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What Incoterms® Do and Don't Do. Be ready for your next international deal. Watch our new video to find out what you need to know about Incoterms® 2020, the latest version. You'll learn which buyer and seller responsibilities are covered in the terms - and which aren't.  Virtual Services to Help You Export Connecting you to business opportunities in markets around the world as quickly and efficiently as possible is a priority for the U.S. Commercial Service (CS) – especially during challenging times. Take advantage of our menu of virtual export promotion services, and learn more about our refund policy to help you export with peace of mind. Export Today for Experienced Exporters You've subscribed to the "Experienced Exporter" edition for companies who want to increase their knowledge of exporting to succeed in new, more challenging markets. Look for tips to grow your international business in this biweekly email message.  What you need to know about the updated Incoterms®. This year, Incoterms® 2020 were released. Are you using the updated terms correctly in your export deals? Don't get caught off guard with shipping costs and risk. Watch our new Incoterms® video. Virtual Services to Help You Export Connecting you to business opportunities in markets around the world as quickly and efficiently as possible is a priority for the U.S. Commercial Service (CS) – especially during challenging times. Take advantage of our menu of virtual export promotion services, and learn more about our refund policy to help you export with peace of mind. Export Today You've subscribed to the "Expanding Markets" edition for companies interested in capitalizing on their initial success to succeed in new markets. Look for tips to grow your international business in this biweekly email message.

$10 million ABCmouse settlement: Avoiding auto-renewal traps By Andrew Smith, Director, FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Online subscription services can be a convenience for consumers and a boon for business – especially now that so many people are shopping from home. But under the law, companies have an obligation to explain the details of the deal up front, clearly disclose any automatic renewal terms, get consumers’ express consent before billing, and offer simple ways to cancel. The FTC just announced a $10 million settlement with online learning company ABCmouse for allegedly violating those established consumer protection principles. The case offers lessons for subscription-based businesses about the perils of snaring customers in a negative option trap. Read more >

FTC moves to add real estate celebrities Dean Graziosi and Scott Yancey to Nudge case by Karen Hobbs Assistant Director, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC Celebrities are often used to market products or services, but sometimes they’re used to lure consumers into a scam. And that’s what the FTC alleges happened when two real estate celebrities joined forces with Nudge – a company (and its owners) that the FTC and the Utah Division of Consumer Protection (“Division”) sued in November of 2019 for deceptively selling training programs and other products to aspiring real estate investors. Read more > Trouble with your ABCmouse membership? You’re not alone by Amy Hebert Consumer Education Specialist, FTC Juggling life at home with kids? Like many parents, you might’ve looked into different ways your kids can learn from home online. Maybe you’ve even signed up and paid for a program. But say over time you find your kids have lost interest in the program or moved on to something else. You think that when your year-long membership is up, you’re done — until you see you’ve been charged for another year, this time without your permission. And when you try to cancel, you find it’s not easy because there are a lot of steps. Sounds frustrating, right? Many parents who enrolled their kids in ABCmouse programs found themselves in a similar situation. Read more >

September 2, 2020 COR Toolkit is now available on FAI.gov FAI has created the COR Toolkit in collaboration with the Leapin' Lizards, a Spring 2020 Leadership Excellence in Acquisition Program team. The COR Toolkit provides a comprehensive set of links to policies, resources, training, and communities of practice for acquisition community members, all in one place and in an easy to use format. Visit FAI.gov Tools to learn more. FAC 091 Small Business Strategies for Multiple-Award Contracts Register for FAC 091 Small Business Strategies for Multiple-Award Contracts and earn one CLP. Learn about the small business strategies that are available for contracting professionals to utilize when awarding and ordering under multiple-award contracts, including the new concept of Reserves. Register through DAU’s Virtual Campus today! New FAC-COR Level III Recommended Training Requirements The new Recommended Training Requirements for Federal Acquisition Certification—Contracting Officer’s Representative (FAC-COR) Level III will become effective on October 1, 2020. The FCR 400 (40 CLPs) Advanced Contracting Officer Representative Workshop will replace FCR 201 (40 CLPs) Contracting Officer’s Representative in the FAC-COR Level III Recommended Training option only. The FCR 400 course is appropriate for experienced CORs who are assigned to the most complex, risk-filled, and mission-critical contracts within their agency.  As always, a list of classes with open seats is published on FAI.gov. LEAP Joins Mission Support Program The Leadership Excellence in Acquisition Program (LEAP) is now part of the new Mission Support Leadership Program. Acquisition professionals will join counterparts from finance, HR, and IT in a single course that delivers important leadership skills and builds on connections among the tracks’ business functions. This program responds to user feedback about LEAP and includes all the components respondents found valuable: the coursework, benchmarks, results projects, coaching, mentoring, and networking. Apply by September 29, 2020 to take advantage of this opportunity. FQN 076 Critical Decision Making-Capstone In collaboration with DOI, DHS, VAAA, and NPS, FAI will release their fifth instructor-led cross-functional course, FQN 076 Critical Decision-Making Capstone in FY21. Learn to synthesize lessons from FAC 072, FAC 073, FAC 074, and FAC 075 and how to apply the Program Management Improvement Accountability Act (PMIAA) to the acquisition environment. Register for FQN 076 Critical Decision-Making Capstone in FAITAS to earn four CLPs. How Alliant 2 Can Benefit Your Agency Join GSA on September 9 from 11:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m. ET for a complimentary webinar on how the Alliant 2 government-wide acquisition contract (GWAC) can support your agency's IT project initiatives. Warranted contracting officers must complete this training before requesting a Delegation of Procurement Authority to issue orders against Alliant 2. OMB designated this GWAC as a Best in Class solution for IT services. If you have any questions about this webinar, please email alliant2@gsa.gov. Sign up today! Professional Services Office Hours September 10 Register for the next GSA Professional Services Office Hours, to be held on September 10 at 1:00 p.m. ET. GSA is modernizing federal acquisition by consolidating the 24 existing Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) into 1 Schedule for products, services, and solutions. Using a single contract vehicle will streamline and simplify the buying experience, making it easier for customers to find total solutions, ensure terms and conditions are met, and eliminate duplicate contracts. MAS Consolidation is one of the four cornerstone initiatives of the Federal Marketplace Strategy, GSA’s plan to modernize and simplify the buying and selling experience for customers, suppliers, and acquisition professionals. Learn how the MAS Consolidation will impact your agency and how to navigate the new Schedule and earn one CLP!  Register now. Get Your Free Acquisition Training! FAI’s incredible array of FY21 FAC-C, FAC-COR, FAC-P/PM, and continuous learning instructor-led training offerings are now open for enrollment. Book a seat now to take advantage of this free training. Visit FAI’s training page for a lists of all the class offerings that have seats available. All the courses necessary for certification can be found there as well as course offerings for the following new subjects: Understanding Industry (Business Acumen), Cybersecurity—Supply Chain Risk Management, Information Technology Acquisition, Acquisition of Agile Services, Applying Agile Scrum Master—Practices in the Federal Environment, Developing Agile Requirements and User Stories in the Federal Environment, Conducting Acquisitions for Cloud Services, The Integrated Project Team, Government Product Owner, Procurement Innovation—FAR Flexibility, Other Transaction Authority, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), and the Critical Decision-Making Capstone.

The following Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) reports were released on Tuesday, September 1, 2020.  Australia: Food Service - Hotel Restaurant Institutional The Australian consumer food service industry is valued at A$59 billion. Australia’s commercial food service sector is a competitive market and with an aging population, the institutional food service sector (aged care, hospitals, etc.) continues to grow. Most industry operators in the hotel and resort sector derive a significant portion of revenue from the sale of meals and beverages prepared at onsite restaurants. Information on the effects of government reaction to COVID-19, and the effects of the restrictions introduced, are included throughout the report.  Brazil: Cotton and Products Update  Post forecasts 2020/21 cotton area planted at 1.5 million hectares (ha), down 10 percent from the current harvest. Post’s forecast is mostly based on the tepid outlook for global consumption, and consequently low prices. In addition, the majority of cotton growers in Brazil have profitable alternative crops, such as soybeans or corn. The Post forecast for 2020/21 cotton production is 12.1 million bales. For the 2019/20 season, Post estimates area harvested at 1.69 million ha, and production at 13.4 million bales, with output higher than initially envisioned due to favorable weather. While domestic consumption is expected to plummet amid the hard-hitting coronavirus pandemic, exports will remain strong. Post forecasts 2020/21 MY exports at 9 million bales, nearly level when compared to the current season export estimate of 8.9 million bales. Exports are buffered by weak domestic currency, making Brazilian commodities more competitive internationally. European Union: Oilseeds and Products Update  EU oilseeds production in MY 2020/21 is characterized by the lowest rapeseed production in more than a decade. Total major oilseeds (rapeseed, sunflower, soybeans) production is forecast to decline by about 1.5 percent year-on-year. The Covid-19 pandemic and its lockdown measures are expected to have a negative impact on oilseeds meal use in feed ratios due to lower meat consumption. India: FSSAI Reinstitutes Food Additives and Food Standards Amendment Regulation in Meat and Meat Products On August 17, 2020, the Government of India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India re-instituted its draft Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Amendment Regulation 2020, relating to meat and meat products. This amendment required an alignment with the relevant standards for feeds/feed materials used for meat and milk producing animals established by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The earlier compliance date of July 28, 2020 has now been extended until January 1, 2021. Ukraine: Poultry and Products Annual The Ukrainian chicken meat industry recently completed a major production expansion cycle in 2019. Additionally, smaller producers are expected to launch new facilities in 2020/21. However, a significant decrease in prices for Ukrainian chicken meat both domestically and on the world market, together with the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu (H5N1) in January 2020, resulted in a slowdown in both production and exports. Ukrainian exports are expected to catch up by the end of 2020. Production in 2020 is expected to ultimately exceed 2019 levels, largely due to more efficient facility utilization. Ukraine’s exports to the EU will be lower in 2020 due to new quota limits and the H5N1 flu outbreak. Markets in the Middle East became Ukraine’ largest chicken meat consumer. Ukraine: Ukraine Introduces Export Caps for Wheat and Rye Ukraine introduced export caps for wheat at 17.5 million metric tons (MMT) and for rye at one thousand (MT) until the end of marketing year (MY)2020/21. For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/. Accelerate Your Export Strategy at Discover Global Markets October 7 - 9, 2020 Directly connect to buyers, decision-makers and opportunities specifically related to the smart transportation sector. Transportation   Smart transportation refers to the integration of advanced technologies in traditional transportation systems.  Opportunities in Transportation UAE The U.A.E. has stepped up measures to promote electric vehicles (EV’s) in order to reduce carbon footprint and is working on standardizing its regulations governing EV’s. Various government entities, like the Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (DEWA) and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA) have installed EV charging stations in the emirates and the trend is likely to increase in future. Tesla launched operations in the U.A.E. via an online platform and a store in Dubai Mall. This is to be followed by Tesla Service Centers in Dubai (in July 2017) and Abu Dhabi (early 2018). BMW, Renault and Toyota are also offering electric vehicles for sale in the UAE, and General Motors (GM) is reportedly considering launching its Bolt model in the country in Q4-18. U.S. manufacturers looking to do business in the region may find it worth noting that apart from EV’s, the U.A.E. government encourages autonomous vehicle technology, research and development into driverless vehicles and other smart, green and environment friendly technologies, such as, alternate fuel vehicles, including Hybrid and Hydrogen vehicles.  Dubai moved a step closer during 2018 to become one of the most attractive markets for the introduction of technologies relating to the 'Internet of Things' (IoT). The emirate aims to meet its stated goal of autonomous vehicles accounting for 25% of all its transportation needs by 2030. Poland Poland’s automotive industry is one of the most important manufacturing sectors in Poland, accounting for 11.1 % the total value of the country’s production, and is second only to the food industry.  The Polish government adopted an Act on electromobility and alternative fuels and is waiting for final EU approval. Poland has a target of creating 6000 charging stations by the end of 2020 and support 1 million electric cars on Polish roads by 2025.  In January 2020, the Polish government enacted regulations  supporting the construction of e-car charging stations and allowed for subsidy payments of up to 30%, with a 18,750 PLN maximum limit, for the purchase of electric cars by companies. Meet Virtually With U.S. Commercial Diplomats  Leverage new U.S. Government trade contacts based in 25+ countries around the world to support your international sales growth. Receive guidance on trade barriers and market access issues. Gain insights on actionable business prospects, including those listed above. Who Should Attend Innovative companies in the Automation, Transportation and Energy sectors with a focus on manufacturing machinery, composites, electric and autonomous vehicles, next generation batteries, energy storage solutions, automation products, supply and security solutions, sensors, wearables, digital services and more. Attendees typically include CEOs and company presidents, international sales executives, export service providers, marketing and sales managers.   Register Now DateOctober 7-9, 2020 LocationVirtual Don't Miss the Early Bird Registration Fee $125 through 9/15/2020 $175 beginning 9/16/2020 STEP Grant Availability STEP Grant funding from the Small Business Administration (SBA) may be available to cover the registration fee. For more information, contact your state trade/economic development office. Become A Sponsor Learn about opportunities to expand your reach to an audience of more than 100k here. For More Information  http://tiny.cc/dgm2020 Join the Conversation! #DiscoverGlobalMarkets ============================================================= Weekly Summary of NLRB Decisions The Summary of NLRB decisions for the week of August 17 - 21, 2020 is now available on the NLRB’s website.  The summary can be accessed by clicking the links below. https://www.nlrb.gov/cases-decisions/weekly-summaries-decisions/summary-of-nlrb-decisions-for-week-of-august-17-21-2020 Questions? Contact Us