Secrets to Success ImportExport Business with the US
Secrets to Success: Import/Export Business with the US
Basics of the FTA
The purpose of the FTA is to increase trade, economic opportunity, and prosperity for both Bahrain and the United States
Bahrain Exports to the US
US Exports to Bahrain
What Does the FTA Do? Bahraini & US companies are considered equal and enjoy the privilege of being a local company in each other’s country
What Does the FTA Do? Duty free– no tariffs on 98% of goods and service. But there are exceptions
What Does the FTA Do? Unified standards - Strong intellectual property standards on both sides - Transparency in regulations and rule of law - Customs cooperation
Trade Agreements 3 Common Mistakes on Trade Agreements Origin Claims
Bahrain FTA Overview 1. Top 3 Common Mistakes made on Free Trade Agreement Claims 2. Resources: Where to get Additional Information 3. Where to send Questions
#1 Mistake on Origin claims Good is NOT eligible to receive benefits of the Free Trade Agreement. • The good must be FTA eligible for the importer to claim FTA benefits • Importers sometimes rely on foreign producers to determine how their products qualify • Importers are required to know where the good is produced and where related materials are sourced
#2 Mistake on Origin Claims (cont. ) Good is not correctly classified § Each product needs to have the correct Harmonized classification number assigned to it § Importers requiring assistance with classification can seek help from their Customs Broker or request Advanced Ruling from CBP
#3 mistakes on Origin claims (cont. ) Insufficient Documents • Establish a record-keeping program. • Maintain a thorough record keeping system that forms a complete trail from sourcing records through production • Provide supporting documentation in timely manner, if necessary
Additional Information Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) – CBP past rulings spanning 1989 to present - https: //rulings. cbp. gov/home Requesting Advanced Rulings - https: //erulings. cbp. gov/s US Customs and Border Protection https: //www. cbp. gov/trade/priorityissues/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements U. S. Code Federal Regulations www. ecfr. gov 14
Additional Information – Con’t U. S. International Trade Commission www. usitc. gov U. S. Trade Representative www. ustr. gov U. S. Department of Commerce - Export. gov and FTA tariff tool http: //2016. export. gov/fta/ 15
Questions may be send to: Trade Agreements Branch Mailbox FTA@cbp. dhs. gov 16
For Official Use Only
UNEECO GROUP OF COMPANIES Serving customer needs since 1976
UNEECO Group • UNIVERSAL ELECTRO ENGINEERING • BAHRAIN COMPUTER SUPPORT CENTER • AWAL ELECTRIC • MARITRONICS • TECHNICAL PROTECTION ENGINEERING • UNIQUE POWER SWITCHGEARS • PRUDENT SOLUTIONS
OUR STRATERGIES Vision: To excel in providing quality engineering solutions by excellent performance of manpower, assets and investments to achieve customer satisfaction. Mission: To provide quality products and services in engineering disciplines with special thrust on Power, Oil and Gas sectors, through a profitable and growing organization which exceeds aspirations and contributes towards the country’s economic development, welfare of the society complying with health, safety and environment norms. Objectives: To be committed to perform our products in a safe, effective, efficient, timely and environmentally responsible manner through our pioneering directives , expertise and leadership. Ultimately excelling in our field by Maintaining complete customer satisfaction.
UNEECO • UNEECO, the prime Division of UNEECO Group of Companies, represents a number of prestigious and world famous manufacturers who have enabled us to extend our services in the areas of electrical and electronics engineering & as agents for many prestigious & world famous brands of Electrical equipment, components/accessories for the MV/LV. • We supply all products and equipments for the Electrical Utility from our reputed Principals who have proven reliability, in-house expertise to manufacture state-of the art high-quality products for optimum performance. • We are an ISO 9001: 2015 certified company.
UNIQUE POWER SWITCHGEAR (UPS) ØThis division represents in the Kingdom of Bahrain as agents for many prestigious & world famous brands of electrical equipment, components/accessories for the MV/LV. ØWe are the “Authorized Panel Builder” for • Larsen & Toubro switchgear using their fully type tested “Enersys” Switchboards. • EATON Switchgear Using their fully type tested “Xenergy” Switchboards.
ØOur LV Switchgear assembly factory caters to the needs of the Local market with quality TTA equipment from Larsen & Toubro and EATON. ØStrict quality control on the assembly line and routine testing of all assembled products as per IEC 61439 -1 & 2 before dispatch. ØWe also market MV equipments for a very reputed GCC based company • Al Ahleia Switchgear Kuwait for Distribution Transformers, MV Switchgear, • Ring Main Units and Package Substations
Prudent Solutions Vendors Customers Ø Rockwell Automation Ø Yokogawa Ø Siemens Ø Schneider Electric Ø Emerson Ø Weidmuller Ø GE Ø WIKA Ø ABB Ø Det-tronics Ø Fire eye Ø Tatweer Ø Bapco Ø GPIC Ø ALBA Ø EWA Ø Gulf Aluminum rolling Ø BAFCO Ø ARAMCO
Products we Import ØMost of our products are imported from outside of Bahrain ØWe import from the European Union, the United States, India and other Asian Countries ØImporting components and assembling here in our facility
How FTA helps ØThe companies that we benefit from FTA the most are Rockwell Automation and Power System control Supplying Frequency controllers ØReceive five percent custom duty exemption, making our products more competitive than European ØBusiness that is half a million dollars we benefit 25, 000$ on duty exemption
Rockwell Automation ØAn engineering, manufacturing of Automation products ØA channel partner with Rockwell Automation for many years ØWe distribute their products to Industrial end-users such as: Alba and Bapco ØIntegrate their products into our control and instrumentation based on customer requirements
Advantages for our Customers ØWe can integrate pricing seamlessly into our product offering ØManufacturing for OEMs (original equipment manufacturer) based in Bahrain who export to the US ØHelps our OEM customer base to be more competitive in the US
Market Challenges ØCompetition from other smaller panel builders using Chinese or Korean components making their products cheaper ØShrinking market: the construction sectors is good now but there is a natural limit to the amount of buildings being constructed ØAsian engineering companies are retro fitting older Rockwell products into their panels
Challenges with FTA ØMany US multi nationals have distribution warehouses all over the world. If we receive a product from those warehouse outside the US we don’t benefit from the FTA ØMost US products are not EU or British standards. Industrial standards are slowly changing to EU specifications
Success Story ØWe manufactured a PLC mounted Skid for Tatweer. Since we are in touch with the customer we know their requirements. Instead of ordering the materials from the US, we manufactured it locally based on their specifications and daily inputs. FTA made this must easier to accomplish.
Success Story ØSince we are doing really well selling Rockwell Products to oil and gas and manufacturing industries, they asked if we are interested in doing business with their electrical switchgear division for residential industry.
How we find new products ØBest way to find new products is to see what is lacking in the market and try to fill the gap ØSee what product compliments the current range ØAdds value to current product range ØWhat new technology will take the market soon, what is the latest technology trend
Trade Shows ØWe visit trade shows in order to increase our knowledge and find new products or services ØTrade shows visited: • Gitex: Fire and security products and IT services • Middle East Electricity Expo: Find out what news in electrical transmission, energy renewable energy and lighting • Automation Fair: Find out what is new with Rockwell Automation
America is Open for Business! Invest in the United States!
Investor Visas EB-5 Immigrant Visa • Complete application through USCIS www. uscis. gov • 10, 000 EB-5 immigrant visas available annually • Must make a capital investment of either $500, 000 or $1, 000 • Must create or preserve 10 full-time jobs for qualifying U. S. workers within two years
Investor Visas L Visa • Complete application through USCIS www. uscis. gov • Temporary transfer of employee in managerial, executive, or specialized work • Must be from existing company to office/new location of same company in United States
Investor Visas E-2 Treaty Investor Visa • Treaty with Bahrain to allow Bahraini nationals to make significant business investments in the United States. • Must invest a substantial amount of capital in a U. S. enterprise • Must enter the United States solely to develop and direct the investment enterprise, and show at least 50% ownership of the enterprise or possession of operational control
THANK YOU! SEE YOU SOON!
- Slides: 41