The International Trade Administration will partner with DHL Express to provide export assistance for small and mid-size businesses, they announced May 9. ITA said the partnership is a key part of implementing the National Export Initiative. Under the program, ITA will provide such resources to DHL’s U.S. exporting customers as industry-specific consulting, marketing research, lead generation of overseas contacts, and information on industry trade shows. The partnership was formally announced at a launch event at a DHL operations facility in Manhattan.

The Foreign Trade Zones Board is issuing the following notices for May 10, 2012:

The creation of the Global Solar Council was not a response to dumping claims moving through the U.S. Commerce Department process, despite recent media claims, said GSC Executive Director Roland-Jan Meijer in a press statement. He said GSC's goal is just to promote" a favorable political framework for solar power, unrelated to any active trade disputes." But he said one goal is to "create awareness among stakeholders that free and open market conditions are essential to maintain a thriving global market for solar energy." Creation of the GSC was announced earlier this month (See ITT's Online Archives [Ref.12050501]). A coalition filed a series of solar equipment dumping complaints against China in October (See ITT's Online Archives [Ref.11102002]).

The Foreign Trade Zones Board announced another outreach event to provide training and enable discussion about the new FTZ regulations in New York on July 24, 2012, and provided details on the September 13 outreach event in San Diego. At these events, FTZB will provide general training open to anyone interested in attending, including grantees, and will cover a range of provisions of the new regulations in the first session. A second outreach session for officials of grantee organizations will focus on regulatory provisions that have a direct impact on the grantee role. RSVPs are required by July 20 to attend the New York outreach event, and by September 10 to attend the event in San Diego.

The Foreign Trade Zones Board is issuing the following notices for May 8, 2012:

The Foreign Trade Zones Board is issuing the following notices for May 3, 2012:

The International Trade Commission said it received a complaint entitled Certain Electronic Devices, Including Mobile Phones and Tablet Computers, and Components Thereof, DN 2896, and it's soliciting comments on any public interest issues raised by the complaint or complainant's filing.

Correction: An ITT summary of a request for comments by National Institute for Standard and Technology on its National Network for Manufacturing Innovation plan erroneously said the due date for comments is October 25, 2011. The correct date is October 25, 2012. (See ITT’s Online Archives 12050403 for original summary. which has been corrected.)

The International Trade Administration said Under Secretary Francisco Sánchez will lead an energy efficiency trade mission to Russia June 4-7, 2012. The U.S. delegation will include a senior U.S. Department of Energy official and representatives from 13 U.S. firms that offer a broad range of technologies to improve energy efficiency (see press release for list of firms).

The Commerce Department said Secretary Bryson is in China on his second trip to the country as Commerce Secretary. His first stop is in Beijing where he is participating in the fourth round of the U.S. China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED), along with Secretary of State Clinton, Treasury Secretary Geithner, U.S. Trade Representative Kirk and other U.S. Government officials.