Volume 37 | September 2023 | |
Where Europeans & Americans Connect to do Business | |
NEWSLETTER
September 2023
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A Message from the President | |
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ERRATUM
A few mistakes found their way into this newsletter including the banner and link for our September 26 program. These have been corrected.
Please disregard the previous version of this newsletter.
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Join Us!
Expanding into the United States?
IRA & CHIPS: Challenges & Opportunities
Tuesday September 26, 2023 I 8:30 am - 10:30 am I Kaufman Rossin- Miami
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Talent Acquisition & Retention. Florida: Boom or Bust - July 11, 2023 | |
An engaged group of attendees gathered at Cozen O’Connor in Miami on July 11, 2023, for lunch and an update on immigration trends and challenges, current employment trends – including global mobility programs – across the US and in Florida and a discussion on strategies that employers can use as part of their international recruitment strategy. The program also looked at the recent Florida bills aiming to target the influx of illegal immigration into the state with tougher employment requirements, including some of the strongest penalties in the nation for employers, and their potential impact on companies operating in the Sunshine State or with plans to do so.
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From left to right: Christina Sleszynska - EACC Florida, Amanda Crouch - RSM, Steven Bostock - Mishcon de Reya, Annabel Edo - Ackermann Intl, Scott Bettridge - Cozen O'Connor, EACC Florida Board Member Peter Stratos - Kaufman Rossin. | |
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Amanda Crouch, Talent Enablement Leader at RSM US, offered insights into RSM’s Mid-Market Talent Gap Survey while Annabel Edo, Managing Director US at Ackermann International and Steven Bostock, Partner at Mishcon de Reya in London, discussed the approach taken by international employers and job seekers and the positive perception that Florida has with companies overseas. The program was moderated by Scott Bettridge, Chair Immigration Practice at Cozen O’Connor, who also provided some immigration-specific updates.
All in all, the event was marked by a good discussion, timely information, lively interactions and helpful connections!
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The UK Announces Start of Trade Negotiations with State of Florida | |
On July 18th, EACC Florida President Alan Sutin and Executive Director Christina Sleszynska attended a business networking reception at the Official Residence of Rufus Drabble, his Majesty’s Consul General in Miami to welcome The Rt. Hon Conor Burns, the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to the US (pictured). This was his first official visit to Florida.
Most notably, The Rt. Hon Conor Burns announced that the UK is starting formal negotiations for an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the State of Florida.
The UK currently has MoUs in place with Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oklahoma and Utah, through which the UK is helping companies meet new commercial partners to develop their businesses Next in line are Texas, California, Colorado, and Florida.
The Trade Envoy expects these trade negotiations to conclude by the end of 2023 with a focus on aerospace, life sciences and fintech.
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UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to the US, Rt. Hon Conor Burns | | |
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EACC Florida Executive Director Meets with New Consul General of Germany | |
In August, EACC Florida Executive Director Christina Sleszynska was honored to meet with Christofer Burger, Germany's incoming Consul General to Florida just a few days after his arrival in the Sunshine State.
Before being appointed to Florida, Christofer Burger notably served in Nicaragua (2008-2011), Irak (2016-2016), in the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC (2017-2018), and as Spokesperson of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany (2018-2023).
Christofer Burger succeeds outgoing Consul General Andreas Siegel and is very welcome to Miami!
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EU I EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework Adopted. The EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework introduces new binding safeguards to address all the concerns raised by the European Court of Justice, including limiting access to EU data by US intelligence services to what is necessary and proportionate, and establishing a Data Protection Review Court (DPRC), to which EU individuals will have access. The new framework introduces significant improvements compared to the mechanism that existed under the Privacy Shield. Read more.
EU I Detailed Reporting Rules Adapted for the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism’s Transitional Phase. The rules detail the transitional reporting obligations for EU importers of CBAM goods, as well as the transitional methodology for calculating embedded emissions released during the production process of CBAM goods. Read more.
EU I DG Trade’s Access2Procurement Tool now Covers USA. The online tool allows companies in the EU to obtain user-friendly information on public procurement tenders available to them in several of the EU’s trading partners including Canada, Japan and the US. Read more.
EU I Chips Act: Council Gives its Final Approval. The Chips Act aims to create the conditions for the development of a European industrial base in the field of semiconductors, attract investment, promote research and innovation and prepare Europe for any future chip supply crisis. The programme should mobilise €43 billion in public and private investment (€3.3 billion from the EU budget), with the objective of doubling the EU’s global market share in semiconductors, from 10% now to at least 20% by 2030. Read more.
EU I New Batteries Regulation Enters into Force. The new rules will ensure that, in the future, batteries have a low carbon footprint, use minimal harmful substances, need less raw materials from non-EU countries, and are collected, reused and recycled to a high degree in Europe. Read more.
EIB I How Central and Eastern European companies are investing — findings from the EIB Group Investment Survey. The findings show that companies are trying to break away from the old capital-intensive growth model and are looking for new opportunities in this regard, especially those related to the use of modern technologies and innovation. The level of investment in enterprises in the CEE region (77%) is close to the average in the European Union (80%) and the United States (81%). Read more.
EU-US I Council Authorizes Negotiations on EU-US Critical Minerals Agreement. The European Commission is now authorized to open negotiations, on behalf of the EU, with the United States on a Critical Minerals Agreement (CMA). This agreement seeks to strengthen critical minerals supply chains and mitigate some of the negative repercussions of the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on EU industry. Read more.
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US - EU I Data Privacy Framework Program Launches New Website Enabling U.S. Companies to Participate in Cross-Border Data Transfers. The U.S. Department of Commerce launched the Data Privacy Framework (DPF) program website enabling eligible U.S. companies to self-certify their participation in the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (EU-U.S. DPF), facilitating cross-border transfers of personal data in compliance with EU law. Read more.
US I SEC Adopts Rules on Cybersecurity Risk Management, Strategy, Governance, and Incident Disclosure by Public Companies. The Securities and Exchange Commission adopted rules requiring registrants to disclose material cybersecurity incidents they experience and to disclose on an annual basis material information regarding their cybersecurity risk management, strategy, and governance. The Commission also adopted rules requiring foreign private issuers to make comparable disclosures. Read more.
EU - CELAC I Commission Presents Global Gateway Investment Agenda with Latin America and Caribbean. The Agenda revolves around the following pillars: a fair green transition, an inclusive digital transformation, human development and health resilience and vaccines. Team Europe has also committed over €45 billion to support the reinforced partnership with Latin America and the Caribbean until 2027. Read more.
EU - CELAC - EIB announces s€800 Million in Financing for Climate Action Projects in Argentina, Brazil and Chile at EU-CELAC Summit. As part of the EU's Global Gateway Initiative, everal loans in Argentina, Brazil and Chile were announced including: a €200 million loan to Banco del Estado de Chile, guaranteed by the EU, to finance mortgages for approximately 2,600 new housing units with improved energy efficiency standards; €300 Million to Banco Santander Brasil for Small-Scale Solar Energy Investments. As part of the Global Investment Strategy, and more. Read more.
EU - CELAC I EU and Chile Strengthen Cooperation on Sustainable Critical Raw Materials Supply Chains. The partnership aims to deepen cooperation in the field of sustainable raw materials value chains that are necessary for the clean energy and digital transition of both partners. Read more.
EU - CELAC I Colombians and Peruvians Lodged Twice as Many Applications, Year-on-Year. Analysis released by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) suggests that EU+ asylum authorities are under increasing pressure from the number of asylum applications they are receiving. In May 2023, some 87 000 applications were lodged, up by a quarter compared to the previous year. Venezuelans, Colombians and Peruvians lodged 7 100, 6 900 and 2 500 applications apiece, all down slightly from recent peaks but majorly increased compared to May 2022 (+45 %, +90 % and +109 %, respectively). The vast majority of these applications were, and continue to be, lodged in Spain. Read more.
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Thought Leadership
MEMBER and PARTNER INSIGHTS
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Immigration I ETIAS to Launch in 2024: How it Will Impact Over 1 Billion Travelers to Europe. All US citizens (and non-European travelers) will need to plan ahead and obtain ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) approval before traveling to Europe. ETIAS will launch in 2024, impacting visa-exempt travelers to 30 European countries.Travelers from over 60 countries will now be required to complete this process in order to enter most European countries. This process is similar to the United States ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) program, as it is a visa waiver (not a visa specifically). Read more.
Regulation of Foreign Investment in Canada. The article covers the key legislation regulating foreign direct investment (FDI) in Canada, the various types of foreign investment transactions that are subject to regulation, the roles and powers of relevant regulatory authorities, and the penalties for non-compliance. Read more.
Build America, Buy America Final Guidance Issued. The law requires companies seeking federal financial assistance to use American-made iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials on all federally funded infrastructure projects, thereby expanding the federal government’s American-made preferences previously established in the Buy American Act. Read more.
Compliments Cozen O'Connor
Foreign Private Issuer Guide | Accessing the U.S. Capital Markets: Select Legal and Practical Considerations for Non-U.S. Companies. Foreign businesses historically have looked to the U.S. capital markets as an important source of financing. Although the global financial marketplace has been significantly impacted by financial uncertainty, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which will continue to evolve in unforeseen ways, the U.S. market remains one of the most robust and deepest financial markets in the world. Read more.
SCOTUS Limits Extraterritorial Reach of Lanham Act. The U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Abitron Austria GmbH v. Hetronic International, Inc., a case that presented the Court with an opportunity to clarify whether, under the federal Lanham Act, U.S. courts are ever permitted to issue “worldwide injunctions” related to trademark use. Read more.
FDA Announces Updates to Dietary Supplement Program. The new structure significantly reorganizes FDA’s current approach to human foods regulatory oversight including international food partnerships. Read more.
Compliment Greenberg Traurig
Enhanced 179D Deduction Offers Tax Savings for Energy-Efficient Real Estate. The 179D deduction can offset the costs associated with implementing energy-efficient technologies in commercial buildings, resulting in substantial savings for real estate developers. Architects and engineers designing buildings for governmental or tax-exempt entities may also be able to qualify. Read more.
Compliments Kaufman Rossin
HSBC Emerging Markets Sentiment Survey. Respondents’ top concern is US and other developed market interest rates remaining high for longer than expected, followed by worries about a recession in major economies. However, more investors now see a soft landing in major economies (33% versus 15% previously) or inflation falling to target sooner than expected (28% from 23% previously) as upside risks to the EM outlook. Investors are most upbeat about Latin America (LatAm). Read more.
Compliments HSBC
Biopharmas should assess their tariff savings opportunities on R&D materials. The U.S. tariff contains a special tariff provision for “prototypes,” which can be applied to items such as pharmaceutical chemical compounds or active pharmaceutical ingredients. In addition to development, testing, evaluation and quality control analysis, articles must meet the additional criteria. Read more.
Compliments RSMUS
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Welcome to the Miami Downtown Development Authority ! | |
The Miami Downtown Development Authority (Miami DDA) is an independent agency of the City of Miami funded by a special tax levy on properties within its district boundaries. The agency is governed by a 15-member board of directors, including three public appointees and 12 downtown property owners, business owners, and/or residents. The board sets policy direction, which is implemented by a multi-disciplinary team under the CEO/Executive Director's oversight. The Miami DDA’s mission is to grow, strengthen, and promote the economic health and vitality of Downtown Miami. As an autonomous agency of the City, the Miami DDA advocates, facilitates, plans, and executes business development, planning, capital improvements, and marketing and communication strategies.
https://www.miamidda.com/
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EACC FLORIDA YOUNG VOICES FROM THE FUTURE | |
EACC Florida is giving a voice to the Z Generation, the Young Voices from the Future who have already started shaping the world that they will be living in. Read about a young person – a student, an artist, an entrepreneur, an athlete – whose identity, vision, project, achievement illustrates the vibrancy of Florida’s transatlantic community in our monthly EACC Florida Newsletter and on our website.
If you would like to suggest a young person to be featured in this section, please contact Christina Sleszynska at csleszynska@eaccfl.com. | |
Aitana Gillard
A Spanish-Belgian Young Woman with a Dream of Diplomacy and of Exploring the World
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou
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Aitana was named after a mountain range in Spain. The name was first used by the Spanish poet, Rafael Alberti, for his daughter.
Aitana is 19 and was born in Madrid. Her mother is Spanish from Zaragoza and her father Belgian from Nivelles. The family moved to Miami when she was 7 and her sister 5.
She speaks perfect English and Spanish and is fluent in French. She has dual Belgian-Spanish citizenship and is on track to becoming a US Citizen. She has regularly been returning to Spain and Belgium to visit with family and friends and eat some of the foods she misses most: the oh-so tasty “ugly” tomatoes from Spain and the chocolate and waffles from Belgium.
Aitana went to school in Key Biscayne and at 15, asked to be sent to a boarding school in France to improve her knowledge of French, of French culture and to be closer to the Belgian side of her family.
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When the global Pandemic struck, flights were being grounded and her parents made the split-decision to get her out of France and onto one of the last flights from London to Miami before the US border was closed. She travelled alone from Loches, in Central France, to London, taking 3 trains to get there.
She finished her year online and completed her Junior and Senior years at the School for Advanced Studies. She graduated in June 2022 with a Superintendents High School Diploma and an Associate Degree from Miami Dade College.
She is now studying Politics at King’s College in London and expects to graduate in 2025.
Aitana has an artistic streak. From a very early age, she enjoyed the arts and started performing in theater and musical productions when she was 9. But it is her multicultural background that is her biggest influence in pursuing her dream of diplomacy and her greatest motivation to explore the world.
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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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TRAVELLING?
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 | | | | |
