The Trade Bridge Blog

International Market Development...a few plugs....

Geocentric, polycentric and ethnocentric...there were some of the multisyllabic words tossed out during the 32 south "strategic approach to international market development" presented at the MBITA meeting yesterday in Santa Cruz. Kevin McGibben and his company, 32 south, specialize in technology and telcom companies and he had a wealth of information and experience to share about getting a company's products or services to market overseas. Kevin focused on Latin America during his presentation and has offices in Mexico and Chile. At the same event Richard Schneider's translation company presented a useful overview of localization vs. translation as applied to international market development. Schneider is beta testing a compelling tool that will translate e-mail into one or more languages immediately after you write it!

Regulatory Purgatory - It's a Maze

Here's a quick reference guide to the tsunami of new regulations that are besieging exporters and importers:

The Lacey Act Amendment - effective approximately April 1st, 2009

Automated Export System Filings - effective June 2nd, 2008

10+2 - Security Filing - pending final ruling

Consumer Product Safety - Effective November 12th, 2008

First Sale Valuation - effective August 20th, 2008

ALERT: Environmentalism Gone Awry, The Lacey Act Amendments

While we are all busily preparing for 10+2, a wolf in sheeps' clothing slipped in through the compliance door on May 22nd, 2008. It is hard to believe how these amendments passed. It could literally bring the commerce of the US to a grinding halt, but, short of WTO intervention, it will be effective on December 15th of this year. Basically, if you import into the US and the imported goods contain or include plant products or are derived from plant products (with few exclusions), you must make a separate declaration at the time of importation. This includes each species that was used and each country from which the plant was taken. The commodities most obviously affected are:

• Lumber,
• Wood pulp,
• Paper & Paperboard, AND
• Live plants if listed under CITES, The Endangered Species Act or other specialized conservation laws, BUT ALSO
• Furniture,
• Umbrellas,
• Resin,
• Cigarettes, AND
• Printed matter,
• Boats, cars, trains, planes,
• Musical instruments,
• Pharmaceuticals,
• Textiles, IN SHORT
• anything containing anything derived from plants (unless excepted).

Originally the Lacey Act was designed to protect animals illegally killed in their state of origin...now, since all the import declarations will have to be done manually for awhile, it is creating a paper nightmare and a complete waste of resources. Well, folks, these are your tax dollars at work!