Local Trade Events

The U.S. Commercial Service, along with our local international trade partners, conducts on-going conferences, seminars, and events to educate our clients and promote international trade. Whether it's an executive briefing with a Commercial Service Officer from Australia or a videoconference with your distributor in Zurich, these events are designed to help U.S. exporters market locally and sell globally.

Click here for access to Commercial Service Minnesota YouTube training.

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Registration is now open!

Date: June 4-5, 2013
Location: Radisson Plaza Hotel, Downtown Minneapolis, MN

The Minnesota District Export Council, in cooperation with the U.S. Commercial Service, is pleased to invite you to join us to strategically plan your business' future growth in the West, Central, and Eastern European export markets. Discover how to identify new export opportunities, increase market share and competitive edge, and develop strategic relationships with those that are on the forefront of business and exporting in these key markets: Western & Eastern Europe, Russia and former Soviet States.

During the conference you will have the opportunity to attend keynote addresses by leaders from government and industry, choose from numerous concurrent sessions covering each of the country markets, and benefit from pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings with the Senior Commercial Officers of each represented country.

For more information & sponsorship inquiries, please contact info@exportassistance.com or visit exportassistance.com

Click here to register.

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Registration Deadline: Trade Mission with Governor Dayton

Governor Mark Dayton will lead a trade mission to Germany, Norway, and Sweden - June 12-21, 2013.

Delegates will travel to the business centers of Berlin, Dusseldorf/Cologne, Oslo, and Stockholm for meetings with business leaders and government officials, presentations by market and industry experts, networking activities, and business site visits.

Why Germany, Norway and Sweden?
Germany is Minnesota’s fifth-largest trading partner and one of the state’s largest foreign investment partners. Norway and Sweden are among the most competitive markets in the world and are easy to enter for Minnesota companies. Europe has opportunities in many sectors and is an important element of any export strategy.

Mission Objectives:  The mission will focus on growing state exports, building new business opportunities and partnerships for Minnesota companies, and strengthening existing relationships with longstanding partners in Europe. Objectives include:

Registration Deadline: March 5, 2013 by 5:00pm
Dates: June 12 – 21, 2013

For more information click here, and to register click here.

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User Beware: The FCPA Resource Guide and its Impact on Global Business

In the past decade, enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) has increased exponentially. The number of FCPA investigations and enforcement actions has ballooned while penalties have skyrocketed, with some companies paying hundreds of millions of dollars in fines, penalties, and investigation costs. The enforcement increase can be credited in part to expansive interpretations of the statute by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which have prevailed in an environment where most investigations result in out-of-court settlements without judicial review.

In an effort to contain the nearly boundless risks posed by the statute, global compliance counsel and industry representatives have sought significant statutory reforms. In 2011 the government responded to these demands by promising to publish guidance

Presented by: Fredrikson & Byron's White Collar & Regulatory Defense Group

Panelists:  ♦ Matt Stennes, Principal Litigation Counsel, Government & Internal Investigations, Medtronic; ♦ Nicole Sheridan, Sr Manager, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP, and ♦ Dulce J. Foster, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., White Collar Practice Group

Moderator: Lousene Hoppe, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., White Collar Practice Group

Date: June 12, 2013
Time: 3:30pm – 6:00pm; Registration and networking at 3:00pm
Location: Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., U.S. Bank Plaza – 200 South Sixth Street, 40th Floor, Minneapolis, MN

For more information, click here.

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Deadline for STEP Small Business Export Activity Funding (Round 9)

The STEP program provides financial and technical assistance to qualifying Minnesota small businesses with an active interest in exporting products or services to foreign markets. Participants may be first-time exporters or companies that are currently exporting but are interested in expanding into new international markets.

Eligible small businesses may apply for reimbursement of up to $500 for export-training that will result in the development of an export strategy or up to $7,500 for approved export-development activities.

Date: June 14, 2013

For further information, click here.

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Focused Trade Mission to Mexico for Foodservice

Explore market opportunities and establish contacts within the food service industry through custom market research, one-on-one meetings with qualified buyers, local retail tours, tabletop showcase of your products and networking opportunities in both cities.

Deadline: Early-bird: April 4th, 2013; Final: May 5th, 2013
Date: Monday, June 17, 2013 8:00am – Thursday, June 20, 2013 6:00pm

For more information, click here.

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U.S. – Canada Cross Border Mobility: Next Steps – Employer Roundtable Meeting

The U.S. and Canadian Governments have been working to improve trade between our two countries. A working group made up of government officials from both countries issued an Action Plan – Beyond The Border in 2011. That Action Plan included provisions to improve the movement of business travelers. The Canadian Employee Relocation Council (CERC), Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) and WorldwideERC established a working group of major employer groups in both countries and have made extensive submissions to the Canadian and U.S. governments.

As the Action Plan moves into the next phase, there is an opportunity for the business community to provide further recommendations, including the development of a Trusted Employer Program, which would expedite business travel between the U.S. and Canada.

Canada and the U.S. are also participating in ‘plurilateral’ negotiations with 20 other countries to improve trade and employee mobility. This represents a significant opportunity for the business community in both countries to have input into those discussions.

If your organization has employees that travel between Canada and the U.S. we invite you to attend a roundtable consultation meeting to explore further options and recommendations to improve employee mobility.

1. Review of the Beyond the Border Action Plan
2. Proposed business recommendations, including Trusted Employer Program
3. U.S. immigration reform and opportunities for cross border mobility
4. Transpacific partnership trade negotiations and labour mobility
5. Changes to Canada's temporary foreign worker policies

Date: June 18, 2013
Time: 8:30 – 10:30am
Location: Consulate General of Canada, 701 Fourth Avenue South, Suite 900, Minneapolis, MN

For More Information, Click Here.

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Free Trade Agreements: Unraveling the Complexities

How can your company benefit from the potential offered by various Free Trade Agreements (FTA)? The intricacies of FTAs can be complicated. Understanding those complexities is essential for a company to be successful and benefit from the potential these agreements can offer.

Since the 1994 signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), US companies have experienced vastly increased North American trade. The benefits from NAFTA and other agreements signed between governments in more recent years has made it imperative for companies to engrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA) management in their corporate supply chain. 

Bonnie Anderson, a respected and seasoned international trade expert, will guide you through the basics including:

Date: Wednesday, June 26th, 2013
Time: 8:30am – 3:00pm; registration at 8am
Location: St. Mary’s University of Minnesota – Twin Cities – Alumni Room, 2304 Park Ave., Mpls, MN 55404
Cost: $45 in advance, $65 walk ins/at the door

For more information, click here.

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What You Need To Know: FCPA and UK Bribery Act

The Minnesota Trade Office and Fredrikson & Byron cordially invite you to join us at this seminar the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the UK Bribery Act.

In the past decade, enforcement of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) has increased exponentially. The number of FCPA investigations and enforcement actions against companies engaged in global trade has ballooned while penalties have skyrocketed, with some companies paying hundreds of millions of dollars in fines, penalties, and investigation costs.  The enforcement risks associated with global corruption are compounded by the U.K.’s enactment in 2010 of its strict Bribery Act, which applies expansively to any company that does business in the U.K.

Come hear lawyers in Fredrikson & Byron’s International and White Collar & Regulatory Defense Groups discuss these two important laws, including a brief overview and comparison of the basic provisions.  We will also discuss recent developments in FCPA enforcement, with a focus on the 130-page “Resource Guide to the FCPA” published by the Department of Justice and the Securities Exchange Commission in November 2012.  The discussion will include questions and hypotheticals designed to illustrate how these laws, and the Resource Guide, might apply to everyday business transactions.

Date: Thursday, June 27th, 2013
Time: 8:30am – 10:30am; Registration and continental breakfast begins at 8:00am
Location: Fredikson & Byron, 200 South Sixth Street, Suite 4000, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Cost: $15 if pre-registered; $20 for walk-ins/at the door

For more information, click here.

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Registration Deadline for State of MN & CGLG Trade Mission on September 8-17, 2013

The State of Minnesota and the Council of Great Lakes Governors (CGLG) are leading a multi-sector trade mission to Colombia, Chile and Brazil from September 8-17, 2013. The goal of this mission is to assist small to medium-sized companies from the Great Lakes region to export products and services. Registration Deadline: July 15, 2013.

Why Export to Colombia, Chile and Brazil?
These three countries represent some of the world's best export markets for U.S. goods. In 2011, U.S. exports to Colombia reached $14 billion, up nearly 15% from 2010. Chile offers a dynamic, transparent and low-risk business climate, and the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement facilitates exporting. Brazil has one of the world's fastest growing economies and in 2011 the U.S. exported $42.9 billion worth of goods to Brazil.

Who Should Attend?
Small to medium sized companies from the Great Lakes region looking to export products and services to these exciting markets.

Deadline: July 15th, 2013
Dates: September 8,2013 – September 17, 2013
Costs: $975 per person; Includes in-country staff support; group airport-hotel-airport transportation; country briefings and networking events; pre-trip and in-country staff support.

For more information, click here.

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Deadline for STEP Small Business Export Activity Funding (Round 10)

The STEP program provides financial and technical assistance to qualifying Minnesota small businesses with an active interest in exporting products or services to foreign markets. Participants may be first-time exporters or companies that are currently exporting but are interested in expanding into new international markets.

Eligible small businesses may apply for reimbursement of up to $500 for export-training that will result in the development of an export strategy or up to $7,500 for approved export-development activities.

Date: July 15, 2013

For further information, click here.

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Exporter Education Seminar

This export education seminar will be useful for companies at all stages of the export process. Topics covered may include export documentation, product pricing, logistics, international marketing, finding buyers for your products and accessing resources for your company to go international.

Watch for more information as it becomes available, including flyer and registration links.

Date: July 16, 2013
Time: 8:30am – 4:30pm;
Location: University of Wisconsin – River Falls, Wisconsin; Hosted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture

For more information, click here.

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Euro Cocktail

Enjoy a breezy summer night and mingle with other European-American business associates - this will be a joint networking event of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest (GACC-Midwest) with the French American Chamber of Commerce (FACCMN), the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce (SACCMN), the Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) and the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce (FACC-MN).

Date: July 23, 2013
Time: 5:30pm
Location: TBD – a rooftop bar in downtown Minneapolis.

For more information, click here.

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Deadline for STEP Small Business Export Activity Funding (Round 11)

The STEP program provides financial and technical assistance to qualifying Minnesota small businesses with an active interest in exporting products or services to foreign markets. Participants may be first-time exporters or companies that are currently exporting but are interested in expanding into new international markets.

Eligible small businesses may apply for reimbursement of up to $500 for export-training that will result in the development of an export strategy or up to $7,500 for approved export-development activities.

Date: August 15, 2013: 5:00pm – 6:00pm

For further information, click here.

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Canada, Mexico, & The Caribbean Market Consulting Event

This August, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture will offer a customized consultation event for Minnesota agribusinesses interested in exporting to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Three seasoned food and ag consultants from these markets will join the Department to offer an educational seminar and one-on-one meetings to Minnesota companies to discuss opportunities, best practices and challenges to doing business across the regions.

Perfect for both new exporters and those looking to expand their international presence, this event offers the opportunity to explore your potential in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean without the cost and time commitment of travel!

Date: Wednesday, August 21, 2013 – Thursday, August 22, 2013
Time: Wednesday 8:30am – Thursday 3pm
Location: Hilton Hotel, Minneapolis
Cost: $100 for larger companies and free for smaller companies.

For more information, click here.

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Aligning Expectations: German – American Business Interactions

It is a well-reported fact that there can be many usually unintended, but often costly, pitfalls when it comes to international business interactions: leadership, project management, sales, mindset, feedback culture, style of presentation, and even wording can be very different in Germany than in the United States. However, cross-cultural understanding and intercultural competence can be learned.

Date: Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm

More Details are forthcoming

For further information, click here.

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Save the Dates! Bis 2013: Complying with US Export Controls and/or how to Develop an EMCP

Days 1 and 2: Complying with U.S. Export Controls

Day 3: How to Develop an Export Management and Compliance Program

More information forthcoming.

Date: September 24 - 26
Time: 8:00am – 4:30pm; registration at 7:30
Location: Minneapolis Airport Marriot, 2020 East American Boulevard, Bloomington, MN 55425

For more information, click here

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OPIC Small Business Workshop

Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is pleased to announce that it will bring its popular "EXPANDING HORIZONS" workshops for small businesses to Minneapolis. These workshops will highlight the OPIC and other government resources available to help American companies access business opportunities in emerging markets abroad.

To read more about the workshop program or to register to attend, please visit their event website -www.OPICevents.com. Watch for updates.

Date: October 8th, 2013

For the most up-to-date information please visit OPIC’s website, or click here.

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Finding & Motivating the Right Foreign Business Partner

**Postponed—NEW DATE will be announced soon.

Finding the right foreign business partners is essential to export success, but where and how do you start? In this seminar you will find the best ways to locate, qualify, select and motivate independent distributors and representatives.

Date: TBA
Time: 9:00am-2:00pm
Location: 1st National Bank Building, DEED Conference Ctr, 332 Minnesota St, Suite E200, St Paul

For more information and to register, click here.
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The Minnesota Trade Office and its many partners organize a variety of seminars, conferences, trade missions, and trade shows that focus on international business and related events.