NEWS\\\ National Foreign Council


Trade talks between Mainland China and the United States resumed


in August but


consensus has yet to be reached. As the US continues to impose additional


tariffs


on many mainland imports, Hong Kong traders are looking to cushion the impact by actively shifting some of their production or procurement bases


to Association of


Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries that benefit from America’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). To this effect, the Hong Kong


Trade Development Council (HKTDC) organized a seminar titled “Sino-US Trade Dispute: How the US GSP Program Fits in the Supply Chain Strategy” later that month at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. HKTDC Assistant Principal Economist (Global Research) Louis Chan was the moderator. Sally Peng, Asia Pacific Practice Group Leader at the law firm Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg Ltd, and


Henry Fung, a Manager with the firm, provided practical tips to help local companies take advantage of the zero or low tariffs offered to developing countries by the US.


Administrative


Leanne Ma, Senior Officer


(Industries Support) from the Trade and Industry Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), introduced enhancement measures for the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestics Sales (BUD Fund), while Band Yeung, Assistant General Manager at the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation, briefed participants on the special enhanced measures to help local exporters cope with rising credit risks amid the current uncertainties. More than 100 representatives from local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) joined the seminar.


Hamburg


Süd launches INSTANT


Hamburg Süd has expanded the e-commerce offerings on its website and is now offering INSTANT, a digital application that makes booking containers much easier and faster. Customers will benefit from enhanced certainty in their planning, transparency and efficiency. Within just a few seconds,


INSTANT users will be able to view fixed prices and book their cargo directly –


all of


it online. Bookings can be made up to four weeks prior to


the planned shipment.


The earlier the booking is made, the lower the total price for the customer – and subsequent price changes or additional fees will no longer apply. At the same time, Hamburg Süd will guarantee


to customers booking cargo via INSTANT that there will be sufficient space for it on the selected connection, thereby enhancing the predictability of their transportation chain. “With INSTANT, booking a


container will be just as easy and fast as booking a flight online – you only need a few clicks,” explains Frank Smet, CCO of Hamburg Süd. “With it, we are creating a smart digital


complement to the


personal customer service that Hamburg Süd customers are used to.” INSTANT is now available Süd services


for Hamburg


between South America East Coast and Europe or Asia as well as between Asia and Oceania, and it will gradually be extended to more trades.


GAFOREIGNTRADE.COM REGISTER NOW! 2020 FEBRUARY 2-4 • THE CLOISTER • SEA ISLAND, GEORGIA Visit gaforeigntrade.com for current information and conference updates. MEDIA PARTNERS INCLUDE:


(NFTC) President Rufus Yerxa announced the formation of the Tariff Reform Coalition, a broad- based organization dedicated to working with Congress to ensure greater Congressional oversight and review of Presidential use of tariff authority.


“Not since the 1930s has our


country relied so heavily on tariffs in an attempt to pick winners in the U.S. market while overlooking the broader consequences for other industries and our economy as a whole,” said Rufus Yerxa, NFTC President. “The Constitution


Issue 8 2019 - FBJNA


NFTC Announces Formation of Tariff Reform Coalition


explicitly gives Congress the power to regulate commerce. We believe it is time for Congress to


reassert its authority to


ensure that tariffs are only used in limited circumstances and only where there is broad consensus between the two branches that such exceptional


5


action is in our overall national interest.” The Tariff Reform Coalition,


whose membership includes leading auto, retail, agro- food and manufacturing associations, will work with Congress to craſt legislation that will restore the longstanding balance between Congress and the Executive Branch in devising a U.S. trade policy that helps U.S. businesses flourish in the global economy.


©2017-2019 Georgia Foreign Trade Conference and the Georgia Ports Authority. All rights reserved.


GFTC200- 2020 Save The Date (FBJNA).indd 1


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