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The U.S. Commercial Service in Germany offers a wide range of support services to U.S. exporters who wish to expand their international business. At the International Hardware Fair 2012, commercial specialist Sabine Winkels will conduct a pre-show outreach campaign to potential buyers and partners in Germany and beyond. During the 4-day show in Cologne, she will work out of the Business Information Office (BIO) in the USA Pavilion and meet with U.S. exhibitors, provide them with market research reports, and do one-on-one counseling sessions to assist them in finding European representatives. Winkels will also help U.S. exhibitors with IPR and VAT recovery issues. The promotion of the U.S. presence at the International Hardware Fair 2012 will be extended to other European countries in order to provide U.S. exhibitors with business leads and market research on a broader basis. Please contact Sabine Winkels at +49-211-73776740 or mail to Sabine.Winkels@trade.gov if you have any questions.

Background: The International Hardware Fair will take place March 4 to 7, 2012, in Cologne. The trade-only event hosts 2,700 exhibitors from 52 countries; more than 56,500 visitors have attended the show in 2010. Main product groups include hand and power tools, workshop and factory equipment, fastening and fittings technology, home improvement and DIY products.

The 2010 show featured three U.S. pavilions, organized by the American Hardware Manufacturers Association AHMA; the Worldwide DIY Council; and Cologne Trade Fairs USA. For more information about the pavilion and services please see:

http://www.ahma.org/

http://www.wdiyc.org

http://www.koelnmessenafta.com

IMPORTANT NOTE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR): The U.S. Commercial Service in Germany is proactively engaged in defending American companies against counterfeit and copyright infringement. IPR is an important part of corporate value and international competitiveness. U.S. trademark, design and patent rights do not of themselves provide protection in Germany or the rest of the European Union (EU); U.S. companies must protect their IPR here in Europe. It is possible to register in countries individually or, for EU-wide trademark and design protection, there are a Community Trademark (CTM) and Registered Community Design (RCD). These provide a single right that protects industrial design or trademark in the entire 25-nation EU mega-market of 450 million people. Both national trademarks and the CTM can be registered through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The U.S. Commercial Service can provide information on EU-wide protection for IPR and defend IPR in Europe at trade fairs. More information is available on our website:

http://www.buyusa.gov/germany/en/ipr.html.

Please also visit our website to obtain info about U.S. Commercial Service programs and services designed to help U.S. exporters succeed in the German and European markets, and about VAT recovery procedures.

http://www.buyusa.gov/germany/en/vat.html