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Japan-America Society Interest Group
Trade JASIG
Past Meetings
Steve Block, a transportation and customs attorney at Betts, Patterson & Mines, P.S., presented a very thorough program about the scope of the new security law, what international shippers and forwarders must consider in ensuring compliance with it, and the adjustments the industry must make to accommodate the changing landscape of international transportation. A question and answer period followed.
Attendees learned how the U.S. Export Assistance Center can assist companies in exporting to Japan from Senior International Trade Specialist Laura McCall from the Seattle office of the U.S. Export Assistance Center. Seattle-based Da Vinci Gourmet was used as a case study on how the Center can work with a business to enter into the Japanese market. Natalie Dean and David Buerge of Da Vinci Gourmet were present to recount their experiences.
John Gissberg of Pacific Northwest Advisors moderated a panel discussion of Japanese Fisheries, which featured industry professionals addressing the
current status of trade in fish and fish products, governmental regulations,
the investment climate, and antitrust issues.
Oshu Go, Director of the Port of Seattle in Asia, visited Seattle to lead a discussion on the current state of the trade and shipping business in Japan, with particular attention to recent deregulation measures. Go, who has been Director of the Port of Seattle at the Tokyo office since 1985, oversees Asian countries for the Port.
In the first Trade JASIG, Gary Konop, Commercial Attache at the American Consulate in Nagoya, Japan, led a discussion on trade opportunities for U.S. companies in the Chubu Region of Japan. Although central Japan (or Chubu) is not widely known as a major trading region, its economic size surpasses all the ASEAN nations combined and is responsible for approximately 5% of the world's GDP.
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