World Trade Center-Kansas City News: December 2023

Dec 13, 2023

Category:

A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

Happy December from WTC-KC. We are wrapping up a year filled with programming. In October, the World Trade Center partnered with the International Relations Council and the University of Kansas to present China Town Hall: Chinese in America. This event featured a local program focused on Chinese demographics, education, and foreign real estate investment. The local program was followed by the national broadcast with speaker Nicholas Burns, U.S. Ambassador to China, who discussed current U.S.-China relations, including misconceptions, conflict, and communication. He even gave a special shout-out to Kansas City and the Chiefs. This month, WTC-KC was represented at the World Trade Centers Association Member Forum in New York City. Among learning innovative ways to engage stakeholders and connect with WTC counterparts, our Director, Melissa Miller, was awarded a Globie Tradeblazer award for WTC-KC’s continued work delivering quality programming with our regional partners.

In November, the KC Chamber and WTC-KC took a delegation of government, business, and civic leaders to Frankfurt, Germany, to forge meaningful connections between Germany and Kansas City and to watch the Chiefs beat the Dolphins. Aside from the game, highlights included meeting the Consul General and touring the facilities of our presenting sponsor, Bayer, in Leverkusen, Germany. This trade mission was a success, and we look forward to providing international opportunities for our investors and clients.

Thank you to all our partners and community members for supporting and engaging with our work. Please contact us with any trade needs.

Events

Negotiating Parcel & Express Services
The Scarbrough Group
December 13
Register here

Export Skills Training, Legal, Compliance, and IPR Considerations for Women-Owned Businesses
International Trade Administration
December 19
Register here

Conference and Exhibitions on International Trade & Foreign Direct Investments for Manufacturing, Services, and Agriculture sectors
Global Expo – India
December 21-31

Food Export Midwest Branded Program
Food Export Midwest USA
Applications open now
January 1 Start Date
Learn more

Singapore Air Show
Missouri Department of Economic Development
January 15 Deadline
Learn more

Pet Food Ingredients Buyers Mission
Food Export-Midwest
April 28
Save the Date

Trade Winds Europe/Eurasia
ITA/U.S. Commercial Service
May 13-15
Learn more

ILA Berlin Pioneering Airspace 2024
U.S Commercial Service & International Trade Administration
June 5-9, 2024
Learn more

Dispatches from DC

Photo of sunlight filtering through forest.

The European Union is poised to adopted the EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) following approval by the EU Parliament. The new regulation will “[require] companies to verify the goods they sell in the EU have not led to deforestation and forest degradation anywhere in the world as of 2021” (AP News). The regulation covers all deforestation and forest degradation, even if it is legal in the country of production. This is part of a global effort to stop and reduce global deforestation with a larger goal of combating climate change. This regulation would affect goods imported to the EU. Beginning on December 30th, 2024, companies will need to submit a due diligence statement that should include detailed information demonstrating compliance, risk assessment, and mitigation of risks (White Case). Read the regulation here.