Ambassador of the Month Archive

Live Webinar on Exporting: USMCA Implementation and Execution as North America Reopens

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Tailored for exporters—and those who are considering business expansion through exporting—the Greater Irvine Chamber, in partnership with the Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles, will present a panel discussion on the implementation and execution of United States, Mexico, Canada Agreement (USMCA). Tune into this free, live-stream webinar Wednesday, June 10, 10 – 11 a.m., just in time as North America prepares for the July 1 launch of the USMCA. Panel experts Zaib Shaikh, Canadian Consul General, Kenneth Wengrod, founder, FTC Commercial Corp., and Mario Cuevas Zamora, Mexican Consul General, will provide the latest information on the USMCA and help equip companies with nex...

Stephen Armstrong Named Greater Irvine Chamber 2020 Partner of the Year

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Stephen Armstrong, president and co-founder of MAPLE Business Council and principal of 360 Marketer, was named the Greater Irvine Chamber 2020 Partner of the Year for his support and volunteer leadership of the Chamber’s international development initiatives. For a number of years, Armstrong has helped grow the Chamber’s international presence, promote trade between Canada and Orange County, and tout Irvine for trade and investment. As a co-founder of MAPLE Business Council, Armstrong has forged a solid bridge between Canada and California. He is a champion of trade and investment, having executed several successful missions to Vancouver and Toronto to promote Irvin...

Orange County World Trade Week Captures Global Audience

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

In its sixth year, the Greater Irvine Chamber’s annual Orange County Work Trade Week Forum (OCWTW) captured a global audience with attendees tuning in to the digitized event from countries including Canada, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and various states in the U.S. A lineup of speakers and panelists from across the globe delivered information on the current state of international trade as it relates to the economic disruptions caused by the Coronavirus. Mark O’Connell, CEO, OCO Global, calling in from Belfast, Ireland, in his keynote discussed Globalization: Pandemic, Populism, and Power, bringing attention to sectors hit hardest by the pandemic including travel and hospitality, aerospace, and transportation, and energy and infrastructure. O’Connell als...

More Important Than Ever: Maintaining and Improving Free Trade, Investment

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

(CalChamber) The world has quickly changed over the last few months and during these strange and uncertain times, the importance of international trade has been on display across the world. Supply chains have been put to the test and global connectivity has proven vital in quickly securing much-needed supplies to fight the COVID-19 pandemic around the world. The World Trade Organization (WTO) stated in an April 2020 report that it expects world trade to fall drastically by between 13% and 32% in 2020 as normal economic activity and everyday life has been disrupted by the pandemic. The WTO expects a recovery i...

NAFTA Ends June 30, USMCA to Start July 1

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer recently issued a press release indicating that the United States will implement the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) starting July 1. As a consequence, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will effectively end June 30. While importers who have not claimed NAFTA on their July 2019 through June 2020 shipments will remain able to file post-entry claims for refunds based on NAFTA until June 30, 2021, the announcement means that starting July 1, 2020, importers must be ready to claim USMCA by using the newly created "S" special program indicator (SPI) on their U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 7501 form...

Trade Expert Jim Mayfield to Deliver California Export Overview at Orange County World Trade Week

Wednesday, May 06, 2020

The 2020 Orange County World Trade Week (OCWTW) Forum, delivered digitally Tuesday, May 12 – Thursday, May 14, will include an overview of California trade and practical advice on navigating the current export environment from Jim Mayfield, director of the U.S. Export Assistance Center, Irvine, the commercial service of the International Trade Administration with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Mayfield will also provide a brief update on operations and available resources from the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Irvine. Mayfield began his assignment with the Irvine Export Assistance Center in 2012, moving on to become director two years later, and most recently, their Acting Pacifi...

2020 Exporter of the Year Award Nominees Announced

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Each year, the Greater Irvine Chamber takes the opportunity to showcase an Orange County-based business that has expanded its markets through successful export strategies by recognizing as an Exporter of the Year. The 2020 Exporter of the Year award nominees are Benchmark FR, BIOLASE Inc., BruxMix, and Suavecito. The Exporter of the Year award will be presented during a virtual session of the Greater Irvine Chamber’s sixth annual Orange County World Trade Week (OCWTW) Forum, delivered digitally Tuesday, May 12 – Thursday, May 14. Since its inception in 2002, Benchmark FR has been focused on making high-quality flame-resistant clothing that is safe and comfortable to wea...

District Export Council is Presenting Sponsor for Orange County World Trade Week

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

The District Export Council (DEC) of Southern California is the Presenting Sponsor for the Greater Irvine Chamber’s sixth annual Orange County World Trade Week (OCWTW) Forum, delivered digitally Tuesday, May 12 – Thursday, May 14, 2020. The DEC of Southern California is an organization of leaders from the local business community, appointed by successive U.S. Secretaries of Commerce, whose knowledge of international business provides a source of professional advice for local firms. For 30 years, DECs have served the United States by assisting companies in their local community’s export, thus promoting economic growth and creating new and high-paying jobs. Closely affiliated with the U.S. Commerce Department'...

California Export Connect Provides Services, Financing Tools for Businesses to Go Global

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

The California International Trade Center and other leading trade organizations are part of California Export Connect, a Canadian-built platform that connects California exporters with key trade resources, consolidating information and stakeholders online together. What is California Export Connect? California Export Connect is a new state-centric platform created in partnership with The State International Development Organizations and Getting to Global. It brings together all the resources and experts California businesses need to export smarter. California Export Connect is a consolidated online toolbox for California companies to connect them with local experts, tools, financing, and government resources they need to go global. Why join California Export Connect? California Expor...

Online Processing of Export Documentation Now Available Through Greater Irvine Chamber

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

The Greater Irvine Chamber has always been a valued resource for Irvine and Orange County exporting businesses for the processing of export documentation, among many other areas of business growth support. Now, for added convenience, especially during these times of social distancing and remote working, the Chamber offers exporters an online solution. Digital export documentation of Certificates of Origin, Free Sale, and Good Manufacturing Practices, are available through the Greater Irvine Chamber’s online processing service. Beginning April 16, companies can upload documents to the site for review and approval. Processing fees will be waived for the first Certificate of Origin uploaded (one per company...

World Trade Organization Annual Report: Trade Numbers Fall

Friday, April 10, 2020

From the April 8 release of the annual World Trade Organization (WTO) report from Geneva, the key message is: “This crisis is first and foremost a health crisis which has forced governments to take unprecedented measures to protect people’s lives,” WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said. “The unavoidable declines in trade and output will have painful consequences for households and businesses, on top of the human suffering caused by the disease itself. “The immediate goal is to bring the pandemic under control and mitigate the economic damage to people, companies and countries. But policymakers must start planning for the aftermath of the pandemic,&rdquo...

Greater Irvine Chamber’s OC World Trade Week Forum Goes Global with Digital Format

Wednesday, April 01, 2020

The Greater Irvine Chamber’s sixth annual Orange County World Trade Week (OCWTW) forum will be live streamed to a global audience on Tuesday, May 12 – Thursday, May 14. Information and advice delivered digitally by a global lineup of speakers and panelists is even more relevant now as the world deals with disruptions caused by the health crisis of the Coronavirus pandemic. The program will feature a keynote from Mark O’Connell, CEO, OCO Global, who will discuss Globalization: Pandemic, Populism, and Power. OCWTW forum will include an Orange County trade and export overview from a representative of the U.S. Commercial Service, an...

Trump Says US, Canada to Close Border to 'Non-Essential Traffic' Amid Coronavirus

Thursday, March 19, 2020

President Trump said the U.S. and Canada had agreed to close their border to non-essential travel as the two countries seek to blunt the spread of the coronavirus. "We will be, by mutual consent, temporarily closing our Northern Border with Canada to non-essential traffic. Trade will not be affected. Details to follow!" Trump tweeted. Specifics of the closure were not immediately available, but the new restrictions are likely to affect non-citizens traveling between the two countries. Trump and the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau discussed the situation, officials said. "You can only be vigilant and very professional, but it’s not pertaining at thi...

As Coronavirus Cripples Global Supply Lines, More US Firms Looking to Leave China

Wednesday, March 04, 2020

Beyond short-term economic disruptions and increased recession worries, the spreading coronavirus is sowing the seeds of a broad transformation of the global supply chains that for years brought low consumer prices and high corporate profits on products such as cellphones, computers, and household goods. China looks to be the biggest loser as U.S. producers step up plans to reduce their reliance on the world’s second-biggest economy, which has long enjoyed a central, dominant role in an international manufacturing network that ships parts and materials back and forth among different countries before assembling them into finished products. A slow U.S. exodus from Chin...

Air Canada to Launch Daily, Year-Round Flights from Vancouver to Orange County

Tuesday, March 03, 2020

Air Canada announced it will launch non-stop service between Vancouver and Orange County’s John Wayne Airport beginning June 15, subject to final airport authority approvals. Tickets are now available for purchase at aircanada.com or through travel agents until March 17 for travel between June 15 and September 30. "The shared California/Canada commitment to building new companies and expanding our economies has connected the two trade partners and now with daily non-stop flights between Orange County and Vancouver, we have a convenient portal for business and leisure travel," said Bryan Starr, president and CEO, Greater Irvine Chamber and Destination Irvine. "We are very pleased to announce new daily, year-round flights from Vancouver to Orange County as we strategically expand our transborder network int...

Canada, California, and the Future of Work

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

By Rana Sarkar, Consul General of Canada, Northern California We are living in a time of economic upheaval and transformation, largely due to forces of globalization and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Dynamics of this new industrial change–such as automation and artificial intelligence, and the rise of the “gig” economy–are dramatically altering how Californians, Canadians and citizens around the world live and work. Many technological developments originate in Silicon Valley, yet governments worldwide and at all levels must grapple with how these developments affect their citizens. As Canada’s Consul General to Northern California, I am fortunate to be able to share Canada’s approach t...

Lighthizer Heading to London to Restart US-UK Talks on Trade

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is expected to visit London in the coming days for talks with British officials aimed at putting plans for negotiations on a free-trade agreement back on track. The visit will include a meeting with U.K. International Trade Secretary Liz Truss, according to people familiar with the matter. He’s also scheduled to address the Oxford Union, according to the organization’s website. The so-called special relationship between America and Britain is showing strains after Prime Minister Boris Johnson in late January rejected President Donald Trump’s request to ban China’s Huawei Technologies Co. from its next-generation broadband networks. The move reportedl...

Getting to Know Irvine—Orange County’s Economic Engine—and its Connection to Canada

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

The City of Irvine is well known for repeatedly earning the distinction as the Safest City in America and many may also know that it earns the highest marks for fiscal strength—recently ranking first for a fiscal health index among 116 U.S. cities with a population of over 200,000. And as the third-largest city among Orange County’s 34 cities and more than three million people, Irvine is also Orange County’s economic engine. Going beyond the veneer of knowledge about the greater Irvine region in Orange County shows the city’s exceptional growth. For some regional context, if Southern California were a country, i...

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