The International Trade Administration announced a renewable energy trade mission to the Philippines and Thailand Sept. 17-20 to give U.S. companies a timely and cost-effective way to engage with key stakeholders, government officials and potential partners in an effort to enter the promising Philippines and Thailand markets. Target sectors for potential U.S. exports include biomass/waste-to-energy/biogas, geothermal, hydropower, wind power, and solar power. The mission will include meetings with high-level national government officials, one-on-one meetings with potential partners and industry leaders, briefings on the Philippine and Thailand markets, site visits, and additional meetings with members of the Asia Development Bank, the ITA said. Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no later than July 13, 2012. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in June 2012 until 10-20 participants are selected.

The International Trade Administration announced an infrastructure business development trade mission to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Jakarta, Indonesia November 11-17 to help participants gain first-hand market knowledge and establish business contacts with senior decision makers. The trade mission will be comprised of representatives from U.S. companies that provide state-of-the-art market services and technology to sectors critical to infrastructure development, including the energy, aviation, environmental technology, and architecture, construction, and engineering sectors. In each city, participants will receive market briefings and meet with key government decision makers and prospective private sector partners during customized, one-on-one meetings, the ITA said. Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and conclude no later than August 31, 2012, by the close of business. Applications will be vetted on a rolling basis starting July 5, 2012 until 15-25 participants are selected.

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for July 3:

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for July 2:

The Commerce Department announced a plan to open three more satellite locations of the Patent and Trademark Office in Dallas, Denver, and Silicon Valley. The three locations are in addition to the first satellite office set to open July 13 in Detroit. According to Commerce, the new offices will reduce the backlog of unexamined patents and speed up the overall process.

The National Institute for Standards and Technology will hold the 97th Annual Meeting of the National Conference on Weights and Measures July 15 -- 19 in Portland, Maine. The meetings are open to the public, but a paid registration is required. Topics to be discussed include, among other things, methods of sale for ink and toner cartridges, kerosene, and motor oil, electronic livestock carcass evaluation systems, liquid measuring devices, grain hopper sales, and belt-conveyor scale systems. See NCWM Publication 16 “National Conference on Weights and Measures Committee Reports for the 97th Annual Meeting” here to view the meeting agendas, registration forms, and hotel information.

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for June 28:

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for June 27:

The Foreign Trade Zones Board issued the following notices for June 26:

The Commerce Department said it is reestablishing the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee, which will advise the Secretary on the development and administration of programs and policies to expand the competitiveness of U.S. exports of renewable energy and energy efficiency goods and services. The committee's work on energy efficiency will focus on technologies, services, and platforms that provide system-level energy efficiency to electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, Commerce said, but covered goods and services will not include vehicles, feedstock for biofuels, or energy efficiency as it relates to consumer goods. Non-fossil fuels that are considered renewable (e.g., liquid biofuels and pellets) are included, Commerce said. Nominations for members of the committee are due by July 16.