Japan Home Show, US Pavilion. The US Pavilion will be organized by the Commercial Service of the US Department of Commerce and the US Trade Center in Japan. Cost for a 3m x 3m furnished booth is $3,800.00. Call Kelly Butler at (206) 553-7250 for more details.

US Housing Fair March 11-12, 1998 Tokyo, Japan

US Housing Fair and Seminar. US exhibitors in this show will include producers of manufactured housing, building products and new building technologies. Organized by the Commercial Service of the US Department of Commerce and held at the US Trade Center in Tokyo. Cost TBD, for more information contact Kelly Butler at (206) 553-7250.

Japan Imported Housing Seminar October 16, 1997 University of Washington Seattle

A one day seminar will be held at the University of Washington in October. The seminar, organized by CINTRAFOR, CTED and Evergreen Partnership will provide an update from the September 1996 - Japan Housing Conference attended by Ambassador Mondale. Information will focus on current deregulation activities, and a detailed report from the imported housing study conducted by CTED and CINTRAFOR in March (see article page 3). Other topics:

• Future outlook for imported building materials and housing
• Overview of export trends
• Canadian exports to Japan
• Review of technical and cost efficiencies of imported housing
• Status of CTED technology transfer program
• Survey results from 2x4 Association
• Market for pre-fab housing
• Panel discussion on changing distribution channels
• Panel discussion on technical efficiency

For more information contact Ivan Eastin at (206) 543-1918.

Organization is underway for the 3rd annual Building Products International Showcase, following the successful event last January which was attended by over 400 international buyers and featured nearly 150 displays from PNW exporters. An even bigger event is being planned for January 1998, again just prior to the national home show, which will be in Dallas from January 16 - 19. Recruiting of international buyers is taking place now in Japan, Korea and China. Displays will be open for two days again. Two hundred displays are expected for the 1998 Showcase, and ongoingproduct installation demonstrations will be featured.

In addition to viewing displays, attendees will attend technical seminars on January 13 and participate in tours to housing sites and manufacturers on January 14. An industry networking reception is scheduled for January 13, 5:30 - 8:30 pm for both exhibitors and international buyers. Over 50 booths have already been sold. For more information on the showcase or for signing up as an exhibitor contact Ted LaDoux at (206) 922-6640.