International Trade

The MMAC’s World Trade Association (WTA) is the most experienced network of international exporters, importers, suppliers and service providers. It links companies and individuals interested in expanding their global business experience.

EDUCATIONAL FORUMS

WTA offers an extensive array of forums covering: l Logistics l Legal and Taxation Issues l International Finance l Distributors, Agents & Joint Ventures l Emerging Markets l Import/Export Regulations l Global Compliance

NETWORKING EVENTS

From company tours to wine tastings and golf outings, WTA sponsors several informal networking events throughout the year.

WISCONSIN’S PREMIER INTERNATIONAL TRADE CONFERENCE

For more than 55 years, WTA has presented the annual Wisconsin International Trade Conference – the largest of its kind in the state. In 2020 and 2021, WTA presented the Global Business Insights series, a virtual, indepth, seven-week series on international business challenges and opportunities.

COMPLIMENTARY EXPORT ASSESSMENT

WTA membership includes a complimentary export assessment designed to help both new and experienced exporters identify and implement available trade resources and programs.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information about WTA membership and its benefits, please visit: www.mmac.org/wta.html

Port Milwaukee

HE MILWAUKEE REGION HAS A LEGACY OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT. It was one of the main melting pots of American immigrants and used its European connections to forge global commerce. The region’s central location in the United States, as well as its access to Port Milwaukee, a major water port that connects to the St. Lawrence Seaway, and two major airports – Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport – continue to make the region a magnet for trade and investment. Foreign-owned firms employ 30,000 workers in the metropolitan area. MMAC, Milwaukee 7 and the World Trade Association (WTA) continue to promote the region. Recruiting efforts led to several companies locating their U.S. operations in southeastern Wisconsin, including Foxconn (Taiwan); HARIBO, Thomas Magnete and PTF Pfuller (Germany); Ingeteam, Inesa and Sic Lazaro (Spain); and Seda International Packaging (Italy). The Milwaukee 7 team has also recruited in Dubai, Turkey, Brazil and China.

The Great Lakes play an important role in international trade, providing global access through Lake Michigan, the St. Lawrence Seaway and the inland river system. Milwaukee is one of the few Great Lakes’ ports open to navigation year-round and is at the center of two initiatives to increase the movement of goods and growth of international trade in the region.

The stretch of water between Port Milwaukee and the Port of Muskegon in Michigan has been designated Lake Michigan’s first federal maritime highway, a federal designation intended to increase the shipment of goods by water. This initiative

will provide lower-cost alternatives for shipments that now go through other ports and will also grow trade handled through Port Milwaukee.

In partnership with the DeLong Company and through the support of federal, state, public and private funds, Port Milwaukee is constructing a new $35 million Agricultural Marine Export Facility. Dried Distilled Grains with soluables (DDGs), grain, soybean, corn and other Wisconsin-grown agricultural products will be exported via the St. Lawrence Seaway to markets around the world through this new terminal.

Port Milwaukee handles more than 2 million metric tons of cargo annually with a lifting capacity in excess of 300 tons direct from vessel to rail, truck or barge. Port Milwaukee is served by two major railroads (Canadian Pacific and Union Pacific) and offers interstate highway access, as well as direct shipping access to international ports via the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway (GLSLS) system.

Port Milwaukee is also grantee of Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) No. 41, which encourages international trade by controlling costs on imported goods for local companies to remain competitive in the global marketplace.

For more information about Port Milwaukee’s multimodal transportation offerings, as well as FTZ No. 41 and those port tenants handling freight for export and import, visit portmilwaukee.com or email port@milwaukee.gov.

Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the state and serves more than 7 million passengers from throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois. It also is a major freight hub, handling more than 80,000 tons of freight. The airport is served by several principal commercial airlines: Air Canada, Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United and Volaris.

product (GDP) and have been the fastestgrowing segment of the regional GDP over the past decade. Wisconsin companies exported $20.5 billion in goods and services in 2020. The state’s top export categories are industrial machinery ($5.2 billion), electrical machinery ($2.0 billion), and medical and scientific instruments ($2.0 billion).

Canada is Wisconsin’s largest trading partner, accounting for almost one-third of total exports. Other major trade destinations include Mexico, China, Germany and Japan.

Several international companies have their global headquarters in the region, including Fiserv, Johnson Controls, ManpowerGroup, Rockwell Automation and SC Johnson. The region also is home

Regional, national and international logisticians count on Port Milwaukee for a turnkey approach to solve their transportation and supply chain needs. Strategically located in the industrial center of the U.S., Port Milwaukee provides premier access to domestic and world markets.

VISIT PORTMILWAUKEE.COM . PORT@MILWAUKEE.GOV

to the North American headquarters for other international firms, including ABB, BRP, Chr. Hansen, CNH Global (Fiat), GE Healthcare, Krones AG, Metso Minerals, Nestlé. Siemens Water Technologies and Wacker Neuson Corp.

Milwaukee was one of 28 communities that participated in the Global Cities Initiative, a Brookings Institution project to promote global trade and foreign direct investment.

The Milwaukee 7, in partnership with MMAC, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. and The Water Council, joined 10 other metro regions for a multi-year project to develop a strategic approach that was designed to help metropolitan leaders make international relation decisions based on their regional economic agendas.

Because navigating the many trade resources and programs can be overwhelming, the WTA provides its members with a complementary export assessment to help companies take advantage of export programs that are available at the local, state and federal levels.

For programs that require professional advice, the WTA provides recommendations to law firms, consultants, accounting firms, banks and other institutions as needed. In addition, the WTA sponsors educational forums and networking opportunities.

Setting the world standard for processing of electronic Certificates of Origin Now you can process Certificates of Origin electronically from your desktop – saving you time and money, while increasing compliance and productivity.

EssCert is a user friendly tool that replaces the paper-based process for stamping and signing of trade documents into a streamlined electronic system.

MMAC worked with the federal government to establish a foreign investment development center that includes southeastern Wisconsin. The Immigrant Investor Visa Program offers green cards to foreign investors and their families who invest a minimum of $1.8 million ($900,000 in targeted employment areas) to create at least 10 full-time jobs. For more information, visit: choosemilwaukee.com/ investmentzone.html

Foreign Trade Zones promote international trade and help companies manage costs by deferring, reducing or eliminating duty payments on imported goods. The yielded cost savings enable local companies to remain competitive in the global marketplace. Subzones can be formed at a company’s place of operations. Port Milwaukee is grantee and administrator of FTZ #41 for the 12 counties in Southeastern Wisconsin. For more information, visit portmilwaukee.com or email port@milwaukee.gov.

Access to MMAC’s essCert service allows companies to process certificates of origin from a desktop or laptop computer. It replaces the paper-based process for stamping and signing of trade documents into a streamlined electronic system that saves time and money while increasing compliance and productivity. For more information about essCert, contact Katie Henry, executive director of the MMAC’s World Trade Association. 414/287-4123

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) helps increase the global reach of Wisconsin companies. Businesses new to exporting, accidental

exporters and experienced exporters can acquire important expertise and market information through WEDC’s in-country trade representatives or by joining WEDC on trade ventures that include personalized meeting schedules designed to address a company’s specific export objectives. WEDC programs include: ExporTech™: A partnership with WMEP Manufacturing Solutions, ExporTech offers financial and technical assistance to participating companies through a 12week accelerator program that provides access to experts, individualized coaching and consulting support. Global Business Development Program: Provides grant funding to support a company’s export strategy. WEDC Global Network: WEDC’s team of market development directors works with in-country trade representatives covering 97 countries to provide export intelligence to guide companies’ success in specific overseas markets. Global Trade Ventures: WEDC organizes delegations to visit, both in person and virtually, to make connections in overseas markets of strategic importance for Wisconsin exporters. For more information: wedc.org/export

The federal government provides a variety of international trade assistance through three primary agencies: l the U.S. Commercial Service (export.gov) l the U.S. Small Business Administration (sba.gov) and l the International Trade Administration (trade.gov)