Calendar of International Training and
Events
The Massachusetts Export Center offers a wide variety of training events for both the beginner and advanced exporter. Please take a moment to review our payment and cancellation policies.
Click on the image to right to download our
Spring 2023
Partners for Trade training booklet.
Please read this important registration information:
- Registration: Each training event has a separate registration page. Please register for all events first and then make a single credit card payment for the total amount due. The registration and payment systems are not integrated, so you need to know the total amount due.
- Payment: For free events and free for Compliance Alliance members, disregard any payment instructions. If you are on the credit card payment page, close your browser and do not enter a payment. Starting March 2023, you will be required to enter a security code to process your credit card payment. The code will be sent from noreply@nelnet.net with a subject of "Requested Security Code". Please add this email to your approved sender list.
- Verification Codes are sent with the subject of "Massachusetts SBDC : Email Verification" from centeric@clients.msbdc.org. We use this email address frequently, so please add it to your approved sender list. If you don't receive the verification code in your inbox, check your spam folder. If you still don't find the code, send an email by clicking here and we will help you. Bypass the verification code process by creating a password! The confirmation from this address does not contain the login details (see next bullet).
- Login Details are sent via Constant Contact from the Massachusetts Export Center at exportcenter@massexport.org with a subject of "Login Details". Please add this email address to your approved sender list.
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Already registered for export training, but forgot to pay? Click button below to use our secure credit card payment system. The charge on your credit card statement will show as "Mass Export Center". Please note that effective March 2023, you may encountered a multifactor authentication. You may need to enter your email to receive a code. Enter the code and then proceed to complete the payment.
2023 Training Calendar |
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| JUNE | |
| 7 | Export Open House (Newton) |
| 9 | Importing Food Products into the U.S.: FDA Regulations and Best Practices for Customs Clearance |
| 15 | China Export Controls: A Look Back and a Look Ahead |
Program Descriptions
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Russia Sanctions & Export Controls Update: One Year Later A full year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, sanctions and export controls continue to steadily tighten, with additional, significant sanctions and export controls issued as recently as February 24, 2023. The U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned the vast majority of the Russian banking sector, making it difficult to facilitate payment in Russia, even for otherwise-legal transactions. Likewise, the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has steadily tightened export controls. While Commerce Control List items have been largely export-controlled for both Russia and Belarus for some time now, restrictions on EAR99 items destined for Russia and Belarus have grown significantly, with a complete restructuring and expansion of the lists containing restricted items as part of the February 24 rule. Join us to hear about these and many other changes impacting companies that are directly or indirectly doing business in Russia, Belarus and beyond. The webinar will also address EU sanctions against Russia that will impact companies with subsidiaries or other business activities in the EU. The webinar will also provide guidance on screening and due diligence best practices, banking and other executional challenges, new illegal diversion risks, and enforcement trends. Speakers include:
Date: Friday, March 24, 2023 |
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Country of Origin Determination and Management Determining the country of origin of a product is important for assessing import duties, qualifying for trade preference programs, and complying with country of origin labeling requirements and government procurement regulations. While country of origin determination has always been a critical step for smooth customs clearance and accurate assessment of duty rates, in today’s high-stakes tariff environment, effective country of origin determination and management can make a significant difference in aggregate landed costs. Moreover, in today’s complex global supply chain, where products can be sourced and processed across multiple countries, country of origin determination is not a straightforward process. Join us for this webinar to learn about the rules for determining country of origin and related concepts, such as substantial transformation and tariff shifts. We will cover origin determination under free trade agreements, as well as general customs rules for origin determination. We will also discuss tariff management strategies to lawfully manipulate origin as a way to reduce or avoid tariffs. The speaker will be Matthew Bock, Esq., managing partner with Bock Trade Law. Date: Thursday, April 6, 2023 |
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The Disruptive Technology Strike Force: A New Era in Export Enforcement
With the creation of this strike force, exporters can expect to see significant increases in administrative export enforcement cases, as well as an increase in cases being referred for criminal prosecution. Exporters and developers of advanced technologies, such as supercomputing and exascale computing, artificial intelligence (AI), advanced manufacturing equipment and materials, quantum computing and biosciences should be particularly vigilant with export compliance protocols in this heightened enforcement and global threat environment. Join us for an in-person program to hear directly from our local Disruptive Technology Strike Force team in Massachusetts. You will learn about the strike force’s goals, priorities and tactics to help you with management of your export compliance operations. There will also be time for coffee and networking to connect directly with export compliance practitioners from throughout the region as well as with local members of the strike force team. Speakers will include national and local leaders from the strike force agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation:
Date: Friday, April 28, 2023 |
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Foreign-Produced Direct Product Rules Revisited The Foreign-Produced Direct Product Rule (FDPR) was first implemented in 1959 to control transfers of foreign manufactured items made with U.S. technology for national security purposes, and the Rule remained largely stagnant until recent years. Today, the FDPR has become a go-to tool for regulators to extend the reach of U.S. export controls far beyond our borders to cripple foreign production of and access to sensitive technologies. This trend famously began in 2020, when the FDPR was used to choke off Huawei’s supply of foreign-produced semiconductors. In early 2022, the FDPR was further expanded to encompass Russian and Belarussian entities and military end users, blocking access to a broad range of items, in an attempt to limit Russia’s military capabilities. Late 2022 saw perhaps the most impactful use of the FDPR, when a pair of companion rules was issued to significantly restrict China’s ability to access and produce advanced computing, semiconductor and supercomputing technology. Most recently, in 2023, the FDPR was again used to target Russia’s military capabilities, adding restrictions on certain foreign-produced EAR99 items and adding restrictions against Iran, in an attempt to curb Iran’s production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drones) used by Russia. Join us to learn about the expanded controls under the FDPR that are significantly impacting U.S. and foreign companies that are directly or indirectly doing business with China, Russia, Belarus and Iran. You will learn about how federal regulators are strategically using the FDPR, with an outlook for what may be next, including enforcement—April of 2023 saw the largest standalone administrative penalty ever issued by the Bureau of Industry and Security, which was for a FDPR violation. You will also gain insight on compliance risk mitigation strategies for doing business in this complex, high-stakes and dynamic environment. Our speakers will be:
Date: Friday, May 12, 2023 |
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This event will feature brief presentations by government-funded export assistance organizations and agencies. Following the briefing, participants will have the opportunity to network and meet one-on-one with government official experts to address specific export questions and challenges. Join us and take advantage of having export resources at your fingertips! Speakers include:
Date: Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Cosponsored by the Charles River Regional Chamber of Commerce |
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Importing Food Products into the U.S.: FDA Regulations and Best Practices for Customs Clearance Are you importing food or perishables? Or, are you interested in starting a food import business? Navigating FDA regulations and Customs requirements for bringing food and perishables into the United States and maintaining a secure supply chain can be overwhelming, even for experienced importers. Join us to learn the basics about the requirements for U.S. import of food products, maintaining compliance and best practices for smooth Customs clearance. This program will feature an import specialist from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who will provide an overview of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), enforcement of the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP), registration of food facilities, Prior Notice and food security best practices. This program will also feature a Customs attorney specializing in FDA regulations, who will discuss the logistics of shipping food and perishables, U.S. Customs requirements for formal and informal entries, and working with your Customs Broker to avoid issues with clearing your goods. We hope you will join us to hear from these experts - bring your questions! Our speakers will be:
Date: Friday, June 9, 2023
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China Export Controls: A Look Back and a Look Ahead
Examples of recent U.S. actions include:
The outlook for 2023 and beyond indicates that these restrictions are expected to escalate even further – Biden Administration officials and congressional policymakers regularly cite the intent to impose further controls on trade and investment with China, with major enforcement initiatives and imminent outbound foreign investment controls targeting emerging and foundational technologies anticipated. Join us to hear about the state of U.S. export controls, sanctions and foreign investment controls targeting China, with an outlook for anticipated developments in 2023 and beyond. Expert speakers will provide a view from “inside the beltway” on the drivers behind U.S. trade policy with China as well as a review of regulatory developments and their impact on global trade operations for U.S. businesses. You will also gain insight into China’s response to U.S. regulatory actions, along with tips for navigating the complex Chinese business landscape to support your compliance efforts. Speakers include:
Date: Thursday, June 15, 2023
Cosponsored by the National Foreign Trade Council |
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Partners for Trade Training Policies (updated
February 2020)
Payment:
We require payment at
the time of registration via credit card. Do not email any credit card information.
We do NOT accept credit card payments at the
door.
We also do not accept cash, checks or purchase orders,
nor do we invoice participants for training.
Cancellations/Refunds:
If you cancel your registration at least 48 hours prior
to the event, you
will be entitled to a refund minus a $10 processing
fee. No refund will be given on notifications received
after that time or in any no-show situation. All
cancellation and refund requests must be submitted via
email to
pft@msbdc.umass.edu Walk-Ins: If the program description on our website or registration form indicates that the seminar is full, walk-ins are not allowed. Otherwise, you may complete a walk-in registration and bring the completed form to seminar. If the seminar has a fee, you must make a credit card payment in advance as we do not accept credit cards at the door. Please bring a copy of your payment receipt, along with the completed walk-in registration form. No Shows: Due to the costs we incur as a result of people who register for seminars and do not attend or cancel, we will bill unpaid registrants for the full cost of the seminar unless cancelled at least 48 hours prior to the event. For free seminars, no shows who don't cancel will be charged a fee to cover food and materials costs. Seminars are offered a at nominal fee; therefore we do not offer any discount pricing. Seminar materials are for attendees only. If you have questions or need clarification on these policies, please email pft@msbdc.umass.edu. |
Building upon sweeping export enforcement reforms
introduced last year, the U.S. Departments of Justice
and Commerce launched the Disruptive Technology Strike
Force in early 2023. The strike force will bring
together key federal enforcement authorities to protect
critical technological assets from being acquired or
used by nation-state adversaries, while also
strengthening supply chains and targeting illicit
actors. The strike force aims to prevent nation-state
adversaries such as the People’s Republic of China,
Russia, Iran, North Korea and others from acquiring U.S.
advanced technologies for malign purposes, such as
enhancement of military capabilities or support of mass
surveillance programs that can enable human rights
abuses. In addition to the Justice Department’s National
Security Division and the Commerce Department’s Bureau
of Industry and Security (BIS), strike force members
include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and 14 U.S.
Attorneys’ Offices across the country, including the
Massachusetts district office. 
China
has been the target of some of the most aggressive and
complex U.S. export controls and sanctions in recent
history. China is repeatedly identified by federal
authorities as a U.S. strategic adversary, and
restrictions on cross-border trade and investment
between the U.S. and China have rapidly escalated.