Feb.
  2018
ISSUE
No. 153

  USRCC Business Newsletter
USRCC Activities

The U.S. Russia Chamber of Commerce at NAPE 

The U.S. Russia Chamber of Commerce (USRCC)  is pleased to participate in 
NAPE International for the 5th year in a row

The   USRCC  is proud to be part of NAPE Summit 2018 that is held in Houston, TX and would like to thank all visitors for spending their time at our booth # 4914. It was our pleasure meeting representatives of diverse companies from Oil & Gas, Petroleum, Engineering and Banking industries, as well as representatives of consulting companies and universities from all over the U.S.  We enjoyed the networking and were impressed by the interest of the U.S. companies in the USRCC services. We are looking forward to seeing you all next year!



NAPE is the oil and gas industry's marketplace for the buying, selling and trading of prospects and producing properties. NAPE is unique in that it brings together all industry disciplines; draws in decision-makers; focuses its participation on prospect generators; and hosts companies of all sizes, from small independents to majors. 

The  USRCC is strategically headquartered in Houston, Texas because of the vibrant business community and opportunities for U.S.- Russia trade and investment.  Houston, known as the "Energy Capital of the World," is home to 40 of the nation's 134 publicly traded oil and gas exploration and production firms, including 10 of the top 25. Nearly 400 Houston-based companies rely on business with Russia. 

The 53rd Annual Petroushka Ball

Dear USRCC Members and Stakeholders,

The U.S. - Russia Chamber of Commerce is pleased to support an event hosted by one of our partner organizations.

Join the Russian Children's Welfare Society at The Plaza Hotel in New York on February 9th for the 53rd Annual Petroushka Ball to benefit the RCWS charitable programs ( www.rcws.org ). 




Since its inception in 1965, the Petroushka Ball has been one of New York's most elegant charitable events attended by over 700 guests representing business, artistic and diplomatic spheres.



When:  Friday, February 9, 2018
Where:  The Plaza Hotel, Grand Ballroom
768 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019

Reception: 8:00 pm
Dinner & Performance: 9:00 pm
Dancing: 10:00 pm to 2 am

Dress Code: Strictly White or Black Tie, Long Ball Gowns    
   * Age Requirement: 21 years and older        

Special Guest Stars
ILDAR ABDRAZAKOV, bass
LYUBOV PETROVA, soprano
Appear by kind permission of the Metropolitan Opera

Music by
The Lester Lanin Orchestra
Barynya Balalaika Orchestra

To learn more and to order tickets please visit http://www.rcws.org/events/53rd-petroushka-ball


The USRCC Young Professionals Committee invites you to attend

HR Panel and Networking Event 
" From Entry Level to CEO - How to continue moving up the OrgChart "

  • How to survive in a big organization?
  • What are the key skills and traits that an employee must develop in order to transform into a leader?
  • What are the key tips that will help the transition from an individual contributor to a management role?
  • How to adopt a long-term positive and productive frame of mind for managing performance of a work group, build trust, make decisions, and deal with difficult situations?
  • What mentorship programs help within organizations? How to deal with employee disciplinary issues in your group as well as promotions?
These and other questions to be answered by the group of panel speakers at the event.

Keynote Speaker 

Clinical Assistant Professor,
University of Houston, Bauer College of Business,
Managing Director, UH Energy

Panelists




Senior Director, Talent Management, Human Resources   
Halliburton


Vice President, Human  Resources 
Emerson Automation Solutions



HR General Manager,
Chevron Africa and Latin America Exploration and Production




Global Talent Manager, Mining & Minerals, Automation & 
Controls, 
Technology & Consulting Business Lines, 
Wood plc

Moderator




Global Licensing Manager, GTC Technology US
Young Professionals Committee Chair,
U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce


February 22, 2018
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

University of Houston

The Doctors of Texas State Optical Alumni Education Center
UH College of Optometry, Room 186
University of Houston
4901 Calhoun Street
Houston, Texas 77204
 

Parking is available at the Welcome Center Parking Garage
 

USRCC Members - free/Non-Members - $25


Stay tuned for more details!



  USRCC Trade Mission to Russia
May 2018
 

The U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce (USRCC) invites you to participate in a Trade mission to the  St. Petersburg International Economic Forum . Participants will have an opportunity to meet Russian government officials and some of the most influential leaders in U.S.-Russia trade and investment relations. The USRCC will coordinate private meetings, an exclusive CEO Roundtable and introductions, in addition to attending the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPEIF).

Participating companies will gain market insights, make industry contacts, solidify business strategies, find business partners, and advance specific projects with the goal of increasing U.S. trade and investment to Russia.

For more details about the Trade Mission please contact us  directly at      

USRCC Internship
GET INVOLVED

The USRCC is looking for new team members!

Volunteers
 play a key role and the contributions they make impact the day-to-day functions of the chamber and shape the future of relationship between Russia and the U.S.

There are many ways you can get involved with the USRCC. Whether you are an experienced leader or a student, there is a place for you. By volunteering you can be at the very centre of our high-profile events held in Houston, Chicago and New York City and interact with influential leaders in the U.S.-Russia trade and investment.
USRCC Membership
Are you taking advantage of your  USRCC Member Benefits?

Renew your membership or join for the first time today!

For more information  click here 
Interested in learning more about our 2018 events? 

To see a full list   click here
Members' News
LUKOIL and Astrakhan region develop cooperation 

Lukoil.com, February 7, 2018:  President of LUKOIL Vagit Alekperov and the Governor of Astrakhan Region, Aleksandr Zhilkin, signed a protocol to the Agreement on Cooperation between the company and the region, in Astrakhan today.
According to the document, which defines areas of social and economic development for 2018, LUKOIL will allocate funds to renovate a community center in the town of Liman, repair a cultural center in Ilyinka settlement and redevelop an embankment in the town of Kharabali. The company will also hold a contest of its own social and cultural projects for Astrakhan Region.
During their working journey round the region, Vagit Alekperov and Aleksandr Zhilkin visited the shipyards of the Astrakhan Shipbuilding Association where construction and assembly is underway of the top side of the wellhead platform for Phase 2 of the Yury Korchagin field development project.  Read more...
BHGE updates offshore compression, digital developments

Offshore-mag.com, February 6, 2018: FLORENCE, Italy - Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE) has issued details of three new oil and gas developments involving deployment of its technology and software during its annual meeting in Florence.  The company is working on deliveries of 10 NovaLT16 gas turbines for customers in the Asia/Pacific region.  Its latest contract is from the Vietnamese/Russian joint venture Vietsovpetro to expand gas compression capacity on block 09-1 offshore Vietnam.  According to BHGE, the NovaLT16 is designed to offer high availability and reliability, while at the same time lowering operating costs.  For this project, the turbine's mechanical drive capabilities should enhance the facility's gas compression performance, providing 89% or higher compressor efficiency.
The turbine, developed and built in Florence, is designed to operate for up to 35,000 hours between maintenance intervals and has been configured to ensure servicing activities can be completed quickly and efficiently.
Another new project is JewelSuite, which according to BHGE is helping Shell execute field development planning by integrating data and workflows from seismic interpretation through geological modeling.   Read more...
Gazprom set an absolute record for European gas exports in 2017

Novinite.com, February 7, 2018: Gazprom set an absolute record for European gas exports in 2017 for the entire history of the Soviet and Russian gas industries. This was announced by the vice-president of the gas holding Alexander Medvedev at a meeting with the investors in New York. Exports reached 194.4 billion cubic meters, he added. Gazprom estimates its market share at 34.7%, the company said in a statement. The official figures for Europe's 'blue-fuel consumption' for 2017 have not yet been published. For the last time, this indicator declined in 2012 and was 26%. Since then, there has been almost continuous growth. For 5 years, Gazprom's share of the European market has increased by 9 percentage points to 34%. Growth in supplies is linked to increased gas consumption in Europe, Medvedev said. But the share of the Russian company grows faster than the market, he said.   Read more...
The Week in Review
Japan to present plan for modernizing Vladivostok's infrastructure to Russia 

Tass, February 4, 2018: TOKYO, February 4. /TASS/. The Japanese government plans to present to Russia a plan to modernize Vladivostok's urban infrastructure with the use of Japanese technologies, including improving traffic flow, rebuilding tourist facilities and developing areas around railway stations. The Nikkei newspaper reported on Sunday that this plan had been prepared in the run-up to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Russia in May and will soon be handed over to the Russian side.
Tokyo decided to come up with this offer as part of the eight-point economic cooperation plan between the two countries and on the basis of the agreements reached during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Japan in December 2016.  Read more...
Iran to Export 3m Barrels of Oil to Russia Monthly

Ifpnews.com, February 4, 2018: Iran's oil minister has spoken of the Islamic Republic's contract with Russia to export 3 million barrels of crude oil to that country.  Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh says Tehran has signed a contract with Moscow under which the country will export three million barrels of crude oil to Russia on a monthly basis.
Speaking in a press conference on Sunday, the oil minister noted that Iran's crude exports in the ten months to January 2018 rose by 60,000 barrels year on year.
"Also, production and exports of oil have increased by more than one million barrels following the [conclusion of the] Iran nuclear deal," the minister noted.  Read more...
Russia's AirBridgeCargo grew 13% in 2017

Rusaviainsider.com, February 5, 2018: Fleet expansion, further development of tailored solutions for special cargoes, and the introduction of new destinations helped Russia's largest air freight operator AirBridgeCargo Airli nes (ABC) achieve 13% growth in 2017.The airline delivered more than 700,000 tons throughout its international network in 2017, generating 10% growth rates in freight ton kilometers, 1% better than the overall market, and the load factor rose 4% year-on-year to approximately 71%. ABC's success is spearheaded by a dynamic fleet expansion strategy allied to increased solutions for special cargoes and the introduction of new and upgraded destinations. With robust and solid air cargo growth in the market, ABC enjoyed business improvements in all major markets across its global network last year.  Read more...
Russian wheat exports up 33.8% year on year to 23.7 million

Platts.com, February 5, 2018: Russian wheat exports in the first seven months of the 2017-18 marketing year, which began July 1, were up 33.8% year on year to 23.724 million mt, data from the ministry of agriculture showed Monday.
Wheat line-ups each month continued to be fully booked, sources said.
However, the export pace dipped in the latest week, with loadings hit by bad weather, they said, adding weather conditions will likely further scupper loading progress into February.
Around 200,000 mt of wheat were expected to be handled in March, delayed from February, at Novorossiisk, according to a source.. Read more...
UK Companies Seek Cooperation With Russia in Space Technologies - Lawmaker

Sputniknews.com, February 5, 2018: LONDON (Sputnik) - Daniel Kawczynski, UK Conservative lawmaker, told Sputnik on Wednesday that he intended to inform the country's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson about the in terest of UK companies in enhancing cooperation with Russia in the space domain.The lawmaker added that work was ongoing to publicly recognize and promote aspects of cooperation between the United Kingdom and Russia, adding that, nevertheless, relations between the two countries remained tough.
The lawmaker stressed the negative impact of the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine and anti-Russian sanctions, adding that, in his opinion, the United Kingdom was loosing about 10-12 billion pounds ($14-17 billion) every year due to the restrictions imposed on Russia Read more...
Moscow: Russia, Japan Need Mutually Beneficial Cooperation Schemes

Sputniknews.com, February 6, 2018: TOKYO (Sputnik) - Russia is striving for mutually beneficial schemes of economic cooperation with Japan, which could contribute to strengthening of trust between the two nations, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov said Tuesday.
"Our goal is to use truly mutually beneficial business schemes, which would serve the interests of the companies of the two countries, encourage cooperation between the neighboring regions - Sakhalin Oblast and Hokkaido - and, of course, make a real contribution to strengthening of trust between the two countries," Morgulov said at the third round of talks devoted the joint activities on the disputed southern Kurils. According to Morgulov, the talks may bring success if they are protected from the political conjuncture.  Read more...
Russian Direct Investment Fund may invest in Yandex, Uber joint venture

Tass, February 9, 2018:  
MOSCOW, February 9. /TASS/. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) plans to invest into the joint venture of Russia's Yandex and US-based Uber in two-three coming weeks, Chief Executive Officer of the Russian sovereign fund Kirill Dmitriev said on Friday on the air with Rossiya 24 TV Channel.
"We will invest with our partners. We await completion of this deal in 2-3 coming weeks. We will invest several dozen millions of dollars and will hold a minority stake in the merged company at the same time," Dmitriev said.  Read more...
3D printed phantom models from Russia could improve cancer radiation therapy

3ders.org, February  6, 2018:    A team of scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) in Russia is developing a use for 3D printing which could help doctors verify and even improve radiotherapy treatment plans for cancer patients. The TPU researchers, who are working in collaboration with the Tomsk Cancer Research Institute on the project, have developed a method for 3D printing patient-specific dosimetry phantoms.  Dosimetry phantoms are, in short, physical models of the human body which are used by medical professionals to map out and plan radiotherapy cancer treatments. The models, which are usually standardized and quite geometrically simple, enable doctors to verify treatment plans before every radiotherapy session in order to lessen the risk of the treatment on the patient
Read more...
More seafood companies allowed to export to Russia

Fis.com, February 10, 2018: Russia has authorized new seafood companies to export their products to the Russian market. The news was confirmed in Moscow, at the end of the XIII Intergovernmental Commission for Economic-Commercial and Scientific-Technological Cooperation (Comixta).
The undersecretary of Agricultural Markets of the Ministry of Agroindustry, Jesús Silveyra, and the director of International Relations of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, Maxim Markovich, led the meeting of the Working Group of the Agriculture and Fisheries Sector. Accompanied by the Vice President of the National Service of Health and Food Quality (SENASA), Guillermo Rossi, and Agroindustrial Aggregate in Russia, Alonso Ferrando, the desire of both parties to increase bilateral trade in agro-industrial products, focusing on different products, was reassured.   Read more...
Russian metal prices drive 80% boost in Severstal's profits

Ft.com, February 2, 2018: Severstal, one of Russia's largest steelmakers, reported an 80 per cent rise in net profit in the fourth quarter, well above analyst estimates as the company increased its operating margin on a firming up of Russian metal prices.  Controlled by Alexei Mordashov, Russia's richest man, Severstal said quarterly profit stood at $563m, up from $313m a year previously and higher than analyst estimates of $404.8m, according to a poll by Reuters. 
Controlled by Alexei Mordashov, Russia's richest man, Severstal said quarterly profit stood at $563m, up from $313m a year previously and higher than analyst estimates of $404.8m, according to a poll by Reuters.   Read more...
OPEC predicts significant increase in oil production in Kazakhstan by 2040

Azernews.az, February 5, 2018:  The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) forecasts an increase in oil production in Kazakhstan to 2.7 million barrels per day by 2040 in its report. At the moment, the Central Asian nation extracts an average of 1.8 million barrels per day. OPEC explains that Kazakhstan will keep the current figures until 2022, and since 2025 oil production will increase.
In 2025, the country will receive two million barrels per day. In 2030, this figure will reach 2.3 million barrels, in 2035 - 2.6 million barrels, and in 2040 - 2.7 million barrels. OPEC analysts emphasize that Kazakhstan managed to level indicators to 1.74 million barrels per day in 2017, which demonstrates the implementation of the agreement on oil production cuts.However, the growth of production is mainly affected by the Kashagan and Tengiz fields. In Kazakhstan, the volume of oil production in 2017 amounted to 72.932 million tons, which is 11.2 percent more than in 2016, according to the statistics committee of the National Economy Ministry.  Read more...
SOCAR considering further development of Azerbaijan's largest gas field

Azernews.com, February 7, 2018: Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR is already considering Phase 3 of development of Shah Deniz gas and condensate field, said Vitaly Baylarbayov, deputy vice president for investments and marketing at SOCAR.
However, a final investment decision on Shah Deniz 3 is not expected before 2025, he said addressing the European Gas Conference in Vienna. "Under Phase 3, SOCAR would drill into the deeper layers of the Shah Deniz field. A discovery has already been made in the deeper layers, and although reserves have yet to be confirmed, there are signs that Phase 3 could produce more than the initially expected 5 billion cubic meters per year," Baylarbayov added. Earlier, BP, operator of Shah Deniz, expressed intention to continue cooperation with SOCAR on Phase 3 of development of Shah Deniz field as well.  Read more...
US-Russia Related News in Russian
Новости членов Палаты
Shell может начать сдавать в аренду площади на АЗС для зарядки электромобилей  

News.rumbler.ru, 7 февраля, 2018: ТОРЖОК (Тверская область), 7 февраля. /ТАСС/. Shell изучает перспективы установки модулей для зарядки электромобилей на своих АЗС, развитие такого бизнеса компания видит за счет сдачи в аренду площадки на своих станциях для заправки электрокаров. Об этом журналистам сообщил директор по развитию и оперативному управлению сети АЗС Shell в России Виталий Маслов.
"Довольно активно сейчас присматриваемся к перспективе развития такого направления, как электромобили. Могу сказать, что две недели назад мы завершили проект, который называется «на электромобиле от Москвы - до границы с Финляндией», - сказал он. - В перспективе мы видим для себя этот бизнес как сдачу этих участков (на территории АЗС, где будут располагаться модули для зарядки электрокаров) в аренду". Читать далее...
ExxonMobil восполнила запасы нефти и газа в 2017 году на 183% 

News.rambler.ru, 8 февраля, 2018: ТАСС, 8 февраля. Прирост запасов крупнейшей американской нефтегазовой компании ExxonMobil в 2017 году составил 2,7 млрд баррелей н.э., уровень восполнения - 183%, говорится в сообщении компании.
На конец года общие доказанные запасы углеводородов компании достигли 21,2 млрд баррелей, из них 57% приходится на жидкие виды.
Основной рост был обеспечен активами в сланцевых провинциях США - штате Техас (около 800 млн баррелей н.э), а также проектов Upper Zakum в ОАЭ. Прирост запасов также зафиксирован на месторождениях в Мозамбике и Гайане.   Читать далее...
«Лукойл» рассчитывает подписать с Казахстаном новое соглашение о разработке месторождений 

News.rambler.ru, 8 февраля, 2018: АСТРАХАНЬ, 8 февраля. /ТАСС/. "Лукойл" рассчитывает в ближайшее время подписать с Казахстаном новое соглашение о разработке месторождений на Каспии, сообщил в четверг журналистам президент «Лукойла» Вагит Алекперов, который находится в Астрахани с рабочим визитом.
"Мы рассчитываем, что в ближайшее время мы подпишем с Казахстаном новое соглашение о разработке месторождений. Законодательство Казахстана сегодня изменено, оно стало привлекательным для инвесторов. Поэтому для нас очень важно сохранить и увеличить ту компетенцию, которую мы здесь сформировали", - сказал Алекперов, не уточнив, о каких месторождениях идет речь. Читать далее...
Новости недели
Министр сельского хозяйства Российской Федерации Александр Ткачев положительно оценил развитие отрасли на Сахалине
 
Sakhalin.gov.ru, 5 февраля, 2018:   Областные власти считают своей главной задачей снижение зависимости от завоза основных продуктов питания из других регионов и из-за рубежа, повышение уровня продовольственной безопасности островов. В результате агропромышленный комплекс региона получил мощный импульс к развитию. Сегодня Сахалинская область занимает лидирующее место в Дальневосточном федеральном округе по темпам роста выпуска сельскохозяйственной продукции. В 2017 году в островном регионе на треть выросло производство мяса скота и птицы. Жители области не нуждаются в завозном картофеле и овощах открытого грунта. Хватает продукции, выращенной на Сахалине. Благодаря вводу новых тепличных площадей за год на 119 процентов увеличилось производство овощей закрытого грунта. Местные животноводческие предприятия и фермерские хозяйства за счет увеличения продуктивности скота на пять процентов увеличили поставки молока к столу островитян.   Читать далее...
СП: несырьевой экспорт России вырос на 20%

Gazeta.ru, 6 февраля, 2018: Несырьевой экспорт России вырос на 20% в 2017 году. Об этом сообщается в материалах Счетной палаты. «По предварительным итогам 2017 года рост объемов несырьевого экспорта к 2016 году составил 20% в стоимостном выражении ($190 млрд к $158,4 млрд)», - заявили в ведомстве. Также стало известно, что за 11 месяцев 2017 года экспорт продукции автомобилестроения вырос на 35%, экспорт продукции ж/д машиностроения за этот же период вырос на 35%, а поставки продукции сельхозмашиностроения возросли на 24%.   Читать далее...
Глобальные автоконцерны увеличили экспорт из России

Rbc.ru, 7 февраля, 2018: Т В 2017 году российская «дочка» Renault продала за границу автокомплектующих на €75 млн, втрое больше, чем в 2016 году. Другие иностранные автопроизводители также наращивают экспорт на фоне слабого спроса в России.  «Renault Россия» в 2017 году экспортировал комплектующих на €75 млн, это в 3,3 раза превышает результаты 2016 года, говорится в сообщении компании. В страны дальнего и ближнего зарубежья было отправлено 185 наименований автокомпонентов (+13,5%). Это детали штамповки, пластиковые детали, элементы тормозной системы и ходовой части, осветительные приборы. Основными экспортными рынками в прошлом году были Румыния и Турция (61%), другие страны Европы (6%) и Латинская Америка (25%).   Читать далее...

Россия увеличила экспорт бензина из-за переизбытка топлива

Business-gazeta.ru, 5 февраля, 2018: В январе 2018 года российские нефтяные компании в полтора раза увеличили поставки бензина за рубеж по сравнению с декабрем 2017 года. Об этом сообщают «Известия » со ссылкой на данные центрального диспетчерского управления топливно-энергетического комплекса (ЦДУ ТЭК).  Согласно этим данным, экспорт отечественного бензина в прошлом месяце достиг 246,9 тыс. т - это на 56% больше, чем в последнем месяце 2017 года. Бо́льшая часть топлива продается в Европу (порядка 65%) и Азию (30%), остальное поставляется в регионы Северной Америки и Африки, говорится в материалах ФТС.   Читать далее...
Создание логистики для экспорта продукции российского АПК в Китай займёт ещё несколько месяцев - Дворкович

Finmarket.ru, 6 февраля, 2018: Вице-премьер Аркадий Дворкович считает, что на выстраивание логистической цепочки для экспорта продукции АПК в Китай потребуется ещё несколько месяцев."Я думаю, это (создание логистической цепочки) займёт ещё несколько месяцев", - заявил сегодня А.Дворкович на съезде Национального союза производителей молока в Москве.По его словам, вопрос логистики является одним из основных при организации этого экспорта. Правительство "отрабатывает эту тему и с железной дорогой, и с компаниями, которые занимаются логистикой", отметил он. В частности, за последнее время запущены маршрутные поезда.При этом А.Дворкович не исключил, что одним из элементов этой цепочки может стать "Почта России"."Мы с китайскими коллегами понимаем этот вопрос и призываем их быстрее проводить проверки наших предприятий", - сказал вице-премьер, добавив вместе с тем, что переговоры с китайской стороной идут тяжело. Читать далее...
Renault втрое увеличила товарооборот экспорта

Abreview.ru, 5 февраля, 2018: По итогам 2017 года компания «Рено Россия» осуществила несколько проектов в области экспорта в страны ближнего и дальнего зарубежья. На данный момент Renault поставляет из России весь локально производимый модельный ряд, а также автокомпоненты и запчасти в рамках совместных программ с поставщиками. В прошлом году товарооборот экспорта комплектующих превысил 75 миллионов евро - в 3,3 раза больше аналогичного показателя 2016 года. Сегодня из России поставляются 185 различных наименований (в 2016-м - более 160). В их числе детали штамповки, пластиковые детали, элементы тормозной системы и ходовой части, осветительные приборы. Среди основных рынков экспорта - страны Евразии (61%), Латинской Америки (25%), Европы (6%), а также Африка, Ближний Восток и Индия.  Читать далее...
USRCC Executive Partners








           
                                










 








The U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce (USRCC)  is  a 501(c)(6) no t for  profit  corporation with its headquarters  in Houston, Texas,  and offices in the Midwest and the Northeast. The USRCC  was established in 2009 to promote  trade and investment  between  the  Russia n Federation  and the U.S. A.  
The information contained in this newsletter is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal or other professional advice on any subject matter. USRCC does not accept any responsibility for any loss that may arise from reliance on information contained in this newsletter. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not reflect the opinions or views of the USRCC or its members.  Links within this newsletter lead to other websites, including those operated and maintained by third parties. The linked sites are not part of the USRCC newsletter. USRCC includes these links solely as a convenience to the newsletter subscribers, and the presence of such links does not imply a responsibility for the linked site and its operator. USRCC cannot certify the accuracy of the material provided by the original  source .