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WTCTB Monthly Newsletter: MARCH 2016
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On
February 25, 2016, The World Trade Center Tampa Bay was pleased to host
a presentation about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and this new
trade treaty’s benefits for Tampa Bay businesses. The presenter was
international business attorney Susan L. (Susie) Hoeller of the Hoeller
Law Firm which has offices in Tampa Bay and NW Arkansas. Attendees were
World Trade Center Tampa Bay members and guests involved in exporting
goods and services, international law, banking and marketing, and
medical tourism. The TPP was signed on February 4, 2016 in Auckland, New
Zealand. Twelve countries are signatories today: Australia, Brunei,
Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore,
United States and Vietnam. These TPP countries currently produce 40% of
global GDP and 26% of world trade. Ms. Hoeller discussed the many
benefits of TPP, including:
- 18,000 tariff cuts for Made in America exports
- new “cumulation” rules of origin which will allow U.S. exporters to integrate supply chains in the TPP region
- special provisions to help small and medium size U.S. businesses export
- the
lifting of restrictions and bans of the export of U.S. services like
retail, communications, logistics, software and more
- science
based food safety measures will replace other countries’ unfair
barriers to the export of American agricultural products
- cutting edge rules to promote internet-based commerce, digital freedom and an open internet
- a
ban on “forced localization” – the discriminatory requirement that
certain governments impose on U.S. businesses forcing them to place
their servers and other facilities overseas in order to access those
markets
- new provisions to protect intellectual property creators and criminalize trade secret theft
- foreign state owned enterprises competing unfairly can be challenged by U.S. companies
- strongest worker and environmental protections of any trade treaty
- anti-corruption provisions
- sustainable development and food security commitments
Ms.
Hoeller also discussed some of the criticisms of the TPP by opponents
including some of the current Presidential candidates in both parties.
These criticisms include:
- No anti-currency manipulation provisions
- Predicted flood of more imports from the cheap labor countries
- Consumers
in countries with government bulk purchasing of drugs are concerned
that these arrangements will be challenged by multi-national drug
companies leading to higher prices
- Concerns
that TPP will expand multi-national companies power to challenge state
owned enterprises and individual countries’ health and safety laws
The
participants discussed the significant geo-political and national
defense aspects of the TPP, for example, the exclusion of China and
Russia. Ms. Hoeller has concluded that the TPP will be very good for
Tampa Bay area companies. She urged participants to contact their
federal, state and local political representatives in support of TPP and
noted that the mayors of both Tampa and St. Petersburg have publicly
supported the treaty. The time for TPP supporters to act is now because
the Congressional ratification vote is expected later this spring.
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Tampa Bay International Town Hall at Port Tampa Bay
Friday, May 6, 2016 - The
Tampa Bay Export Alliance (TBEA), a partnership between the Tampa
Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation and Pinellas County
Economic Development, will host the 2016 Tampa Bay International Town
Hall. WTCTB will be present at the expo, so please stop by and visit
our booth!
Port Tampa Bay, Cruise Terminal Two, 651 Channelside Dr. Tampa, FL 33605
Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and program from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
WTCTB members use promo code WTCTB for $10 discount
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Notes From our Executive Director
Friends,
Happy
(Chinese) New Year!…here are some “thoughts” about the Year of the
Monkey! (Please note that the WTCTB does not take responsibility for any
actions you may take based upon the following description…haha.)
The
Year of the Monkey is the time to shake things up and create change.
Even the most ambitious plans can succeed. There will be more than
enough action and opportunity to keep you busy. In Monkey year, it’s
fine to just make it up as you go along. Those born in Monkey years
(1908, 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016) are
intelligent, witty, mercurial, and entertaining. They are wonderful to
be around because they are also fun and creative. Monkeys embody strong
leadership potential and, like their best friend the Dragon, won’t allow
anyone to tell them what to do. The uninhibited Monkey rarely gets
embarrassed by anything, and is free to express himself/herself
fearlessly in all walks of life.
XIAMEN
The
government in Beijing will try to summon Monkey power this year as it
decides how to handle the continuing debt restructure and demand issues
within the Chinese economy. In February I visited the City of Xiamen
in Eastern China directly across from Taiwan. Xiamen (like many of the
coastal cities) certainly does not yet appear to be suffering during
this downturn in the economic cycle. It is a typical second-tier China
port city with dozens of cranes adding to the skyline, a bustling
container facility and new international airport terminal. Due to its
geographic location (close to Taiwan with temperate weather), Xiamen has
received significant recent investment for business and tourism
expansion projects. The growth is impressive and Xiamen is posed to
continue to take advantage of its geographic location.
While
in Xiamen, we visited several bio-tech research facilities (including
international companies) and observed some interesting facts about the
business environment. Although bio-tech research facilities tend to
operate inexpensively compared to the clusters around Shanghai, the
determining factor per comments from management for locating in Xiamen
was the research organizations' ability to maintain privacy and avoid
prying eyes of colleagues and competitors (and government). Maybe there
is something to be said for keeping a low profile in the new Chinese
economy.
I
should also mention that Xiamen offers some unique culture and
excellent natural scenery. I highly recommend a visit to Gu-lang-yu - an
island community developed during the period when Xiamen was a foreign
concession. Be warned of sometimes crowded conditions and bring walking
shoes... but overall a worthy excursion to see the preserved
architecture (including three churches on this small island). More
examples of classic homes on the WTCTB website. Please contact the WTC
if you would like to know more about doing business or visits to China.
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Become
a WTCTB member today! Please access our website at the below link to
download an application and read about our member benefits. There are
membership levels available for both individuals and large corporations,
as well as student and veterans memberships.
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