent from the same months last year. Port Tracker projects that containerized imports in the first half of 2009 will be down 21 percent compared to the first six months of 2008.

Port Tracker projects volumes in the peak summer-fall months through October will be down about 16 to 18 percent compared to peak season 2008.

Logistically, the U.S. port and intermodal transportation networks are operating efficiently and without any disruptions. Ports are congestion-free from vessel to gate. Rail service levels are good and the harbor trucking industry is operating with excess capacity.

On the other hand, all of these transportation industries are struggling with weak revenues and over-capacity.

Introduction of the federal security program known as the Transportation Worker Identification Credential has successfully taken place at all major gateways.

Contact Bill Mongelluzzo at bmongelluzzo@joc.com.

HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT

World Trade News : Napolitano updates Congress on DHS' IT programs By Ben Bain Gov't Computer News Mar 02, 2009

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told House lawmakers last week that the Homeland Security Department would not meet a deadline of 2012 that requires DHS to scan all cargo bound for U.S. seaports with non-intrusive imaging and radiation detection equipment before the cargo leaves for the United States. Napolitano also told a House panel that DHS would focus on improving intelligence sharing with state and local authorities.

The 100 percent scanning requirement has raised logistical, technological and diplomatic concerns from shippers, carriers, port and terminal operators, and foreign governments. The requirement was part of a 2007 law that allows the homeland security secretary to extend that deadline.

Napolitano also said she planned to make intelligence-sharing with state and local authorities a priority and wanted to focus on the more than 50 state and local intelligence fusion centers around the country.

The Bush administration designated the fusion centers as a central node for the federal government’s efforts for sharing terrorism-related information with state and local officials and Congress has designated DHS as the lead federal agency for that effort. The department is in the process of upgrading its platform for sharing sensitive but unclassified information with state and local officials.

“The fusion of information between the federal, state and local levels is what makes the intelligence gathering process critically valuable to preventing threats from materializing,” she testified. “Information sharing is also what makes response efforts effective.”

Napolitano also discussed a series of directives she has ordered to review DHS’ efforts in areas such as border security, risk management, information sharing with state and local authorities and cybersecurity, saying it was critical to involve the private sector in cybersecurity and she had instructed DHS officials to be sure the department was reaching out to private-sector groups.

Other information technology-related programs she touched on included the SBInet border security program, the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program and Real ID.

MANUFACTURED GOODS EXPORTS UP
September 22, 2008 Shipping Digest Online

U.S. exports of manufactured goods in July were up 22 percent over July 2007, bringing the total for the first seven months of the year to $669 billion, a 16 percent increase over the same period last year, according to Frank Vargo, vice president for international economic affairs at the National Association of Manufacturers.

Manufactured imports rose 8 percent in July and are up 7 percent for the year. The $933 billion import tab resulted in a $264 billion deficit, 15 percent lower than in the first seven months of 2007.

The surplus with U.S. partners in the North American Free Trade Agreement and other free-trade partners totaled $8.1 billion in the first seven months of the year, for an annual rate of $14 billion, Vargo said.

“Many people have been led to believe we have a terrible trade position with our FTA partners and are unaware that our manufactured goods trade with them is in surplus,” Vargo said. “And that’s a shame, because if they knew, they would join the NAM in asking Congress to pass the remaining FTAs so we could have our exports increase even more. The lesson is clear – free-trade agreements are the solution, not the problem.”