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At World Trade Center Delaware®, we take pride in offering services to help companies trade internationally. Experience shows that companies taking part in international trade are more profitable, are better equipped to weather economic skids, and create more jobs at higher wages. As part of the World Trade Centers® Association, we can access resources including vetted trade leads, assistance with local government agencies, marketing strategies and more. Our partnership with U.S. agencies allows us to offer custom training for specific sectors of our international trade community.
We are committed to providing low-cost or no-cost, timely information from reliable sources. Last week, we hosted International Banking Services for Lenders and Exporters with the Export-Import Bank of the United States. Nearly 120 people registered for this webinar, showing a need for this type of accurate information. To view the on-demand recording, click here.
You can enter your information and then view the webinar. If you have previously registered, click on “Already Registered”, enter your email and then can view the webinar.
Our Come for the Information and Stay for the Fun event on July 31 featured Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Don Clifton. His presentation and answers to audience questions showed the impact of global trade and government policy on this most “Delaware” of industries. Our host, Harvest Ridge Winery on the Mason-Dixon Line in Marydel, is one example of the many facets of Delaware’s agricultural industry. Stay alert for information about additional discussions with Secretary Clifton. We barely had time to scratch the surface.
Our Sept. 18 webinar with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Getting It Right at Customs: Navigating HS Codes and Rules of Origin, will help you ensure your products are properly classified and understand how rules of origin apply under Free Trade Agreements. On Sept. 24, our webinar Smarter Tariff Strategies will show how to cut, delay or recover U.S. duty costs. This webinar will not be recorded, so make sure to register.
As always, we want to hear from you. What training should we offer? Are you interested in specific countries? Do you need help finding cost-appropriate trade shows? Do you want connections to embassies or international agencies? Would you like to take part in an expert-moderated off-the-record discussion with other companies in your sector? World Trade Center Delaware is here for you.
| | WTC Delaware Premier Members | |
Learn more about Delaware Business Times
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Port to Port International
Port to Port is a U.S.-based NVOCC shipping company, international freight forwarder and terminal operator with enterprises in Delaware and Florida. The company specializes in the export and transport of containers, vehicles, heavy equipment, and agricultural and industrial machinery around the world. Its primary shipping routes run from the Port of Wilmington and Port Everglades to Central America, including Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. Port to Port offers roll-on/roll-off, lift-on/lift-off and container services, partnering with established shipping providers to deliver reliable logistics solutions.
Learn more: ptpshipping.com
| | New Tariff Rules. Steeper Penalties. Are You Ready? | | |
Effective August 7, U.S. Customs and Border Protection is enforcing new country-specific reciprocal #tariff rates for imports from over 90 countries. Imports from all other countries remain subject to the existing 10% tariff.
In addition to existing fines, inventory seizures, and other penalties, any goods illegally transshipped through another country to avoid paying the applicable tariffs will be subject to a 40% tariff.
Illegal #transshipment carries severe consequences – make sure your imports are compliant before you ship. We are hosting two webinars to help you. Join us for both: Sept. 18 and Sept. 24.
Learn more: go.dhs.gov/Zcw
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Lost luggage can derail a trip but knowing how to handle that can save the day. The guide linked below walks travelers through key steps: report the loss immediately at the airline’s baggage desk, fill out a detailed report, and keep receipts for all essentials you purchase while waiting. If your bag is officially declared lost, you may be eligible for compensation. Travel insurance or credit card benefits may help cover additional costs. Tools such as Apple AirTags can locate your luggage easier and faster.
Read the full article by Christopher Elliot here.
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Webinar Hosted by WTC Delaware
Session 1
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We’re hosting not one, but two insightful webinars on tariffs and trade and you’re invited!
Don’t miss this opportunity. Be sure to register for both sessions.
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Webinar Hosted by WTC Delaware
Session 2
| | End the Summer Season Right | | |
Brian Dill is our new communications intern at World Trade Center Delaware. His education has helped him work with international students. Brian’s enthusiasm for other cultures is evident in his academic and personal experiences in more than a dozen nations, from Honduras to Norway to Greece.
In May 2023, Brian received his bachelor’s degree with a major in international studies and a minor in marketing from Salisbury University, where he graduated with honors. Through his membership in the honors program, Brian gained valuable international experience during a seminar in Sicily, Italy, and a semester abroad in Athens, where he studied law and marketing. Brian’s experiences prompted him to write and present his honors thesis on the effects of tourism on the Greek economy. Brian is pursuing his master’s degree in international business at the University of Delaware, with graduation in May 2026.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Brian began working with F-1 student visa holders at Wilmington University. Within a few months, Brian moved into a full-time role and earned his certification through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. He assisted H1-B, H4, J1, and TD visa applicants. Brian is passionate about supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds and has collaborated with students from over 50 countries.
Brian is excited about the WTC Delaware internship and the opportunities to forge connections with government officials, business owners, and policy makers across the world. After completing his master’s degree, Brian hopes to work in foreign policy within government or international nongovernmental organizations.
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Learning About Delaware’s Largest Industry
By: Brian Dill, Communications Intern
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World Trade Center Delaware hosted Cultivating Delaware: An Evening with the Secretary of Agriculture at Harvest Ridge Winery in Marydel on July 31. The event connected industry professionals across the state for an evening of lively discussion and networking.
Agriculture Secretary Wm. Donald Clifton II gave the audience facts and figures about the farming sector. The state is home to over 2,100 farms and 523,000 acres under agricultural production. Delaware’s agricultural sector contributes $13 billion in direct economic activity to the state, including $2.1 billion in direct sales out of state, and provides about 76,000 jobs.
Since the global pandemic in 2020, farmers spend far more on agricultural inputs because of supply chain problems. Clifton said tariffs enacted at that time have made farmers dependent on government payments to fill the gap created by higher input costs, lower commodity prices, and loss of market share.
Clifton ended his talk on a positive note. He predicts a return to agriculture as our prime source of energy, contributing solar and wind power from farms and fuel from agricultural products and waste in power generation and transportation such as aviation. He also sees research developing more sustainable farming methods.
After the talk, we toured Harvest Ridge Winery to learn wine production from start to finish. We saw how local favorites such as Blue Hen Blue are harvested, fermented, aged and bottled.
A huge thank you to those who contributed to Food Bank of Delaware at the event. We collect nonperishable food and financial contributions at all in-person events. With your support, we can do our share to ease poverty and hunger in Delaware.
We hope you learned about agriculture’s role in Delaware and look forward to participating in discussions about Delaware’ international trade in agriculture.
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The Banking Ins and Outs of Foreign Trade
By: Brian Dill, Communications Intern
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World Trade Center Delaware hosted a webinar July 30 on International Banking Services for Lenders & Exporters featuring speakers from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), Rosenthal & Rosenthal, and Fulton Bank who provided insights into the benefits of international exporting.
Mark Klein, managing director of EXIM, explained how using EXIM bank products benefits exporters and lenders. Through insurance programs, exporters are protected from nonpayment by customers. Lenders also can benefit from EXIM. They typically are risk averse and might be unwilling to value export-related assets as the borrowing basis because foreign market risk would be greater than the lender’s normal practices. Using working capital guarantees can provide up to 90% guarantee of interest and principal to the lender, separate lines of credit, higher advance rates, and further streamlined operations.
Peter Clement, senior vice president of Rosenthal & Rosenthal, described how international factoring helps companies convert invoices into immediate liquidity. This strategy can provide higher advance rates, substantial credit protection, and flexible financing through inter-creditor agreements. He explained the process for purchase order financing, a way for companies to borrow against their purchase order, helping distributors and manufacturers meet production needs even if they lack sufficient cash or credit.
Joe Flaim, vice president of sales at Fulton Bank, offered examples of bank resources that businesses can use to expand into foreign markets. These include letters of credit, a bank-to-bank transaction, standby letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances and foreign exchange strategies.
The expert speakers at this webinar provided key information to help businesses navigate the financial complexities of exporting.
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TILOG LOGISTIX 2025
Call for Importers
| | Join WTC Delaware at Art Means Business! | | |
The Film Brothers, a Wilmington-based creative agency, is highlighting the impact of the arts on Delaware’s economy through their campaign, "Art Means Business." The campaign features stories from local artists and creative professionals whose work drives economic growth, builds community and supports the state’s cultural identity.
Using powerful video storytelling, Art Means Business amplifies the voices of musicians, visual artists, filmmakers and others, showing how Delaware’s creative economy contributes to industries across the state. Presented by World Trade Center Delaware, the event takes place on October 7.
Tickets are going fast; buy yours now: filmbrothers.com/artmeansbusiness
| | Welcome to WTCA, Netanya! | | |
Welcome, Netanya Caldwell. New WTCA North America Membership Support! Working with the Member Services team in New York and throughout the regions, as well as the North America Regional Advisory Council, Netanya will support WTCA’s strategic plans to enhance and expand the Association’s regional impact while promoting the WTCA brand. She will support the growth and engagement of WTCA Members in the North American region for the U.S. and Canada.
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WTC Delaware provides a full range of international trade-related services with an in-depth focus on the export/import of services and manufactured goods. These pages contain brief information on opportunities that could offer exciting possibilities for U.S. companies in various industry sectors.
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AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK: Procurement opportunities - U.S. suppliers may request advocacy support
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EUROPEAN BANK: Reconstruction and development tender opportunities - U.S. suppliers may request advocacy support
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INTERAMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK: Procurement opportunities - U.S. suppliers may request advocacy support
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WORLD BANK: Procurement opportunities - U.S. suppliers may request advocacy support
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FRANCE: Commercial service support for U.S. companies participating in Decarbonize Expo & Summit in Paris Sept. 10-11, 2025
View the most recent trade leads here.
Delaware companies: Please fill out our trade leads form so we can market your products or services!
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World Trade Center Georgetown is the first and only World Trade Center in the CARICOM region. Located in Guyana’s capital, it will serve as a hub for international trade and investment as the country’s economy grows rapidly, led by its expanding energy sector and infrastructure development. The center seeks to strengthen Guyana’s position in global commerce and support trade across industries such as agriculture, mining, tourism and
manufacturing. WTC Georgetown shows a commitment to expanding international business ties across the Caribbean.
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August 20-22, 2025
2025 WTCA Asia Pacific Conference & Global Economic Summit 2025: Asia - Pacific Driving Global Market, Mumbai, India
August 21-23, 2025
TILOG LOGISTIX 2025: Call for Importers, Bangkok, Thailand; WTC Shamshabad & Visakhapatnam
August 26-28, 2025
The Smarter E South America, São Paulo, Brazil; U.S. Commerical Service
August 27, 2025
2025 WTCA Nordics Meeting, Turku, Finland; WTC Turku
September 6-8, 2025
2025 WTCA Middle East & Africa Conference, Algiers, Algeria; WTC Algiers
September 9, 2025
SCW's Last Bash of Summer 2025, Wilmington, DE
September 16-17, 2025
13th ADB Business Opportunities Fair 2025, Manila, Philippines
September 21-25, 2025
Advanced Manufacturing Business Development Mission to Türkiye and Poland; U.S. Commerical Service and International Trade Administration
September 30, 2025
Tarrifs & Trade: The New Rules of Engagement, Philadelphia, PA; BABCPHL
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Gain access to exclusive benefits through affinity partnerships with organizations such as Hotel DuPont and Mutombo Coffee.
These partnerships offer special rates, premium access and networking opportunities that support and expand members’ business activities.
| | World Trade Center® Delaware is the state’s premier international business resource. We help companies, especially small, medium-sized and emerging enterprises, to grow their international business. We provide trade leads, training programs, job leads, networking, matchmaking, trade mission and reverse trade mission opportunities for Delaware companies. We serve all types of companies in various sectors including agriculture, environmental remediation, IT, medical equipment manufacturing, biopharmaceuticals, financial, legal and real estate services. For more information visit us at www.wtcde.org. | | Copyright © 2025. All Rights Reserved. | | | | |
