Conferences & Events
International Trade Missions
Do you want to expand your global reach? The South Carolina Department of Commerce's International Trade Missions can help you do just that.
The missions are designed to accommodate participants from several different sectors: companies looking for export opportunities, academic leaders, state and local government officials and local economic developers. The U.S. Commercial Service will arrange prescreened personal meetings with interested importers, end-users, agents and distributors for the companies that sign up for the mission; other delegates will have the opportunity to meet with their peers to share best practices and discuss areas of collaboration.
Chile and Peru (Santiago, Lima) - May 2-8, 2010 [TENTATIVE]
Peru and the United States’ new bilateral free trade agreement is a major draw for companies. The United States – Peru Trade Promotion Agreement was implemented on February 1, 2009. Under the agreement, 80 percent of U.S. exports of consumer and industrial goods to Peru, and approximately 70 percent of U.S. farm exports to Peru are already duty free. U.S. exports to Peru rose 50 percent in 2008 and are likely to increase significantly in coming years as the benefits of the new free trade agreement are realized.
Chile is the most developed and stable market in South America and is also experiencing a fast-growing demand for U.S. goods. The symbolic importance of the Chile-USA Free Trade Agreement (FTA) far outweighs the economic size of Chile. As one of the most dynamic and promising markets in the region, Chile holds a commercial influence in South America due to the energy of its entrepreneurs, the transparency of its regulations and the predictability of its decision makers. Chile’s market-led reforms and diversified economy offer a promising market for U.S. exporters operating in a wide range of industries.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE PERU/CHILE TRADE MISSION.
Turkey (Istanbul) - June 13-19, 2010 [TENTATIVE]
Turkey is strategically positioned at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Turkey is working towards its goal of full membership in the European Union and wants to position itself as a European market. The country offers strong potential to U.S. exporters who enter Turkey now, before their foreign competitors saturate the market. Aside from its advantageous location as a trade and business hub between East and West, Turkey’s mix of modern industry and business continues to attract many American companies from a wide range of industries. In fact, today the U.S. is Turkey’s fourth largest trading partner.
Mexico (Mexico City) - September 5-11, 2010 [TENTATIVE]
Mexico is the second largest market for U.S. exports. Mexico's large and dynamic economy offers export opportunities in virtually any business sector. Since the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, Mexican imports from the U.S. have increased exponentially. Over the past 12 years, annual U.S. exports to Mexico nearly tripled and totaled over $150 billion in 2008.
Singapore, Malaysia & Vietnam (Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City) - November 2010 [TENTATIVE]
Singapore is a global trade hub and the most important trade hub in South East Asia. It is one of the most highly developed and sophisticated industrial, commercial, financial and consumer economies in the world. With a per capita GDP of more than US$30,000, Singapore is an excellent market for a wide variety of U.S. products and services and is a good first stop for any exporter to Asia. It is the twelfth largest export market and fifteenth largest trading partner of the United States. The United States -Singapore Free Trade Agreement that came into effect on January 1, 2004, expanded U.S. market access in goods, services, investment and government procurement. It also enhanced intellectual property protection and provided for cooperation in promoting labor rights and the environment.
Malaysia is one of the most developed economies in the region and is quite dependent on foreign imports. In 2007 United States - Malaysia bilateral trade was US$44.5 billion, ranking Malaysia as America's sixteenth largest trade partner. Capitalizing on its location, Malaysia has been able to transform its economy from an agriculture and mining base in the early 1970s to a high-tech competitive nation, where services and manufacturing now account for 86 percent of GDP. The U.S. and Malaysia signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) in May 2004, leading to a series of bilateral meetings to address such issues as market access, investment, intellectual property rights and regulatory issues. The U.S. and Malaysia embarked on Free Trade Agreement negotiations in June 2006, and by February 2009 had held eight rounds of negotiations. An agreement has not yet been concluded.
Vietnam is one of the fastest growing markets for U.S. goods. Vietnam’s rapid economic growth, second only to China during the past two decades, offers strong potential for U.S. companies who enter the market early - before their foreign competitors acquire the majority of the market share in their prospective industries.
U.S. exports to these three countries totaled $45 billion in 2008, which is greater than our exports to the five countries of India, Russia, Thailand, Indonesia and Czech Republic combined!
For additional information on Commerce's trade missions, please contact Clarke Thompson via email or phone at (803) 737-0438.
Disclaimer: The South Carolina Department of Commerce international trade and investment mission schedule is tentative and subject to change at any time. Changes will be promptly updated on the Commerce Web site, and any person who has registered for a trade mission prior to the change will be notified in writing regarding the updated schedule.