Project News – We’re Working Around the Globe!

What’s new “by us”? We don’t let the grass grow under our feet, as they say. Here are a few of our trade-expansion projects that may pique your interest. We welcome your thoughts or questions! Please email Marideth Sandler at sandler@sandlertrade.com or Prince Mbanefo at prince@sandlertrade.com, or call us at 202.776.0650.

Explaining the New U.S. Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) Requirements and Proposed Regulations: Sandler Trade LLC experts provided clients with a concise and clear overview, using a PowerPoint presentation, of the recently published Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed regulations that will implement the FSMA — their essential requirements, implications for our clients, recommended steps, and timeframes for public comment. Proposed regulations covered: Preventative Controls; Produce Safety; Foreign Supplier Verification Program: Accreditation of Third Parties to Audit and Certify; and, Notice of FSMA Domestic & Foreign Facility Reinspection, Recall & Importer Reinspection Fee Rates for Fiscal Year 2013. Our firm also identified client countries’ exporters that could be impacted by these proposed regulations, and recommended appropriate steps to avoid adverse impacts. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of the 20-page PowerPoint, or have related questions, please contact us at sandler@sandlertrade.com or at 202-350-4303.

Helping to create and maintain duty-free entry for Brazilian industrial products into the U.S. market: A leader in the ins and outs of the duty-free opportunities available to emerging-market producers, Sandler Trade LLC is assisting several Brazilian and U.S. companies to assist in the rigorous review process to maintain duty-free treatment for an important input for U.S. steelmakers and iron forges and to create new and much-needed duty-free U.S. market entry for another industrial item.

Assisting countries to improve their protection of worker rights and intellectual property: Countries around the world seek to ensure that their expansion of global trade grows hand-in-hand with the protection of their workers’ rights, as well as the respect for their innovators’ and companies’ intellectual property. Fiji, Georgia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand are several of the nations that have sought out Sandler Trade LLC’s expertise in advancing these protections.

Sri Lanka rubber producers: Worked with the Embassy of Sri Lanka to the United States and pertinent Ministries in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to identify U.S. importers specific to a wide range of Sri Lanka rubber product producers. On a short turnaround basis, SandlerTrade LLC identified active U.S. importers for each type of rubber sector producer withinSri Lanka’s Rubber Sector Association; identified the specific trade shows that would be most valuable for the various types of producers; and provided a budget and scenario for each trade show to ensure that the Sri Lankan businesses would meet at least five U.S. importers specifically geared to that producer’s product range.

U.S. Market Studies for Southeast Asian furniture and jewelry producers. Sandler Trade LLC recently produced, within an expedited timeframe, detailed and well-illustrated U.S. market briefs for furniture and jewelry sectors for Asia-based clients interested in entering into these segments of the U.S. market. Our firm executed market research targeting the tastes and buying habits of specific demographic groups and then provided recommendations on design, price points, consumer buying trends, and competing suppliers. Research included interviews with industry experts and analysis of U.S. import data, presented in reader-friendly and relevant summaries. Briefs were prepared in the countries’ languages as well as in English. Project jointly funded with the Embassy of Indonesia, Washington, D.C.

Bringing Artisans to a Top U.S. Market. A multi-sector team led by Sandler Trade LLC secured admission of a group of women weavers, “Feto Forte,” from Quelicai, Baucau, Timor-Leste to the Santa Fe (New Mexico) International Folk Art Market. The firm successfully assisted the first-ever master artisans’ co-operative (weavers of traditional apparel) from Timor-Leste to pass the rigorous admissions process for admission to the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market. This involved learning details about artisans’ production methods and traditions, and helping them convey their unique qualities to U.S. organizers, importers and retailers. Other team members included the Inti Raymi Fund, Embassy of Timor-Leste (Washington, D.C.), Alola Fundacion (Dili, Timor-Leste), and Tesoros Trading.

Identifying the Latest Approaches to Private Sector Financing for Egyptian Artisans Seeking to Export. Sandler Trade LLC authored a study for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on financing pathways newly available through the many online and NGO programs for artisans seeking to export – regardless of where they live. Sandler Trade LLC is recognized as an expert in designing financing mechanisms for artisans and other businesses that seek to export and has provided strategies to USAID, Aid to Artisans, and microfinance institutions in Egypt. We work with micro-, small-, and medium-sized artisan and producer groups throughout the world to link them to U.S. importers in a manner that is compatible to the producers’ level of production and price points.

Provided highly received export development seminars to businesses in 35 countries, including most recently in Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, and Egypt. Information prepared for each seminar focused on the specific export and production capabilities of that country, unexplored but feasible U.S. market niches and needs, U.S. import requirements, and use of duty-free opportunities provided by preferential programs (including free trade agreements). Each country’s group of seminars was supplemented by additional meetings with sector associations to target their opportunities and give businesses the chance to ask detailed questions in a smaller setting.

Turkey: Assisted exporters in all sectors and around the country to expand their exports into the U.S. market. Project started with analyzing Turkey’s export statistics and capabilities across a range of sectors, identifying pertinent U.S. market demands and trade preference opportunities, followed by developing seminars and handouts that were given in five cities around the country that focused on the U.S. market opportunities and pathways to get into those markets that were specific to that region’s exports. Project was cosponsored by the regional and sector exporter associations as well as by the Government of Turkey and the U.S. Embassy Ankara.

USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO EXPAND AND MARKET EXPORTS

Sandler Trade LLC’s continued work with the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo in Washington D.C. this summer has produced two major outcomes: a Powerpoint analysis of Kosovo’s current and potential export opportunities in the United States and an innovative venture in the form of a live Twitter tasting of Kosovar wines, in conjunction with reviewers at Virginia Wine Time (vawinetime.com).

The Powerpoint analysis encompasses a thorough and comprehensive breakdown of Kosovo’s current exports to the U.S., potential GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) eligibility that would allow duty-free entry into the U.S. market of certain products, as well as recommendations to expand exports into the U.S. market based on Kosovo’s global
exports. This presentation is to be used by the Embassy of the Republic of Kosovo
as an information tool for companies in Kosovo that are exporting to the U.S.
as well as producers’ associations.

In addition to the market analysis, Sandler Trade LLC partnered with award-winning wine reviewer and blogger Warren Richard from Virginia Wine Time in a project that aimed to boost the presence of Kosovar wines in the U.S. market. In a ground-breaking event, Sandler Trade LLC along with Virginia Wine Time hosted a live Twitter tasting session of five select Kosovar wines from three companies on July 28, 2011.  The tasting notes were followed by consumers and wine bloggers around the world. Sandler Trade LLC was praised by many for its pioneering role in bringing attention to Kosovo’s wine industry in the U.S., as well as eliciting inquiries about Kosovo’s artisanal exports.

A transcript of the Twitter tasting is available for viewing at: http://sandlertrade.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Twitter-Transcript-of-Wine-Review-of-Five-Wines-from-Kosovo.pdf.

For more information regarding how similar efforts could benefit your company, country, chamber of commerce, or producer association – or for more information on this project, please email Sandler Trade LLC at sandler@sandlertrade.com or call 202-776-0650.

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