Where Europeans & Americans Connect to do Business | |
EACC Executive Directors Strategy Meeting (Amsterdam - June 8, 2024): top left to bottom right - Marcel Schulze (EACCNL), Sandrine Perrault (EACC Auvergne-Rhone-Alps), Katherine Prewitt (EACC Paris), Fernanda Sieverling (EACC Carolinas), Christina Sleszynska (EACC Florida), Erin McKelvey (EACC Texas), Yvonne Bendinger-Rothschild (EACCNY), Jurren de Groot (Briddge Company), Nicole Fenyo (EACC Cincinatti), Bart Brinkman (Briddge Company) | |
SAVE THE DATE!
Inaugural Meeting
EACC Florida Task Force
Transportation, Logistics & Customs
21 August 2024
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EACC Florida is pleased to announce the establishment of a Task Force "Transportation, Logistics & Customs". The Inaugural Event will take place on August 21, 2024.
With the second-largest foreign trade zone network in the U.S., Florida is home to 11,500+ logistics and distribution establishments. The broader wholesale trade, transportation, and logistics industry accounts for over 67,000+ establishments and employs more than half a million individuals across the state. Evolving geopolitics, recurring supply chain disruptions, the “greening” of the industry and increasing regulatory requirements are impacting global trade and it is expected that trade will become less global and more regionalized with a renewed focus on the Transatlantic Corridor - North America, Latin America and Europe.
While there are a number of entities and professional groups – federal, State and local - that serve these industries and their professionals to advance their interests, few if any have a transatlantic focus or specifically serve European companies and professionals from these industries present in Florida. And whereas specific know-how and expertise represent a competitive advantage for any company, the issues confronted by the sector are the same for all.
EACC Florida’s Task Force is loosely inspired from a similar TF run by EACC Auvergne-Rhone-Alps: https://eacc-ra.com/task-forces/.
Mission: to bring together active professionals who understand the benefits of sharing best practices across industries, ensuring that there is no silo thinking.
Role: to organize meetings on a regular basis to address strategic issues, share findings and best practices and make mutual recommendations for improvement in a given sector of activity. Chatham House rules or any other confidentiality rule might be used to allow for open exchange during the meetings.
Task Force Members: representatives of EACC Florida Member companies with interests in the transportation/logistics industry invited to serve on the Task Force.
If you wish to receive further details about the Task Force and/or Inaugural Event, please contact Christina Sleszynska at [email protected].
Founding Task Force Members
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EACC Florida Executive Director Attends EACC Strategy Meeting and EACC Cincinnati Business Mission in Amsterdam | On Saturday June 8, EACC Florida Executive Director Christina Sleszynska joined her counterparts from the EACC Network for a productive EACC Network Executive Directors Meeting. For a full day and over dinner, Executive Directors shared best practices in running a chapter, supporting members in their international development, welcoming delegations, connecting to the right partners, providing insightful expertise, and discussed shared visions for the future of our chapters and the network as a whole. | |  |
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On June 10, Christina Sleszynska was invited to attend a meeting in Amsterdam organized by EACC Greater Cincinnati as part of their Business Mission to the Netherlands and Germany.
It was a perfect opportunity to meet some of the EACC Cincinnati Leadership and to hear from invited speakers such as US Consul General in the Netherlands Kate Nanavatty, Amsterdam Business Project Manager Jonas Liekens and the meeting host, Taylor Wessing Partner Bart Hunnekens.
| Many thanks to EACC Netherlands Executive Director Marcel Schulze for a masterful organization of events and for being a gracious host. | | |
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EACC Florida Executive Director Meets with Member Company and
European Commission in Brussels
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While most of our Member companies are Florida-based, some are head-quartered in Europe. Christina Sleszynska used the opportunity of a side-trip to Brussels to meet with EACC Florida Member ERCI European Railway Clusters Initiative and discuss opportunities for ERCI Member companies - European SMEs in the rail industry - to expand into the US in general and South Florida in particular. In pic with Guido Ancarani, Director of Operations at ERCI. | | |
Christina Sleszynska also met with European Commission officials handling international relations at DG MOVE and at the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Interestingly, along with California and Texas, Florida is a US State of interest for the European Commission. In pic, on a windy and rainy day at EU Commission HQ also known as the Berlaymont. | | |
NOVUS INK Advisors and Solidus Capital Group Sign Global Service Agreement
NOVUS INK Advisors and Solidus Capital Group, both EACC Florida members, have signed a global services agreement to serve mid-market enterprises among growing commercial interests between the U.S. and Europe. The two firms will offer enterprises – operating on both sides of the Atlantic – senior advisory services encompassing management counsel, valuation, performance, tracking, board advisory, marketing, communication, public and government affairs.This is EACC Florida Business Connections in Action!
Read the press release here.
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COZEN O'CONNOR Introduces U.S. Market Entry Guide
The U.S. is among the highest ranking countries in terms of total foreign direct investment and employment by foreign companies. The U.S. also continues to be one of the world’s leading trading areas and serves as the hemispheric hub for commercial and financial transactions in North America, Central America, and Latin America. The impact of foreign direct investment in the U.S. is not only economic; business ideas and management know-how are also imported and evolve to become part of mainstream America. The result is a culturally diverse environment that is both welcoming and well-suited to meet your clients’ goals. Nevertheless, investing or doing business in the U.S. presents significant challenges. Foreign companies and individuals that have been effectively counseled have proven to be the most successful entrepreneurs and businesses entering the U.S. marketplace. With that in mind and drawing upon the most recent legal issues, this guide addresses a broad scope of legal issues that your clients may encounter as they realize their plans of expanding their product or service into the U.S.
Cozen O'Connor is a President's Circle Member. To access the guide, click on the logo.
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Women in Rail. This Year's IRJ Award Winner Includes the Leader of ERCI - an EACC Florida Member
Awardees include women from around the world active in the rail industry. EACC Florida was delighted to learn that Veronica Elena Bocci, the current Cluster Coordinator for the District for Railway Technologies, High-Speed Networks, Safety and Security (DITECFER), an association of Italian companies and research institutions, and Vice-President of the European Railway Clusters Initiative (ERCI) is one of the 15 awardees.
Read more here.
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EU I European Parliament Elections 2024. Updated projection for the composition of the new Parliament based on final and provisional results in all 27 EU member states. Here.
EU I European Commission Launches New Public Procurement Portal. The new public procurement tool, 'Procurement for Buyers', will serve as a portal for public procurement entities in EU Member States, helping them to understand and apply international procurement rules in a clear and consistent manner. Read more.
EU I Steel Safeguard Measure Prolonged until June 2026. The European Commission confirmed the extension of the current steel safeguard measure for two more years, until June 2026. This decision follows an investigation requested by fourteen EU Member States, which showed that the safeguard measure continues to be necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury to the EU’s steel industry. In addition, it showed that EU industry is adjusting to a higher level of imports. Read more.
EU I Guidelines for the Development of the Trans-European Transport Network Adopted. The new law aims to build a reliable, seamless, and high-quality transport network that ensures sustainable connectivity across Europe without physical interruptions, bottlenecks, and missing links. Read more.
Eurostat I Euro and US Dollar Dominate Extra-EU Trade in 2023. In 2023, 46% of overall extra-EU trade in goods was conducted in euro, while 42% was in US dollars. Currencies of the EU countries other than euro were used for 2% of the trade, and other currencies amounted to 10%. Read more.
EU I EIB Approves €12.8 Billion New Financing for Transport, Energy and Business Investment. The European Investment Bank approved €12.8 billion of new financing to upgrade sustainable transport, increase renewable energy use, build new student housing, improve earthquake and flood protection, and help business to expand. Read more.
NATO I NATO Innovation Fund Makes First Investments. NATO €1 billion investment in artificial intelligence, space, and robotics defense tech, taking stakes in Germany’s ARX Robotics and three UK startups. Read more.
IMF I Sovereign Debt Restructuring Process Is Improving Amid Cooperation and Reform. The Common Framework, which brings creditor countries together to help restructure debt where needed, has started to deliver. Read more.
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U.S.-EU Solar Manufacturing Supply Chain Forum. The U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council Supply Chain Working Group convened the U.S.-EU Solar Manufacturing Policy Forum (the Forum) to align U.S. & EU policy around solar manufacturing and to advance the sector’s competitiveness across both markets. The Forum aimed to promote deeper engagement between industry leaders and U.S. and European policy makers on what is needed to strengthen the U.S. and EU solar photovoltaic sectors and enhance supply chain resiliency. Read more.
EU-US I EU Gains US Market Access for Certain Plants. Producers of certain plants from 21 EU Member States will soon be able to export to the United States, thanks to the European Commission’s efforts to negotiate the removal of US import restrictions. Read more.
US Suspends Tax Convention with Russia. The United States has provided formal notice to the Russian Federation to confirm the suspension of the operation of Paragraph 4 of Article 1 and Articles 5-21 and 23 of the Convention between the United States of America and the Russian Federation for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital. Read more.
EU-LATAM I Cumbre de Inversiones Ecuador 2024. La "Cumbre de Inversiones Ecuador 2024", cuyo objetivo es movilizar recursos de la sociedad ecuatoriana e inversión extranjera, ha venido levantando información durante 9 meses de trabajo, con 23 prefecturas del país que han presentado 68 propuestas para proyectos priorizados de inversión público-privada, con un monto aproximado de $3.461 millones de dólares, que incluye también a 78 municipios que han presentado 75 proyectos. Read more.
EU-LATAM I Association Agreement between the European Union and Central America. The tenth meeting of the Association Committee of the Trade Pillar of the Association Agreement between the European Union (EU) and Central America (CA) took place on 20 June 2024 in Brussels, Belgium. Read more.
EU-LATAM I The EU and Honduras Sign Financing Agreement in Favor of the Forestry Sector. With the presence, as an honorary witness, of the president of Honduras, Mrs. Xiomara Castro, the director of the European Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mr. Felix Fernández-Shaw, signed a financing agreement of 23.4 million euros for the “VPA and beyond - Forestry Alliance and Green Businesses” program. Read more.
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Thought Leadership
MEMBER and PARTNER INSIGHTS
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Key Takeaways from the Latest USPTO Guidance on AI. On April 11, 2024, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued Guidance on Use of Artificial Intelligence-Based Tools in Practice Before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (April Guidance). The April Guidance, which supplements prior guidance issued Feb. 13, 2024, seeks to remind practitioners of existing rules and to educate them on potential risks associated with artificial intelligence tool use, allowing practitioners to mitigate these risks. Read more.
Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) Register: Registration and Maintenance (The Netherlands). This Practice Note explains which Dutch entities need to register and maintain information on their Ultimate Beneficial Owners in the Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) Register as well as the requirements and deadlines for such registration. This Practice Note furthermore explains which entities are required to register and maintain UBO information in the Trust Register. Read more.
National Security and The Commercial Space Sector. The U.S. Department of Defense and its newest service branch, the U.S. Space Force, have published their strategies to integrate
commercial space companies' innovative technologies and capabilities into national security plans, including through hybrid government, commercial and allied space architectures.
The DOD published its "Commercial Space Integration Strategy" on April 2. A week later, the U.S. Space Force released its complementary "Commercial Space Strategy: Accelerating the Purposeful Pursuit of Hybrid Space Architectures." Read more.
Compliments Greenberg Traurig
Congress Raises the National Security Alarm on Shipbuilding [Marine Link]. The article discusses a letter to President Biden which focuses on enhancing the U.S. industrial shipbuilding base in the commercial and military sectors. It covers the growing influence of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the maritime industry, a petition recently filed by a collective group of labor unions to the U.S. Trade Representative regarding PRC’s policies, and MARAD’s development of the National Maritime Strategy. Read more.
Compliments Cozen O'Connor
The State of Value-Based Care. Value-based care models can be challenging, and success requires an understanding of the reimbursement model, significant investment in infrastructure and possible changes in the way medicine is practiced. Read more.
Compliments Kaufman Rossin
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Consolidated Regulatory & Supply Chain News | |
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Hello and Welcome to the Second Installment of
“Consolidated Regulatory and Supply Chain News”
This update brought to us on a quarterly basis by RAF Solutions offers members of the EACC high level information on news that could affect the trans-ocean business of import and export to / from the U.S. This will mostly be organized by type of information (i.e. ocean freight, air freight, regulations on either side, etc) but there may be some crossover in sections since one new regulation could impact many areas.
We hope this provides some additional information for your use and helps to grow your business and relationships.
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Ocean Freight
Port of Baltimore News
Commercial shipping traffic through the Port of Baltimore is expected to return to normal levels next month after the channel fully reopened the week of June10 for the first time since the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March. Many shipping companies rerouted their cargo to other ports following the deadly collapse in March. The deadly disaster halted most maritime traffic through Baltimore’s busy port as crews worked around the clock to clear an estimated 50,000 tons of fallen steel and concrete from the Patapsco River. The estimated cost for the entire salvage operation is $160 million, with federal, state and local agencies involved. Read more.
West Coast Ports
Despite an initial level of confidence at the start of the year, the port saw larger volumes in April and May, before picking up even more in June, July and August. Market-driven increases in volume are likely to be exacerbated by the crisis at the Panama Canal that severely limited volumes in the vital shipping lane. And, with that, comes congestion. Adding to this concern is the “slow and go” pace of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union workforce at West Coast ports. They have slowed ground port productivity to a crawl. As a result, data shows a “significant surge” in the average number of containers waiting outside of port limits. Read more.
Red Sea
Since the vessel attacks along the Red Sea began, ocean shipping rates and transit times have gone up significantly. Several carriers have implemented additional surcharges. Some shippers like Ikea have already reported delays as they face constraints for certain products. Even if the situation in the Red Sea returns to normal, shipping companies may face difficulties for months. Read more.
Panama Canal
While drought restrictions at the Panama Canal continue, cargo diversions are happening and increasing the chances of delays. Read more.
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Air Capacity
The horizon is unclear for the air cargo market, even as last year’s rapid decline in volumes leveled out in recent months.
Some anticipate 2024 returning to normal seasonality. It could be an opportunity for everyone to catch their breath after the volatility of the past few years. But just because turbulence may have calmed, it doesn’t mean there aren’t potential risks to watch out for. Read more.
Air Freight:
The global air cargo industry is off to a flying (pun intended) start in 2024, with a staggering 18.4% surge in demand reported for January and apparently continuing compared to the same period last year, according to the latest data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The air cargo increases outpaced trade and production growth. Notable highlights include a 1% increase in global cross-border trade in December and a resurgence in manufacturing output. Read more.
US Trucking
The trucking industry was contracting for much of 2023, with large and small carriers alike leaving the market due to bankruptcy, closure or acquisition. Some experts expect this to continue in 2024. Read more.
Labor
After contentious contract negotiations between UPS and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters last summer, this year is poised to see more clashes between management and labor in the parcel delivery sector. Read more.
Pandemic Recovery
Are global supply chains finally shaking off the after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic? Study findings suggest that might indeed be the case. Read more.
Weather Impacts
The odds of a weather-roiling La Niña in the coming months are rising, elevating the risk of an unusually active Atlantic hurricane season. Read more.
Brought to you by
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EACC Florida is delighted to welcome Blend Plants as a new Corporate Member! | |
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Blend Plants is an Italian-based company specialized in the production of automated mobile mixing plants distributed all over the world.
Innovation is a really important feature of business and it is the result of many years of experience combined with the attention to construction aspects and their environmental impacts.
One of Blend Plant’s intentions is to provide innovative solutions for producing concrete, cementitious mixtures, cold asphalt and other products with an even greener approach, firmly focused on the environment and people.
Blend machines are distinguished for their mobility capable of reducing energy consumption, production times and costs, as well as determining greater accessibility of concrete even in remote areas. The technology applied to Blend plants allows us to obtain high quality mix, even from recycled material, without waste, with a view to circular economy and sustainability.
Info: www.blendplants.com
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NOW is the Perfect Time to Join!
Recommend EACC Florida to a Client or Business Partner
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EACC is a Connector
We open doors for our members across our chapter network on both sides of the Atlantic and we keep you informed on the relevant issues affecting your business.
Members of the EACC network enjoy:
♦ Access to our network of high-level business executives & our unique referral service
♦ Invitations to exclusive seminars & a direct exchange with transatlantic experts
♦ Visibility for your organization & opportunities to showcase your thought-leadership
♦ The ability to make a difference & actively engage in the Trans-Atlantic business dialogue
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Meet the EACC Network
Our Members are Part of Something Bigger
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Together with its sister chapters, EACC Florida is part of a growing and highly dynamic transatlantic network reaching over 10,000 executives in the US and across Europe. With over 750 members, the EACC is a valuable resource for any size business. If you would like to get involved, let us know.
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Founding Members / President's Circle | | | | |
