The Minnesota Trade Office is pleased to present this educational program about the opportunities, challenges and legal considerations of doing business in Russia. While targeted American and European economic sanctions remain in place, there is no overall trade embargo on Russia. Russia still presents both significant challenges and opportunities for Minnesota exporters. Today, many Minnesota-based businesses are actively involved in business operations with Russia: 3M, Black River Asset Management, Cargill, Digital River, Ecolab, FAIR ISAAC, H.B. Fuller, Medtronic, Merrill, MTS Systems, Northern Technology Corporation, REGIS, Valspar, etc.

However, for the past three years, U.S. exporters have been hit with Russian sanctions. A number of Russian entities and individuals are also subject to sanctions, which requires American firms to do careful due diligence on potential business. Minnesota enterprises continue to carefully monitor the overall business climate in Russia, balancing opportunity and risk.

Session I – Greetings and overview of the trade standing between MN and Russia

Presenters:
Nikolay Megits, Ph.D., Regional Trade Manager, Minnesota Trade Office  
Chris Bercaw, Partner, Dorsey and Whitney  

Click here to view the materials from the seminar.

**NOTE: Watching this recording does not allow the user to obtain CLE, CPD, CPE or HR credits.

 

Session II – Due Diligence:  What U.S. Companies Need to Know

Presentation of perspectives and guidance aimed at American businesses seeking to comply with U.S. laws/regulations and to expand or protect their business interests in Russia.

Presenter:
Matthew Edwards, Director, Office of Russia, Ukraine & Eurasia Director, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce  

Click here to view the materials from the seminar.

**NOTE: Watching this recording does not allow the user to obtain CLE, CPD, CPE or HR credits.

 

Session III – Legal Aspects of the US trade with Russia

This summer the U.S. Congress intensified the sanctions regime against Russia by memorializing the Obama Administration’s various Executive Orders and by expanding the scope of existing sanctions in the Countering Russian Influence in Europe and Eurasia Act of 2017 (CRIEEA).  The U.S. sanctions target the financial services, energy, metals and mining, engineering, and defense sectors of the Russian Federation.  The U.S. Government is also now considering a host of secondary sanctions that could impact foreign companies doing certain business with Russia.  Failure to comply with U.S. sanctions can be costly and U.S. companies doing business in Russia must be prepared to respond immediately to evolving sanctions and adjust compliance programs to ensure they do not run afoul of the law.  This session will explore the U.S. sanctions regime against Russia including the regulations administered and enforced by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Export Administration Regulations administered by the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, and the recently-enacted CRIEEA.)

Presenter:
Larry Ward, Partner, Dorsey and Whitney 

Click here to view the materials from the seminar.

**NOTE: Watching this recording does not allow the user to obtain CLE, CPD, CPE or HR credits.

 

Session IV – Panel Discussions – Hands-on Aspects of US-Russian Politics and Trade

Presenters:

  • Thomas Hanson, Panel Moderator, Diplomat in Residence, University of Minnesota, Director of Institute of Eastern Europe and Central Asia  
  • MN Fortune 500
  • Preventive Export Activities in International Trade 
    Perry Davis, Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge (Acting), Chicago Field Office, Office of Export Enforcement
  • Russian Side of the Story
    Leo Grichener, Vice President of Russian-American Business Association of Minnesota
  • Lessons Learned of Doing Business in Russia
    Michael Brown, Vice President of International Sales, Mate Precision Tooling
  • Working in Russia Can Be Successful
    Todd Lefko, President of the International Business Development Company, Inc.

**NOTE: Watching this recording does not allow the user to obtain CLE, CPD, CPE or HR credits.