Trade Events
The U.S. Commercial Service in organizes and supports conferences, seminars, and events to educate our clients and promote international trade. Our goal is to help U.S. exporters sell globally. A sampling of our events includes:
- Executive briefings with our visiting Commercial Service Officers from around the world.
- Educational export seminars and online webinars.
- Matchmaking and export counseling services at international trade shows overseas and the U.S.
By organizing trade missions and educational seminars; providing matching or export counseling services at trade shows; and recruiting buyer delegations to U.S. trade shows, the U.S. Government helps U.S. exporters expand global sales at trade events.
Upcoming Europe-Related Events:
1. Mandatory eco-design and energy efficiency requirements in the European Union Webinar (Online – Jan. 20, 2012)
2. Doing Business in the Nordics Webinar (Online – Feb. 16, 2012)
3. Tapping the EU Nutritional Supplements Market Webinar (Online – Feb. 28, 2012)
4. The New EU Defense Procurement Directive Webinar (Online – March 27, 2012)
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Mandatory eco-design and energy efficiency requirements in the European Union Webinar (Online – Jan. 20, 2012)
Webinar Info:
Date: January 20, 2012
Time: 11:00am Eastern Time / 8:00am Pacific Time / 5:00pm Brussels Time
Cost: $65.00
CLICK HERE TO REGISTERWhat is the Energy Related Products (ERP) Directive? This directive enables the European Commission to issue ‘implementing measures’ covering a vast array of specific products. These ‘implementing measures’ set energy efficiency requirements that companies have to meet in order to sell their products in Europe. The ERP Directive has already set energy efficiency requirements for computers, televisions, battery chargers, lighting products, motors, refrigeration and air conditioning, and dishwashers and washing machines. The EU has announced that many other products will come within the scope of the ERP Directive in the years ahead such as machine tools, transformers, and network, data processing and data storing equipment just to name a few. The ERP Directive is a CE marking directive certifying that a product is in EU compliance for product safety as well as for energy efficiency. Learn how to meet the new requirements from experts who will talk about how to comply with the eco-design implementing measures and about market surveillance.
Live Webinar Moderated by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce Europe Team
Featured Speakers:
Mr. Chris Smith, Technical Enforcement Manager, UK National Measurement Office (NMO). Mr. Smith specializes in the EU directives monitoring and control instruments, and medical devices.
Dr. Chris Robertson, Head of Regulatory Compliance, ERA Technololgy Ltd. (UK). Dr. Robertson is an expert on the EU environmental directives (RoHS, WEEE and ERP).
Ms. Sylvia Mohr, Standards Specialist at the U.S. Mission to the EU in Brussels, Belgium. Ms. Mohr has more than 15 years handling CE marking issues for U.S. companies.
Mr. Smith will:
- Present an overview of approaches to market surveillance
- Provide steps to compliance
Dr. Robertson will:
- Explain how to comply with eco-design implementing measures
- Address technical issues (e.g. scope and testing/standards)
- Cover what other relevant products may be covered
Ms. Mohr will:
- Provide a general overview of eco-design framework legislation and implementing measures
- Mention the legislative development process
- List the regulations published to date in the Official Journal
Who should participate? Primarily new and established exporters of electrical/electronic products interested in the EU market of nearly 500 million consumers and 27 member states, as well as consultants, and SME export advisors.
For more information call Dusan Marinkovic at 317-582-2300 or email: Dusan.Marinkovic@trade.gov
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Doing Business in the Nordics Webinar (Online – Feb. 16, 2012)
Webinar Info:
Date: February 16, 2012
Time: 11:00am Eastern Time / 8:00am Pacific Time
Cost: $30.00
A webinar on short and medium term export sales opportunities in the Nordic region, featuring U.S. Ambassador to Sweden Mark Francis Brzezinski. Senior Commercial Officer Frank Carrico from the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden will discuss best prospects, commercial climate, business “do’s and don’ts,” and what to look out for in the way of representation. The Nordic region is comprised of some of the most stable, open, competitive economies in the world. It is home to some of the world’s largest and most successful “green” and technology-friendly firms. The region is also known for its high regard for U.S. products, innovation, and technology. Key sectors to be discussed include environmental technologies; computers and software; life sciences, medical equipment, and pharmaceuticals; oil and gas; consumer goods; and telecommunications services and equipment.
For more information, contact Steve Morrison at 410-962-4576 or Steve.Morrison@trade.gov.
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Tapping the European Union Nutritional Supplements Market Webinar (Online – Feb. 28, 2012)
Webinar Info:
Date: February 28, 2012
Time: 11:00am Eastern Time / 8:00am Pacific Time / 5:00pm Brussels Time
Cost: $65.00
Navigating the European Union’s regulations can be challenging as some rules are harmonized at the EU level and others vary from Member State to Member State. The U.S. Department of Commerce is pleased to offer a webinar designed to help U.S. exporters of natural products begin the process of marketing their products in Europe. This webinar will provide an overview of the EU market, regulatory environment, latest policy developments and resources available to US companies. The webinar will feature an expert guest speaker in Food Law that will provide guidance on how to launch your nutritional products into different European Union markets.
Webinar agenda:
- Overview of the EU market/regulatory environment
- Overview of legislation: Food Supplements Directive, Nutritional Health Claims, Vitamins and Minerals, Other ingredients, novel foods, labeling
- Market Entry/Regulatory Strategies
- Resources available
- Question & Answer session
Speakers:
- Elodie Lebastard, Food Law Manager, European Advisory Services, Brussels, Belgium
- Susana Getman, US Commercial Service, US Mission to the EU, Brussels, Belgium
Elodie Lebastard is a Food Law Manager at EAS, providing regulatory and strategic advice at the EU, Latin American and national levels. Elodie is a lawyer specialised in food law (University of Nantes – France, and University of Zaragoza – Spain). Before joining EAS in March 2008, she worked as a regulatory affairs consultant in France, and has completed a traineeship at the European Commission, DG SANCO, Food Law, Nutrition and Labeling Unit, working on food supplements and nutrition labeling EU regulations and policies. She advises clients on status of ingredients, labeling compliance, nutrition and health claims, marketing procedures and provides specific advice on the mutual recognition principle across the EU. Ms. Lebastard has spoken at numerous European and international conferences on food supplements and functional foods.
About EAS
EAS is a centre of international expertise in food, nutrition and health policy, offering strategic regulatory advice to both companies and regulators across the world. We support companies in designing and successfully delivering nutritional products to the global market, and we have helped governments in analysing regulatory trends and carrying out the impact assessment of new measures. Our team of more than 25 specialists includes regulatory professionals, food scientists, political scientists, nutritionists and biomedical scientists. Individually, many of our expert staff are leaders in their fields, regionally and globally. EAS advisors work with bodies across the world such as Codex Alimentarius, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the European Commission, European Parliament and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to provide expert advice and solutions in the changing international marketplace. EAS was established in 1992 and has offices based in Brussels, Buenos Aires and Singapore.
We look forward to your participation.
For more information call Dusan Marinkovic at 317-582-2300 or email: Dusan.Marinkovic@trade.gov
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The New EU Defense Procurement Directive Webinar (Online – March 27, 2012)
Webinar Info:
Date: March 27, 2012
Time: 11:00am Eastern Time / 8:00am Pacific Time / 5:00pm Brussels Time
Cost: $75.00
Are You selling defense & security equipment to public authorities in EU Member States?
Join Us to learn about the new EU regulations
This presentation will provide U.S. firms with a clear and comprehensive briefing on the new EU Directive, its implications for industry, its significance for contract negotiations and possible risks of non-compliance. It is important for U.S. firms to fully understand the rights and obligations of procurement authorities in the EU and to ensure their offers are compatible with EU law.
Until now, MODs were purchasing defense equipment based on their own national rules. This practice has come to an end, with a new EU law on procurement for defense and non-military security supply, services and works contracts in place for all EU member States.
EU Defense Procurement Directive 2009/81/EC aims at harmonizing acquisition procedures throughout the EU:
- by increasing competition and encouraging cross-border bidding among European bidders, so as to prevent systematic sole-source procurement or non-competitive procurement from national suppliers;
- by increasing transparency through the obligation to advertise defense contracts in the EU Official Journal.
- The EU Directive contains no “EU preference” clause, and leaves to Member States the decision to invite non-EU bidders in competitions.
- Defense contracts covered by the Directive are now subject to investigation from European Union authorities (the European Commission) and therefore, come under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.
- Another major implication of the EU Directive is that indirect and non-military offsets are now considered illegal and incompatible with the EU law.
Featured Speakers:
Ms. Isabelle Maelcamp, Senior Commercial Specialist, U.S. Mission to the European Union, Brussels
Ms. Ciara Kennedy-Loest, Partner, Hogan Lovells LLP
For more information call Regina Heise at 816-421-1876 or email: Regina.Heise@trade.gov
Reports on the EU Defense Procurement Directive, the new EU Policy on Offsets, and much more can be found on our website: http://export.gov/europeanunion/defenseprocurement/index.asp
