Hi there! My country is Costa Rica and my state is Georgia 

GM Micro-Challenge Overview

The GM Micro-Challenges are intended to help you appreciate the resources available and challenges associated with international trade.  For these assignments, you assume the role of an assistant international trade specialist for an organization that provides export research and assistance to companies.  In this capacity, you will engage in research and evaluation related to the specific country (YOUR COUNTRY) and US state (YOUR STATE) which you have been assigned to you for the course.  The GM Micro-Challenges involve your responding to memos from your manager.  Your responses will require the collection, analysis, and concise provision of the information requested of you in a business memo format.  The rubric for this assignment is provided below.

YOUR COUNTRY/YOUR STATE

The list with the country (YOUR COUNTRY) and US state (YOUR STATE) which you have been assigned for the course is in Module 1.

M2 – GM Micro-Challenge: Export Promotion

Your manageràmemo to you is below.  In it your manager is giving you tasks to perform with regard international trade.  You are not expected to already know the answers, just be able to find and use the resources available to develop an accurate response.      

Your response should use a standard business memo format with the proper headings.  An example Micro-Challenge memo is provided HERE. 

To start, your memo should state its overall purpose, to remind the manager what s/he requested you to do.  Next, thoroughly respond to each task you are assigned.  For each, briefly restate the task.  Then provide a thorough and accurate written response that summarizes the source information you found.  Your written response should be supported with (1) images that shows the specific source information you used, and (2) a weblink to each source in case your manager wants to review that information further.  Number your responses and respond to the tasks in sequence.  Finally, you may choose to provide a conclusion to your memo.

Details on how to insert an image into your micro-challenge using the screenshot or screen clipping tools can be found HERE.

Some additional info regarding supporting images:

1. Supporting images do not replace your written response, they only show the source information used. 

2. Supporting images should be visible, not be provided as files.  Screen clip them and paste them into your memo.

3. Images should be readable – stretch them to make them large enough to be legible in the memo.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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To: You

From: Your Manager

Date: Aug 21, 2022

Subject: Export Promotion

Below are subjects that need some research for an agency in YOUR STATE.  The agency said they might want to use subscription sources (PIERS, Datamyne, Euromonitor, etc.) in the future to research competitor activity but wanted to try free sources first.        

Your efforts will focus on the four specific tasks below.  With your response, include images of all source materials you use and weblinks to them.  Some potential sources you might find helpful are provided.  

1.  A government agency in YOUR STATE wants to expand the stateàexports.  Determine YOUR STATEàmajor exports (other than gold, precious metals, or oil).  Then identify and justify some countries that might be promising for a trade mission from YOUR STATE.

A. Identify one of the top exports from YOUR STATE in the last five years. Include the HS Code and the value in millions of dollars for that year.  (Obtain info from a state or federal resource like the US Trade Representative HERELinks to an external site..)  The HS code for exports is called the Schedule B code.  It is used to track the movement of goods.  The website HERELinks to an external site. can help you identify the appropriate code for a product.  

B. The Observatory of Economic Complexity provides international trade information for countries. A link to their website is HERELinks to an external site..  Under the Tools tab, select “Tree Map.”  Use the “Bilateral – Exports by Product” option to find the information needed for the top export product you identified for YOUR STATE.  Under “Product” select this top export product.  Note: You may be able to enter the HS Code to get the export product.  If not get as close to the HS Code for that export product as you can.  Under “Country,” select “United States.”  See image “A” below for the customization settings.  Click on µild Visualization4o obtain a diagram with a question above it.  Verify it is the question you were intending to ask.  Your image should include the question and look something like Image “B” below.  The diagram shows you the countries receiving the most exports of this product from the US.  List the countries (up to ten) getting the greatest percentage of this top export product from the US.  

C. Next, do another search to determine what countries are buying a lot of this product.  Use the “Tree Map” again.  Use the “Product – Importers” option to identify what countries import the product. Customize the settings for the top importers of this product. Under “Product” select this top export product.  Note: You may be able to enter the HS Code to get the export product.  If not get as close to the HS Code for that export product as you can.  See image “C” below for customization settings.  Click on µild Visualization4o obtain a diagram with a question above it.  Verify it is the question you were intending to ask.  Your image should include the question and look something like Image “D” below.  The countries that are the top importers of this product will be shown.  List the countries (up to ten) that are importing the greatest percentage of this product. This diagram tells you what countries are currently buying a lot of this product in general.         

D. Use the two lists you made to identify one country that is importing a lot of this product but is not importing much of it, if any, from the US.  This may be a good country to consider for a trade mission.  The government of YOUR STATE might consider sending a trade mission there to explore further exports.

2. Determine what import tariff percentage would be associated with sales of that product to that country?

Use the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) – 2018 National Trade Estimate (NTE) on Foreign Trade Barriers HERELinks to an external site..

3. Identify an international trade show to attend for this product. Provide the website for the trade show and include when the next one is tentatively scheduled and where.  

For the top export from YOUR STATE your selected, identify a large international trade show that is focused on that product and that attracts buyers/sellers from all over the world. 

4. Identify a relevant trade/industry association that may be helpful.  An international trade/industry association is best. Provide the website for the association and briefly explain what resources the association provides.

Trade/Industry associations bring together companies within an industry to benefit that industry.  They may provide resources that could help an exporter.  Identify a trade/industry association for the top export from YOUR STATE you selected.