U.S. Remains Top Destination for Foreign Business Investment for 10th Consecutive Year

WASHINGTONThe United States has been ranked as the top destination for foreign direct investment for the tenth consecutive year according to Kearney’s Global Business Policy Council’s 2022 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Confidence Index.

The annual survey of global senior executives and investors found that the Unites States retained its position for a decade due to the innovation of the U.S. economy as the key indicator to driving growth through FDI long term.

Foreign investors look for established innovative markets that are financially strong and safe while also having strong governance and infrastructure. The ranking is testament to the attractiveness of the United States to foreign companies despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“This ranking is cause for celebration and it reflects what so many in the global business community already know: the United States is unmatched not only in its economic power, but also in its appeal for businesses development through a strong culture of innovation and employment of a world-class productive workforce,” said Secretary Gina M. Raimondo. “The Department of Commerce is committed to creating the conditions for economic growth and opportunity for all Americans, including through foreign direct investment which creates jobs and contributes to economic development across the United States.”

“The United States retains the top position on Kearney’s 2022 FDI Confidence Index for the tenth consecutive year,” said Paul Laudicina, founder of the FDI Confidence Index. “Our findings suggest we are likely to see a continued shift in FDI to developed markets, with the U.S. being chief among them. Investors seek to capitalize on destinations marked by regulatory transparency and stability on the one hand and technological innovation on the other. Robust U.S. economic performance and bi-partisan action on the U.S. infrastructure initiative also obviously have helped restore confidence in the country’s longer term investment attractiveness, even as global geopolitical challenges persist.”

The United States rank in the FDI Confidence Index is supported by the work of the Department’s SelectUSA program that focuses on facilitating job-creating business investment into the United States and raises awareness of the critical role that economic development plays in the U.S. economy. Since its inception, SelectUSA has facilitated more than $105 billion in investment, creating and/or retaining over 138,000 U.S. jobs.  

As part of the national effort to attract foreign direct investment, Secretary Raimondo will host the 2022 SelectUSA Investment Summit June 26-29 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The annual investment summit is the highest-profile event in the United States dedicated to promoting foreign direct investment and provides prospects for investors from global markets and economic development organizations across the nation to interact and create investment opportunities.

Manufacturing Continues to be Among Top Five Largest Employment Sectors

It’s no secret the manufacturing sector has a major impact on the U.S. economy, and every year Manufacturing Week offers an opportunity to recognize this sector’s significant impact on the nation. Manufacturing Week is designed to coincide with Manufacturing Day, which has been held the first Friday in October since 2011.

U.S. Census Bureau’s 10th-anniversary celebration of Manufacturing Week.

Manufacturing Week expands upon the traditional Manufacturing Day launched by the Manufacturing Institute in 2011. The Census Bureau is celebrating the 10th anniversary by providing a worth of rich content & statistics that inform businesses and policymakers.

Remarks by Wilbur L. Ross at the Manufacturer & Business Association Roundtable in Erie, Pennsylvania

Thank you, Mark, for that kind introduction, and for hosting us here at the MBA Conference Center. And congratulations on 115 years of your company providing goods and services to the many generations of industrial firms that have benefited from your longevity. It says a lot about your company culture for it to have weathered countless downturns, big changes in technology, and the rise of global competitors. That’s quite an achievement.

Thank you also, John, for hosting us, and a special thanks to your members. Your organization is essential in helping companies connect with each other and to national networks to solve mutual problems. I know this is especially important in these challenging times.

We need more organizations like yours promoting the benefits of manufacturing and industry to the U.S. economy. Since fostering economic growth is job number-one for all of us, today is significant for American producers.

July 1 is the first day that the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement enters into force – and this ground-breaking trade agreement couldn’t come at a better time. It fortifies the world’s largest trading block, and it provides American companies with a level playing field on our own continent for the first time since 1994. USMCA is the result of President Trump’s unwavering commitment to rebalance U.S. trade in favor of American producers and American workers. The agreement should be of particular help to Pennsylvania, the country’s tenth largest exporting state, and the backbone of our manufacturing economy.

Last year, Pennsylvania’s exports to Canada and Mexico topped $15 billion, representing 36 percent of the state’s total global exports. USMCA’s new rules of origin will help rebuild U.S. production that was outsourced to Asia, and it will go a long way to re-establishing domestic supply chains in many industrial sectors. USCMA increases North American content of vehicles to 75 percent, and it requires that up to 45 percent of the value of passenger cars be made by workers earning an average base-wage of at least $16 an hour.

Now, we finally have an agreement that levels the playing field for American workers. With the economic lockdowns required by the coronavirus pandemic, the last three-and-a-half months have not been easy for anyone.

More than 15,000 workers have been furloughed in Erie, 10 percent of whom were employed in manufacturing. Thankfully, most manufacturers have been proactive ─ and creative ─ in re-engineering production lines to protect their employees. Many have switched to producing life-saving PPE, and we are grateful for your doing so. As a result, there have been far fewer layoffs in manufacturing than in many service sectors.

We also hope the worst of the downturn is behind us. May’s job numbers were encouraging, as nearly 200,000 Pennsylvanians returned to work, with more than 25,000 of them headed back into manufacturing plants. Moreover, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate remained below the national average.

One hopeful sign for a speedy recovery is reflected in the U.S. savings rate that has increased to 23.1 percent. Total bank deposits have jumped by $2.1 trillion during the past four months. It means that our financial institutions are sound, as compared to 2008. And as the economy opens with pent-up demand, these consumer savings will be spent in local businesses with more workers being rehired. Already, we are seeing healthy and record increases in retail sales.

Your region’s commitment to manufacturing should bode well for a strong recovery. As the one-time “Boiler and Engine Capital of the World,” Erie now supports more than 18,000 manufacturing jobs. At 17 percent of the local labor force, this is double the national average of 8.5 percent.

In the global competition for jobs and industries, Erie has many advantages, including:

• Your central location between major metropolitan areas;

• Your eight Opportunity Zones that will generate new investment in the downtown area.

• Your skilled workforce and excellent education and training institutions such as Penn State Erie, the Erie Business Center, and many others;

• The fact that you have such a diverse group of industries within your midst;

• An attractive cost of living and the availability of affordable housing;

• And an incredible setting overlooking one the world’s largest and most pristine fresh-water lakes.

• We hear there is a healthy stock of more than 100 million two-year-old walleye in Lake Erie right now ready to be caught by anglers.

You also have some great employers. Wabtec generated $2.7 billion in economic activity in Erie County alone, and the plastics industry has emerged as an economic force, with 10 percent of the nation’s plastics either manufactured or finished in Erie. I look forward to touring one of your area’s outstanding manufacturers later this morning, when we visit 91-year-old Howard Industries.

Now, I am eager to hear your ideas on how we can work together to accelerate our economic recovery, re-shore our industries, and generate thousands of great jobs for the workers of Erie and Northwestern Pennsylvania.

Thank you.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ISSUES INTERIM FINAL RULE TO IMPLEMENT PROVISIONS OF THE UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA AGREEMENT

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an interim final rule providing regulations necessary to implement and administer the high-wage components of the Labor Value Content (LVC) requirements set forth in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the treaty’s implementing statute. The rule provides needed guidance to producers of motor vehicles covered by the USMCA, describing criteria they must meet to qualify for preferential tariff claims under the treaty.

The LVC requirements promote more high-wage jobs for the U.S. automobile and auto parts industry by requiring that, to qualify for preferential tariff claims under the treaty, manufacturers must produce a significant portion of certain motor vehicles using high-wage labor. Among other requirements, the treaty requires that for a passenger vehicle, light truck or heavy truck to be eligible for preferential tariff treatment, a minimum percentage of the cost of the vehicle must be made at a facility that pays an average hourly base rate of at least $16 per hour.

“Through the USMCA, the United States is establishing more balanced, reciprocal trade that supports high-paying jobs for Americans and grows the North American economy,” said Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia. “The USMCA recognizes that international trade, investment and economic growth are promoted through the protection and enforcement of labor rights and the improvement of working conditions. This is a significant win for the workforce in the American auto industry, and helps level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers.”

To qualify for preferential tariff treatment, a producer must file a certification with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) demonstrating that its production of covered vehicles meets the high-wage components of the LVC requirements. WHD, in conjunction with CBP, will review those certifications.

“The Wage and Hour Division is proud to support this new law through our role in the certification and verification process,” said Wage and Hour Division Administrator Cheryl Stanton. “The interim final rule we published today ensures that manufacturers and other stakeholders understand the specific requirements and procedures for claiming preferential tariff treatment, and it provides transparency into the process.”

The interim final rule is effective July 1, 2020 and is available for review and public comment for 60 days. The Department encourages interested parties to submit comments. The interim final rule, along with the procedures for submitting comments, can be found at the Wage and Hour Division’s interim final rule website.

WHD’s mission is to promote and achieve compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of America’s workforce. WHD enforces federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping and child-labor requirements of the FLSA. WHD also enforces the paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, wage garnishment provisions of the Consumer Credit Protection Act, and a number of employment standards and worker protections as provided in several immigration-related statutes. Additionally, WHD administers and enforces the prevailing wage requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act and the Service Contract Act and other statutes applicable to federal contracts for construction and for the provision of goods and services.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

Commerce Department to Add Two Dozen Chinese Companies with Ties to WMD and Military Activities to the Entity List

WASHINGTON (May 22, 2020) – The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced it will add 24 governmental and commercial organizations to the Entity List for engaging in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. The entities, based in China, Hong Kong, and the Cayman Islands, represent a significant risk of supporting procurement of items for military end-use in China.

DOC Issues Affirmative Preliminary Antidumping Duty Determination on Imports of 100- to 150-Seat Large Civil Aircraft From Canada

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the affirmative preliminary determination in the antidumping duty (AD) investigation of 100- to 150-seat large civil aircraft from Canada. As AFA, Commerce applied the sole dumping margin calculated in the petition for Canadian exports of aircraft, which is 79.82 percent. This rate will apply to all other producers/exporters as well.

The Commerce Department will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of 100- to 150-seat large civil aircraft based on this preliminary rate.

“The United States is committed to free, fair and reciprocal trade with Canada, but this is not our idea of a properly functioning trading relationship,” said Secretary Ross. “We will continue to verify the accuracy of this decision, while do everything in our power to stand up for American companies and their workers.”
Although Canadian civil aircraft subject to this investigation have not yet been imported, an April 2016 press release announcing the sale of Canadian civil aircraft to a U.S. airline valued the order to be in excess of $5 billion.

The petitioner is The Boeing Company (IL).
Enforcement of U.S. trade law is a prime focus of the Trump administration. From January 20 through October 5, 2017, the Commerce Department has initiated 65 AD and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations – a 48 percent increase from the previous year, and a 16-year peak in the number of investigations initiated in a single fiscal year. The Commerce Department currently maintains 411 AD and CVD duty orders which provide relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade.

Antidumping laws provide U.S. businesses and workers with an internationally accepted mechanism to seek relief from the harmful effects of dumping unfairly priced products into the United States.

Commerce is currently scheduled to announce its final AD determination in this investigation on December 19, 2017.

If the Commerce Department makes an affirmative final determination of dumping and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) makes an affirmative final injury determination, Commerce will issue an AD order. If the Commerce Department makes a negative final determination of dumping or the ITC makes a negative final determination of injury, the investigation will be terminated and no order will be issued.

Meet with US trade experts from 20+ European countries at Trade Winds

Connect to Business Opportunities in Southeast Europe

The markets of Southeast Europe are investing in infrastructure and market development. They represent an opportunity for U.S. companies to increase sales and find a strategic foothold to grow in Europe.

Join Trade Winds-Southeast Europe to connect to potential partners, government decision-makers, market experts, and companies that have succeeded in the region.

Opportunities await in Southeast Europe! The markets of Southeast Europe are rapidly investing in infrastructure, safety & security, cyber-security, energy & healthcare sectors (to name a few). In 2015, the value of US exports to the five countries of Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Romania and Serbia approached $2.4 billion. 

These markets & industries hold strong opportunities for U.S. companies looking to increase sales and find a strategic foothold to grow in Europe…let Trade Winds get you there!

Meet trade experts from 20+ countries, all in one place!

Trade Winds is the only regional conference that gives you the ability to discuss one on one market potential and entry strategies for your products services without having to travel across Europe. Discuss opportunities with representatives from the following countries:

    • Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom

Foxconn announces U.S. manufacturing plant in Wisconsin

(Reuters) – Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn on Wednesday announced plans to build a $10 billion LCD display panel screen plant in Wisconsin, a deal President Donald Trump asserted would not have happened without his efforts.

The company said it plans to invest $10 billion over four years to build a 20-million square foot plant that could eventually employ up to 13,000.

Trump praised Foxconn chairman Terry Gou at a White House event, asserting: “If I didn’t get elected, he definitely wouldn’t be spending $10 billion … This is a great day for America.”

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker said at the White House his state will award $3 billion in incentives and sign a memorandum of understanding on the investment on Thursday.
He told reporters at the White House the state legislature will need to approve the $3 billion incentives package. About half is for capital costs and nearly half for workforce development. There are also some sales tax exemption incentives.

Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd (2317.TW), said in a statement that the investment “signifies the start of a series of investments by Foxconn in American manufacturing in the coming years.”

But Foxconn has had a mixed record following up on promises to create new jobs in the United States.

In 2013, Foxconn said it would invest $30 million and hire 500 workers for a new factory in Pennsylvania, but that facility was never completed. Foxconn has another small operation in Pennsylvania.

Foxconn, a major supplier to Apple Inc (AAPL.O) for its iPhones, said last month it plans to invest more than $10 billion in a display-making factory in the United States.
Wisconsin’s tax incentives would be awarded over 20 years if Foxconn meets hiring targets, officials said Wednesday.

Walker said the plant was the largest economic development project in the state’s history.

White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus told a Wisconsin TV station that Trump was aboard Marine One over Kenosha, Wisconsin, in April and spotted the site of a former Chrysler plant.

When Foxconn executives met with Trump in the Oval Office, “the president said I know a good spot where you should go — that place in Kenosha,” Priebus recounted.

Walker said Foxconn is considering several sites in southeast Wisconsin and will announce a final site soon.

Trump has called for companies to build more products in the United States and open additional plants. He has made several announcements since his election in November about U.S. investments by both foreign and domestic manufacturers, building on his campaign focus on boosting American jobs. Some of those announcements sought to take credit for previously announced investments.

Asia Nuclear Business Platform 2017 (TFC Event)

nbpf 2017

Asia Nuclear Business Platform will be held for the 5th consecutive year in Shanghai from May 16-18, 2017.

The past four editions of the event have seen tremendous support from U.S., Asia and International companies.

According to a recent report from the World Nuclear Association, nuclear power generation between 2014 to 2025 is projected to grow by 1400 GWe, over 120 GWe per year, which will account for 46% of the world’s new capacity. Much of this growth will be in China, Japan, India and Korea. The nuclear share of this to 2020 is expected to be considerable in three of those countries, especially if environmental constraints limit fossil fuel expansion nuclear business transactions.

Connect, interact and network with over 150 industry experts exploring NPP new build in Asia and 50+ international industry experts with a combined 100+ reactor years of experience.

Edward McGinnis, Deputy Asst. Secretary, Office of Nuclear Energy, US Department of Energy has confirmed his attendance.

This year’s show will feature a site visit to the Shanghai Electric manufacturing base, which is the biggest nuclear equipment manufacturing base in China.
There will be multiple sessions tailored to financing and risk management, localisation, human resource development and licensing.

For more information, please visit the event website at [http://www.nuclearbusiness-platform.com/asia/].

2017 The International Fluid Power Exposition (IFPE)

Tuesday, March 7 – Friday, March 10
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas Convention Center
Exhibits 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, March 11
Exhibits 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
* Times are Pacific Standard Time (PST).

The International Fluid Power Exposition (IFPE) returns every three years to showcase the latest innovations and expertise in the fluid power, power transmission and motion control industries.

Attendance by Job Title

Las Vegas welcomes IFPE 2017 to the Las Vegas Convention Center, March 7-11, 2017. No other show brings as many sectors of the fluid power, power transmission and motion control industries together in one place. IFPE is co-located with CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2017, the largest international gathering place for the construction industries.

Who Exhibits

You’ll have access to the latest products and innovations from over 450 exhibitors. IFPE 2017 features product concentration areas, making it easy for attendees to locate specific products, services and exhibitors of interest. Exhibitor product categories include:

Attendee Primary Interest

  • Electrical & Mechanical Power Transmission 
  • Industrial Hydraulics
  • Mobile Hydraulics
  • Water Hydraulics
  • Pneumatics

Who Attends

From suppliers to service providers, engineers and manufacturers, IFPE brings fluid power professionals from across all disciplines. No other show’s attendees represent more sectors of the fluid power industry than IFPE.

  • Aerospace/Defense
  • Agricultural Engineering
  • Amusement Machinery
  • Automotive Mfg./Supplier
  • Chemical & Petroleum Processing
  • Construction/Mining/Logging
  • Distribution
  • Electrical Machinery
  • Engineering Services
  • Factory Automation
  • Fluid Power Products
  • Industrial Truck Tractor & Stacker
  • Instruments, Controls
  • Machine Tools
  • Material Handling
  • Metal Processing
  • Off-Highway Vehicles
  • On-Highway Vehicles (not autos)
  • Plastics/Rubber Working Machinery
  • Power Transmission