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###anrede### We wish you a very happy and successful year in 2009! The topics of the new year's first newsletter include: ++ Electronic System for Travel Authorization - Mandatory Registration Begins January 12 ++ 3rd AmCham Germany Forum for Medium-Sized Businesses, February 17 in Böblingen ++ Transatlantic Economic Council Progress Report ++ AmCham Germany Welcomes European Climate and Energy Package ++ Mark Your Calendars: New Year's Receptions 2009 and Briefing Schedule 2009 ++ Member Discounts and Special Offers headlinesElectronic System for Travel Authorization - Mandatory Registration Begins January 12Beginning January 12, 2009, all citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries will be required by law to obtain a travel authorization prior to traveling to the United States. The online registration form, which requests information similar to the I-94 form, must be submitted no later than 72 hours before your departure. Authorization is valid up to two years and for multiple trips. Find more information here. 3rd AmCham Germany Forum for Medium-Sized Businesses - High Technology from Baden-Württemberg – February 17 in BöblingenOn Febraury 17, 2009, AmCham Germany and Agilent Technologies Deutschland GmbH will hold the third Forum for Medium-sized Businesses - High Technology from Baden-Württemberg. The focus will be on the chances and challenges facing medium-sized businesses on the US market. The program (German language) is available here. Please contact Matthias Riegel for additional information. Agreement on European Works Councils a Complete SuccessAmCham Germany welcomes the agreement reached by the European Parliament and Council on the revision of the European Works Council Directive (94/45/EC). The basis for the now-approved text was agreed upon by the European social partners and represents a balanced proposal with compromises made by all stakeholders. Press Release Prognos-Study: Patient Information on Prescription-bound MedicineAmCham Germany (Health Care Committee) and others commissioned Prognos AG to examine patient information on prescription-only medicine in Germany, focussing especially on the internet as a medium. This study gives an overview of the status quo of internet-based pharmaceutical information for patients and identifies patient and public needs in regard to information. Read the Prognos Report. Executive summaries are also available. More information. transatlantic updateTransatlantic Economic Council: Goal-Orientated Progress ImportantLeading up to the Transatlantic Economic Council’s (TEC) December 12th meeting in Washington D.C., the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany (AmCham Germany) called upon all parties to commit to the fundamentals of the TEC-Process to achieve consistent, goal-orientated progress. Read the AmCham press release here. The Federal Ministry for Economics and Technology’s assessment of the initial success, as well as current and future topics concerning the TEC from a German perspective, can be found here. See the progress report from the December 12 TEC meeting here. AmCham Germany Welcomes European Climate and Energy PackageAmCham Germany welcomes the decision by the European Council to allow energy-intensive branches to receive emission rights for manufacturing facilities at no cost in the trade period 2013-2020. Read the press release (German language) and position paper. The official EU documents can be found in this overview and in detail on the topic of "Emissions Trading."
US Taxes: Report of Foreign Bank and Financial AccountsThe US has revised a tax law on "Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts" so that any foreign company with a branch in the US also needs to inform the officials about accounts the company has in the rest of the world. A branch of a foreign entity that is doing business in the United States is required to file this report June 30, 2009, even if not separately incorporated under U.S. law. See detailed information about form TD F 90-22.1 and the accompanying instructions from the Internal Revenue Service here. The U.S. Chamber's Agenda to Help Americans Compete and Win in the Worldwide EconomyThe U.S. Chamber of Commerce has vowed to work with President-elect Barack Obama and the new Congress to help quickly restore economic growth, ensure a smooth transition of power, and tackle the many serious issues facing the country.The path to success lies in openness and engagement, not in retreat and isolationism. Read U.S. Chamber's priority items for this agenda. networking & eventsMark Your Calendars! New Year's ReceptionsFor invitations and registration forms follow the links. Stuttgart: Thursday, January 15 with Martin Blessing, Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors, Commerzbank AG. Invitation & Registration Düsseldorf: Monday, January 19 with Dr. Jens Baganz, Staatssekretär im Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Mittelstand und Energie des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen, Jürgen Büssow, Regierungspräsident Düsseldorf and Matthew G. Boyse, Consul General, US Consulate General Düsseldorf. Invitation & Registration Nürnberg: Wednesday, January 22 with Eric Nelson, US Consul General, Professor Dr. Andreas Falke, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Lehrstuhl Auslandswissenschaften (International Studies) und Direktor des Deutsch-Amerikanischen Instituts in Nürnberg, and Professor Dr. Klaus L. Wübbenhorst, Präsident der IHK Nürnberg für Mittelfranken. Invitation & Registration Hamburg: Thursday, January 22 with Karen E. Johnson, US Consul General, and Frank Horch, Präses of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. Invitation & Registration Mannheim: Friday, January 23 with Prof. Dr. Hans-Wolfgang Arndt, President of the University of Mannheim. Invitation & Registration Berlin: Monday, January 26 with Matthias Platzeck, Minister President of the Federal State of Brandenburg. Invitation & Registration Erfurt: Tuesday, January 27 with Katherine Brucker, Consul General, US Consulate General Leipzig. Invitation & Registration Hannover: Wednesday, January 28 with Heinrich Aller, SPD-Landtagsabgeordneter für Barsinghausen, Gehrden und Seelze. Invitation & Registration Munich: Wednesday, January 28 with Martin Zeil, Bavarian Minister of State for Economics, Infrastructure, Traffic and Technology and Eric G. Nelson, US Consul General. Invitation & Registration Dresden: Friday, January 30 with Stanislaw Tillich, Minister President of the Free State of Saxony and Katherine Brucker, US Consul General. Invitation & Registration Frankfurt: Friday, January 30 with Petra Roth, Lord Mayor of the City of Frankfurt. Invitation & Registration
Expert Briefing "IFRS - Future Accounting Standard in the USA - Implications, Risks & Chances", February 4, 2009 in FrankfurtAt the end of August, the US Securities and Exchange Committee (SEC) determined a roadmap for the mandatory implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in the US. This allows for IFRS to gradually be introduced between 2014 and 2016. The implementation will impact subsidiaries of American companies in Germany, as well as German companies listed on the stock exchange in the United States. In Germany, the German commercial code (HGB) will undergo a fundamental reform with the effect that it will conform significantly to the IFRS. Program and Registration. Preliminary Briefing Schedule 2009View all coming AmCham Germany events and download invitations:To access invitations for all our coming events, log in with your member username and password here. chamber newsNew Executive Members in JanuaryE.R. Capital Holding GmbH & Cie. KG The Royal Bank of Scotland plc View all Executive Members. Become an executive member. Find executive member benefits and application form to upgrade your membership. Special Offers for MembersDerag Hotel and Living Hotel Großer Kurfürst Berlin and Hotel Henriette offer AmCham Germany Members special discounted rates. For more information please click here and log in with your member password.
Advertise in the Next Print Issue of commerce germanyTarget businesses from the AmCham Germany membership by placing an ad in the commerce germany magazine. The first issue of the year, which will be published on February 26, 2009, will focus on CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS and MACHINERY & METAL. Furthermore, we will report on the many New Years Receptions taking place at the end of January! For information on placing an advertisement, please contact Sabine Karbowy or Barbara Böhnke. Media Kit Online Services Directory: Is Your Company Already Listed?Let AmCham Germany market your business by displaying your business’ contact details and description on our Online Services Directory (OSD). Search OSD for future business contacts or list your company and let future contacts find you. Test out OSD and find out how to apply. AmCham Germany in the PressAmCham Germany issued a number of press releases regarding Transatlantic and European issues and was featured in articles about Ambassador William R. Timken, Jr. and the US automotive sector. See a selection of the December articles. useful weblinksUS-German Roundtable - February 18-19, 2009 in BerlinOn February 18-19, a US-German Roundtable is scheduled to take place in Berlin. Members of the Bundestag and members of Congress, as well as representatives from business and politics will meet to discuss the transatlantic partnership. If you are interested in supporting this event as a sponsor or would like more information, please contact Dierk Müller. REACH: New European Chemical’s Regulation meets its First Important DeadlineDecember 1, 2008 marked the day when the pre-registration phase for the so called phase-in substances ended. Since then, all chemical substances manufactured in or imported into the EU in quantities of one tonne per year or more have to be either pre-registered or in case of non phase-in substances, have to be registered with the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) before being sold in the market of the European Economic Area (EEA). The REACH dogma of - no data, no market – passed the first milestone….. what comes now? Read article. ADR-International Arbitration – The Modern Way to Solve Cross Border DisputesAmCham Germany Member Bridgehouse Rückel & Bolthausen Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH offers legal advice on "ADR-International Arbitration – the modern way to solve cross border disputes". This brief introduction discusses benefits of international arbitration and considerations when drafting an arbitration agreement/clause. To read more click here. commerce germany UPDATE partner |
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