Insights

On November 25, twenty-four US and Brazilian business leaders will come together to discuss ways for deepening bilateral business ties at the US-Brazil CEO Forum. Join Women in International Trade (WIIT-DC) and Women Inside Trade (WIT) for a conversation on US-Brazil trade and investment priorities as the US approaches the presidential election in 2020.

Celebrating its 93rd Anniversary, World Trade Week Southern California (WTW), an initiative of the L.A. Area Chamber, is the most extensive and unique program of its kind in the country. WTW dedicates itself to educating the business community on the positive aspects of international trade on the local and national economy through educational programs and events. World Trade Week is celebrated throughout the month of May with nearly 30 events that are jumpstarted by the annual WTW Kickoff Breakfast.

Blockchain is increasingly recognized as a potentially transformative technology for business transaction infrastructure with its decentralized and transparent networks which form nodes or “blocks” linked by cryptography. Although its decentralized networks make blockchain less vulnerable to cyberattacks, it poses challenges for governments seeking to understand the technology’s many applications and develop appropriate regulatory “rules of the road.” How are governments thinking about the increased use of blockchain technology and its regulatory environment? How are businesses viewing the future of blockchain? What are the future trends in this space? Please join the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) on September 12th as their distinguished panel of experts will discuss the future of blockchain technology.

Two days of workshop-style learning on value-based fee structures and the management skills and tools to support them, valuable take-home resources, and opportunities to network with other attendees

Turning A Retail Law Department Into A Profit Center in Retail Leasing, Global Sourcing and Antitrust LitigationThis panel will examine recovery opportunities for retailers in three legal areas:  retail leasing, global sourcing and antitrust.  In a time when legal departments are asked to cut costs, legal practitioners will address how legal departments for retailers can identify recovery opportunities in these three fields and seek affirmative recovery.

The Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce, Inc., in conjunction with the Americas Society/Council of the Americas, will be holding a special seminar on “2011 Brazil-China” on Thursday, February 24th at the Council of the Americas in New York City from 8:30am to 10:30am. Robert Wood, Senior Analyst & Deputy Director for Country Risk for Latin America at the Economist Group, will serve as moderator of the program, which will have the participation of Ambassador Peter Allgeier, C&M International President at Crowell & Moring LLP and Eric Farnsworth, Vice President of the Americas Society/Council of the Americas.

On February 2, the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies at Brookings, the Asian Studies Center at the Heritage Foundation and the Seoul National University’s Institute for Korean Political Studies and the Political Science BK21 Project will host a symposium to examine the progress South Korea has made over the last 20 years in building its democratic institutions, and in areas in which the system can be improved to better reflect the will of the voters.

The evening reception will be held on January 28, from 6:00-8:00 pm. Attended by leading US government officials, PRC diplomatic figures, think-tank China scholars, USCBC member company executives, and conference speakers. This annual reception is a valuable opportunity for you to meet and network with those who have a unique mix of expertise and insight.

Christopher Padilla will be speaking. Complementing last month's luncheon on the security and strategic aspects of the bilateral relationship, Padilla will offer his views on the risks and opportunities for US commercial policy toward China that face the incoming Obama administration. This event is for USCBC members only.

As this dramatic year comes to an end and unprecedented economic challenges unfold, understanding what 2009 has in store for your China business is a strategic way to spend one hour of your time.

The 2008 trade agenda will soon come to a close -- and by all accounts it has not been nearly as productive as we had hoped. Trade Agreements with Colombia, Korea and Panama remain to be acted upon. There is uncertainty on a successful outcome of the WTO Doha Round. Fast Track authority was not extended. Differences on an expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance remain. While action was taken on extending preferences programs, they will need further extension next year.

Crowell & Moring's annual program on the benefits and challenges of global business and international trade focuses this year on issues involving global market access. In these rough economic times, one of the major bright spots for American companies has been overseas business. Panelists, including executives of multinational companies, government representatives from our Asian trading partners and trade experts from Washington D.C. and California, will focus on surviving and succeeding in key overseas markets.

This 5th conference in Crowell & Moring’s on-going globalization series brings together top policy makers, legal experts, industry executives and high-level diplomats for a frank discussion of the opportunities and risks ahead. Among the speakers are Geoff Gamble, DuPont Chief Counsel and Director of International Governmental Affairs, Partner Ann Klee, the former EPA General Counsel for the United States government, and leading Asian diplomats, including Japan’s Consul General Kodama, Korea’s Consul General Choi and India’s Consul Bagchi. Topics include:

The fourth in an ongoing series of conferences, Globalization’s New Road Map, is designed to provide the business community with strategic knowledge about the benefits and challenges of international business. This conference brings together leading officials from Canada, Mexico, the California state government, CCIT and C&M International to discuss the changing shape of international trade as well as Crowell & Moring attorneys addressing critical issues of international business law that confront companies as they expand into new markets and source from new nations.

Andrew Conrad, senior vice president and counsel at Aflac International, Inc.; Hiroaki Ishii, commercial minister counselor at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C.; Amy Jackson, former director of Japan Affairs at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and director of C & M International, LLP; Jessica Webster, director of the economic section at the Office of Japan Affairs at the U.S. Department of State; Joseph Winder, president of Winder International; and Kent Calder, director of the SAIS Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies, will discuss this topic.

Doing business in China, one of the world's most dynamic countries, can be an overwhelming endeavor for many U.S.-based businesses. Positioning your company for success while simultaneously managing the significant risks that come with investing in, sourcing from, or selling to China is essential in this important market. Crowell and Moring, C&M International and the American University International Business Association invite you to join us on October 16th for two expert panel discussions on how to navigate the Chinese market (how to form joint-ventures, protect intellectual property, and market products in China, etc.) and how to understand the political and economic forces that shape U.S.-China relations and impact how U.S. businesses operate in China. Our two panel discussions will feature Fortune 500 executives, senior government officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce, top Crowell attorneys and distinguished academics. Following the panel discussion, a keynote address will be delivered by John Frisbie, President of the U.S.-China Business Council.

Crowell & Moring International (CMI) will be co-hosting this event with the Women In International Trade Association (WIT). Following a panel discussion, there will be a networking reception.

The theme of this year's Forum is “U.S. Trade Policy: Regaining Momentum in 2006.” This truly will be a momentous year in U.S. trade policy. Significant progress must be made – and fast – if the WTO's Doha Round of negotiations is to successfully close prior to the expiration of U.S. Trade Promotion Authority in June 2007. Notwithstanding the status of WTO negotiations, globalization continues to accelerate. Within this context those involved in the formulation of U.S. trade policy must continue to question whether, or to what extent, bilateral and/or regional free trade agreements should be actively pursued. Our resolve to keep the homeland secure is creating tensions that threatens trade expansion. In 2006, U.S. trade policy-makers will be compelled to make crucial decisions on fundamental issues that impact the global economy, all at a time when the general public is less supportive of trade expansion than in the past. The Trade Policy Forum will carefully analyze the enormous challenges these pressures create, inviting input from all perspectives. The Forum will be of particular interest to our special guests, the California Congressional delegation.