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Do you understand enough of the current economic environment and new tariff increases to make informed fiduciary decisions for your business?  Birchtree Global trains business leaders now to make good decisions for their companies using accurate, fact-based information.  We recommend you read the research and watch the upcoming webinar, “Aftershock The pervasive effects of tariff hikes” produced by the Economist Intelligence Unit, a division of the Economist.

https://pages.eiu.com/Feb19PublicPolicyAftershockEMEAUSMKT_Aftershocklandingpage.htmly

This report examines ten areas likely to be negatively affected by tariff increases.  Listed below is a summary of their findings which will be discussed in depth in the webinar.  The information will help business strategists, HR and Finance executives, as well as globalizing businesses identify key trigger points that may affect business operations and require organizational reset.

This report provides insight on the following areas, which affect all business operations, particularly those of us in global business:

Inflation, Supply Chains, Export Growth, Productivity and Rent-Seeking, Economic Growth, Poverty, Inequality, Health, Environment, Politics.

“Inflation: Tariff increases will likely cause an uptick in inflation in the US, particularly if the dollar weakens. The UK appears even more vulnerable to an inflation spike.

Supply chains: Tariffs are unlikely to lead to major new “reshoring” of production back to the US.  Some companies will shift production from China to neighboring countries, but this is a more costly and complex process than many imagine.

Export growth: Retaliation from other countries means that import tariffs will act as a “tax on
exports”. Export-focused sectors like the UK automotive industry are at risk.

Productivity and rent-seeking: Tariff hikes will channel resources towards import-competing
firms and shield them from competition, weakening productivity growth.

Economic growth: Tariff increases hurt economic growth, although the timing and scale of these negative effects will depend on a variety of factors.

Poverty: Tariff increases are likely to disproportionately hurt poorer households through their
effects on inflation and/or employment.

Inequality: Tariff increases may have a certain equalizing effect if they disproportionately affect
output in high-value-added sectors and facilitate the expansion of low-value-added sectors, as
is expected with Brexit. However, any boost in inequality would come as a result of a decrease
in overall output and growth.

Health: While not the focus of recent tariff increases, tariffs levied on health products can cost lives, particularly if developing countries implement them (for instance, as several already do on mosquito nets).

Environment: The EU’s experience of levying tariffs on Chinese solar panels demonstrates that such moves can hurt environmental goals—an effect that the US is now likely to experience.

Politics: Recent tariff increases are a response to the political polarization caused by trade liberalization. They are more likely to exacerbate this polarization, rather than address it.

Do you want your business to grow? You’ve got one more day to join Anita Campbell from Small Business Trends and Alice Bredin from Bredin, Inc. for a discussion on how small business attract and hire top talent. You’ll discover how to make quick, meaningful changes to the way you recruit candidates and plan for long-term success.

https://lnkd.in/dX6Jvqx

In this webinar, you’ll learn: -How the fastest-growing small businesses expand their talent pools and hire efficiently -Tips for avoiding common recruiting time wasters -Strategies for winning over candidates against larger, name-brand companies -Characteristics of great hiring managers – how much they spend on hiring and where they find candidates.  If you are not an expert, then upgrade your recruitment skills.

Earn recertification credits by attending this webinar, which has been approved for 1 HRCI credit and 1 SHRM CP credit.

Can’t make the webinar? RSVP anyway.  We’re sending all registrants a copy of the recording and slide deck. This is a terrific webinar for businesses who need to find great employees quickly!

I’m pleased to announce Birchtree Global won the Global Leadership Award at the International Conference on Business and Finance in Las Vegas last week for leadership in research-based business studies.  We are all thrilled!  We believe what sets us apart from our business services colleagues is our focus on research-based solutions to client problems.  We focus on analyzing our client’s strategic objectives and crafting customized solutions that maximize their objectives, rather than recommending one-size-fits-all solutions.  We research and present at conferences continuously and are so pleased to have our contributions acknowledged by the IBFR.

I was on a State Visit to China for women executives and at the end of the trip, we stopped at the Hard Rock Café in Shanghai.  My colleagues and I were commiserating over the lack of “agnostic” consulting advice.  That is, consulting advice based on furthering the client’s business strategy, rather than being sold a “vendor one-size fits all” solution.  Having established businesses in more than 40 countries at this point, I knew most vendors offered their products as the ultimate solution for any staffing, payroll, tax, legal, or financial issue.  No one was offering or suggested a competitor’s product, even though those products would have been a better solution.

It occurred to me at this point that what the world needed was a business that could focus on creating optimum solutions for a client’s business strategy.  A solution based around picking the right providers for the business needs.  My colleagues agreed and the idea for Birchtree Global was born.  Adult beverages were involved…

On January 1, 2019 Birchtree Global turned 20 years old.  According to JP Morgan Chase, only 7% of businesses reach this milestone.  I think one reason we’ve done so well has been our focus on enabling our client’s strategy, using fact-based documentation, by being adaptable, thinking outside the box, and hiring the best people.  All made possible by some of the best customers on the planet.

Being successful has meant we’ve been able to give back to the community and our causes.  In 2018 I’m pleased to say contributions have been made to the Colorado Book Trust, The SPCA, Solace for Stephanie, the Explorers Club, the World Trade Center, Rotary Means Business, The Bedford-Armonk Rotary Club, and the American Museum of Natural History, among others.

We look forward to the next 20 years!

Happy Birthday Birchtree Global!

For 20 years we have been globalizing strategy, companies, and people.  Enrich your understanding of global business by watching the following webinars presented by corporate experts.  HRCI and SHRM Certified!

1. Understanding Global Financial and Capital Markets with Patrick Reilly.

Patrick Reilly, noted business analyst at Pepsi, reviews and discusses how global financial and capital markets work sharing his insights and thoughts on global business.

.https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6663469669018647299

2. Risk Management: Medical Issues in Business Travel and Expatriate Management presented by Dr. David Clyde.

Dr. David Clyde President and CEO of Spinnaker Medical Consultants International, LLC, and consultant to Exxon, discusses the employee medical considerations for global business.

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6452368932274866177

3. Critical Issues in Global HRM: IHRM Conference Review, Madrid 2018:

Dr. Janet L. Walsh, President and CEO of Birchtree Global will present a summary of the critical issues in Global HR Management from the 2018 Madrid IHRM Conference.  Participants will learn the critical issues that challenge global HR managers and the solutions they have created to positively resolve them.  Information from this webinar will provide global HR leaders with up-to-date financial and operational challenges and solutions.

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3009407696755957761

4. Taking Your Business Global in 2018:

There is much to consider when globalizing a business in 2018.  Join Dr. Janet L. Walsh as she highlights the specifics involved in establishing business operations outside of your home country.  We’ll discuss the infrastructure involved in growing a business globally.  Based on our experience as corporate executives responsible for managing global business operations, we’ll show you 20 critical issues you will face.  We’ll take an in-depth look of the 5 most critical that are likely to reduce your operational and financial performance in a global environment.

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7817592934843725570

5. Success Characteristics of Foreign Direct Investment in Cuba:

Dr. Janet L. Walsh presents her cutting-edge research on Cuba market entry.  In this webinar you’ll learn why market entry skills required for successful market entry in Cuba are not the same skills as successful market entry into other countries.  We will use the travel industry as an example and highlight how this industry has done very well in bringing tourists into Cuba.

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3848725389939748611

Birchtree Global is pleased to welcome Osborne Clarke to the sensational line up of exceptional global organizations teaching BGIAP participants.

Osborne Clarke is a global law firm that advises market leaders, challenger brands and fast-growth businesses all over the world on their most important commercial affairs and their trickiest disputes. Their service lines define their core specialties as legal practitioners, each one supported by deep industry knowledge and fresh insights into the way business could work in tomorrow’s world. For example, they are an expert in advising clients on the implications of BREXIT and potential alternatives.

BGIAP is a four week, in-class and online program to rapidly accelerate market entry understanding and global business skills for company leaders.

For more information about the BGIAP program or to register, see www.birchtreeglobal.com for more information or call 770-361-8285.

For more information about Osborne Clark visit: http://www.osborneclarke.com/about/

Birchtree Global is pleased to announce The World Trade Center Atlanta will be participating in the January 16, 2019 BGIAP market entry training program.  The World Trade Center Atlanta is dedicated to providing a platform of information exchange between international professionals and companies in the Southeast interested in global initiatives.  Part of a network of over 300 World Trade Centers around the world, the WTCA Atlanta is providing free annual memberships for BGIAP participants.

BGIAP is a four week, in-class and online program to rapidly accelerate market entry understanding and global business skills for company leaders.

For more information or to register, see www.birchtreeglobal.com for more information or call 770-361-8285.

BGIAP Participating Organization: The International Executive Resources Group (IERG)

The International Executive Resources Group (IERG), founded in 1997, is a global non-profit, professional association for executives who have lived and worked outside of their home countries at senior levels for extended periods and been enriched by in-depth exposure to diverse business environments and cultures around the world (www.iegronline.org).   Membership is by invitation, and benefits include access to a global network of highly accomplished international business leaders, an array of excellent programs of interest to the international community, and camaraderie with like-minded professionals.

The IERG has graciously agreed to provide BGIAP participants with access to their webinar series “Global Leaders on the Virtual Podium”. 

For a preview of the IERG webinars please be my personal guest to hear Mr. Antony Phillipson, Her Majesty’s Consul General in New York and Her Majesty’s Trade

talk about BREXIT and the global implications.

https://www.iergonline.org/index.php?option=com_mc&view=mc&mcid=72&eventId=548418&orgId=ierg&recurringId=0

BGIAP Atlanta, January 16, 2019

Featured Participating Company

Birchtree Global is pleased to announce Dezan Shira & Associates will be joining the BGIAP team in Atlanta to provide expert advice, research, and information on Asia market entry.  BGIAP is a four week, in-class and online program to rapidly accelerate market entry understanding and global business skills for company leaders.

Incorporated in Hong Kong in 1992, Dezan Shira & Associates is a large, pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing legal, tax and operational advisory to international corporate investors. Operational throughout China, ASEAN and India, their mission is to guide foreign companies through Asia’s complex regulatory environment and assist them with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing their business operations in the region. With more than 25 years of on-the-ground experience and a large team of lawyers, tax experts and auditors, in addition to researchers and business analysts, they are the partner for growth in Asia.  Dezan Shira is a member of the Leading Edge Global Alliance.

The BGIAP program includes:

* 3 hours private consulting services with global law, tax, HR, or functional specialist

* One-year membership in the World Trade Center Atlanta

* Customized global market entry workbook with country specific information

* 20 specific market entry modules critical to strategy and operations of a global business

* Customized personal coaching from global market entry, C-Suite executives

* Documentation and paperwork required for specific country market entry as requested

For more information: https://www.birchtreeglobal.com/services/birchtree-global-incubator-accelerator-program/

Birchtree Global has changed the date of the Atlanta BGIAP program from October 19 to January 16, 2019 out of respect for the program participants and presenters living in North and South Carolina that have been affected by Hurricane Florence.  We have made donations in their name to the Red Cross and the ASPCA.  We know many people have been affected by the storm and hope other businesses will consider donating or volunteering to help with the rebuilding efforts.  

BGIAP is a comprehensive, 4-week, online/in-class program for business executives to accelerate knowledge of global market entry.   BGIAP allows participants and teams to acquire the strategic and operational knowledge needed to make successful financial and fiduciary decisions.

A world-class team of business experts guide participants through the strategic challenges, paperwork, infrastructure, regulations, and functional knowledge needed to establish a business overseas.  Faculty include C-Suite global executives from Fortune 500-Unisys, IBM, Walmart, Korn Ferry, Mead Westvaco, Exxon, and INC 500 firms.  All faculty in this program have direct, corporate experience, “on the ground” setting up businesses in more than 100 countries.  Supporting information and documentation is provided by highly regarded firms including Taylor English, Dezan Shira, Osborne Clarke, Brady Ware, the World Trade Center Atlanta, Atlanta Bi-Lateral Chamber and Consular Corps Members, DF Brown, HR Dimensions, Living Abroad, and Squire Patton Boggs among others.

The program includes:

* 3 hours private consulting services with global law, tax, HR, or functional specialist firm

* Customized global market entry workbook with country specific information

* 20 specific market entry modules critical to strategy and operations of a global business

* Customized personal coaching from global market entry, C-Suite executives

* Documentation and paperwork required for specific country market entry as requested

For more information visit www.birchtreeglobal.com, for a copy of the curriculum contact us at information@birchtreeglobal.com, or by phone at: (01) 770-361-8285.