Category: Press Releases and Statements

NFTC Hires Felicia Pullam to Lead Supply Chain Policy and Antonia Rivera-Flynn to Direct Events

Posted on by Veronica Berkshire

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today announced that Felicia Pullam has joined the NFTC as Senior Director for International Supply Chain Policy.

She will lead efforts to advance key supply chain policies that support the resilience and stability of global supply chains.

Felicia has 25 years of experience working on international trade, investment, and supply chain transparency in the U.S. and Asia in both the private and public sectors.

“Felicia will be a key addition to the NFTC team. Her deep expertise in supply chain policy both in the U.S. and globally will bring significant value to our member companies as they continue navigating a challenging international landscape and changing U.S. laws,” said Tiffany Smith, NFTC Vice President for Global Trade Policy.

Last week, the NFTC also welcomed Antonia Rivera-Flynn as Director for Events and Membership Engagement.

“We are excited for Antonia to help us strengthen our community and extend NFTC’s reach by elevating and growing our portfolio of meetings and events, including our annual World Trade Dinner and International Tax Conference,” said Veronica Berkshire, Senior Director for Communications and Development.

Felicia and Antonia’s full bios can be found below.

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Felicia Pullam
Senior Director, International Supply Chain Policy

Felicia Pullam is Senior Director of International Supply Chain Policy at the National Foreign Trade Council, the leading business association dedicated solely to advancing the interests of U.S. companies in international commerce.

She has 25 years of experience working with global companies on issues around trade, investment, and supply chains.

Prior to joining NFTC, she was Senior Director at APCO’s Washington D.C. office. She previously served as executive director of the Office of Trade Relations at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is CBP’s primary point of contact for private sector and stakeholder engagement. As an advisor to the commissioner, Felicia worked on a wide range of trade challenges, including forced labor, de minimis reform, and illicit trade.

Felicia has worked on bipartisan trade and investment from both the state and federal perspective: she has served in the Office of Delaware Governor Jack Markell, as well as at the Maryland Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Commerce. During the Obama administration, Felicia helped steer SelectUSA, a presidential initiative housed within Commerce, through a high-pressure start-up phase to promote the United States as the leading global destination for foreign direct investment. Felicia was then appointed to be the deputy assistant secretary for textiles, consumer goods and materials, where she managed three offices to analyze and implement trade policy covering a large swath of the global economy.

Outside of government service, Felicia served as the director of strategy at the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Earlier in her career, she spent nearly a decade in China, leading the Asia regional corporate responsibility and sustainability practice for APCO.

Felicia got her start as a Princeton in Asia Fellow, followed by a yearlong adventure as the tutor and translator for actress Zhang Ziyi. She graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University.

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Antonia Rivera-Flynn
Director, Events and Membership Engagement

Antonia is Director of Events and Membership Engagement at the National Foreign Trade Council, the leading business association dedicated solely to advancing the interests of U.S. companies in international commerce.

Before joining the NFTC, Antonia was the Senior Events Manager at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. She was responsible for the oversight and execution of both private and public events at the institution.

Antonia received her bachelor’s degree in History from Christendom in Front Royal, Virginia. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Policy at The Catholic University of America.

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About the NFTC
The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) is the premier business association advancing trade, tax, national security, and supply chain policies that support access to the global marketplace. Founded in 1914, NFTC promotes an open, rules-based global economy on behalf of a diverse membership of U.S.-based businesses, who account for over $6 trillion in revenue and employ nearly 6 million people in the United States.

NFTC Regrets Passage of Graham Sanctions Bill, Urges Restraint

Posted on by Veronica Berkshire

WASHINGTON, D.C. – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Vice President for National Security Policy Jeannette Chu issued the following statement today in response to the passage by the House of Representatives of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act:

“Congress may live to regret its decision to pass the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which will give the President unprecedented authority to apply sanctions through new secondary tariffs.

“While the goals of the bill are laudable, it is perplexing that Congress has chosen to give the President additional authority given his enthusiasm for raising tariffs on allies and adversaries alike.

“We urge the administration to be transparent, use restraint, and consider the potentially broad unintended consequences of imposing tariffs under this bill’s authority. For example, providing objective and verifiable criteria for determining which trading partners to tariff, along with clear offramps, can bring much-needed transparency to the implementation process.

“As we have previously warned, the consequences of these new tariffs could extend to our closest allies and partners and even to Ukraine and its citizens – the very people this law was intended to help.”

Read more about the potential consequences of the use of secondary tariffs here.

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About the NFTC
The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) is the premier business association advancing trade, tax, national security, and supply chain policies that support access to the global marketplace. Founded in 1914, NFTC promotes an open, rules-based global economy on behalf of a diverse membership of U.S.-based businesses, who account for over $6 trillion in revenue and employ nearly 6 million people in the United States.

Australian Software Royalty Ruling Runs Counter to International Tax Norms

Posted on by Veronica Berkshire

WASHINGTON, D.C. – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Vice President for International Tax Policy Anne Gordon issued a statement following the Australian government’s decision to finalize the Software Royalty Ruling (TR 2026/2):

“We are extremely concerned that the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has decided to double down on its unprincipled approach to routine business transactions. This guidance continues to run counter to international tax norms, including unilaterally reinterpreting the U.S.- Australia Tax Treaty.

“Moving forward with this ruling ignores recent Australian case law and further erodes investor confidence as well as the overall business climate in the country.

“Given widespread pushback and the litany of issues, we urge the ATO to reconsider this approach.”

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About the NFTC
The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) is the premier business association advancing trade, tax, national security, and supply chain policies that support access to the global marketplace. Founded in 1914, NFTC promotes an open, rules-based global economy on behalf of a diverse membership of U.S.-based businesses, who account for over $6 trillion in revenue and employ nearly 6 million people in the United States.

NFTC Encourages the U.S. and Canada to Return to the Table

Posted on by Veronica Berkshire

WASHINGTON, D.C. – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Senior Director for Trade and Innovation Brad Wood today issued the following statement following the breakdown of talks between the United States and Canada:

“We are profoundly disappointed that the encouraging momentum that the U.S. and Canada had announced early last week fell apart at the 11th hour. The imposition of a new round of tariffs, the announcement of future tariffs by the United States, along with Canada’s announced retaliation, emphasize exactly what is at stake.

“The reality is that the United States and Canada have highly interconnected and mutually beneficial economies. Businesses of all sizes on both sides of the border rely on this trade and would benefit from their governments’ ability to reach an agreement.

“We urge negotiators not to let this moment give way to sustained frustration, and instead prioritize and continue their work to deliver a bilateral framework that protects industries and builds toward the renewal of USMCA. Both Canada and the U.S. are stronger as part of an integrated North American manufacturing platform that boosts our mutual competitiveness globally.”

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About the NFTC
The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) is the premier business association advancing trade, tax, national security, and supply chain policies that support access to the global marketplace. Founded in 1914, NFTC promotes an open, rules-based global economy on behalf of a diverse membership of U.S.-based businesses, who account for over $6 trillion in revenue and employ nearly 6 million people in the United States.

NFTC Regrets Introduction of News Bargaining Legislation in Australia

Posted on by Marshall Lane

WASHINGTON, D.C. – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Vice President for Global Trade Policy Tiffany Smith issued the following statement following the Australian government’s introduction yesterday of legislation to establish the News Media Bargaining Incentive:

“We regret that Prime Minister Albanese’s government has decided to push forward and introduce the News Media Bargaining Charge Bill 2026 to codify the news bargaining agreement.

“As we have stated repeatedly, this policy, akin to a digital services tax, unfairly and discriminatorily targets just a handful of our country’s most dynamic companies.

“We urge the Trump administration to engage the Australian government on this and other domestic policies that are hampering American companies’ ability to do business in the Australian market.”

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About the NFTC

The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) is the premier business association advancing trade, tax, national security, and supply chain policies that support access to the global marketplace. Founded in 1914, NFTC promotes an open, rules-based global economy on behalf of a diverse membership of U.S.-based businesses, who account for over $6 trillion in revenue and employ nearly 6 million people in the United States.

NFTC Urges Continued U.S., EU Negotiations

Posted on by Veronica Berkshire

WASHINGTON, D.C. – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Vice President for Global Trade Policy Tiffany Smith issued the following statement:

“Last week’s statements from the President and Ambassador Greer show the Administration is losing patience with the EU’s one-step forward, two-steps back approach to the bilateral relationship.

“These are not idle threats, and we strongly support the Administration’s willingness to push back against the EU’s aggressive overregulation of leading U.S. digital companies. Beyond the urgent digital issues that triggered these announcements, we still need to see meaningful progress on other problematic issues, including digital services taxes, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), and the Deforestation Regulation.

“We urge the EU to negotiate meaningful outcomes with the U.S. that will preserve this important bilateral relationship.”

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About the NFTC
The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) is the premier business association advancing trade, tax, national security, and supply chain policies that support access to the global marketplace. Founded in 1914, NFTC promotes an open, rules-based global economy on behalf of a diverse membership of U.S.-based businesses, who account for over $6 trillion in revenue and employ nearly 6 million people in the United States.

Graham Sanctions Bill Would Create Unprecedented Expansion of Presidential Tariff Authority

Posted on by Veronica Berkshire

WASHINGTON, D.C. – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Jake Colvin today issued a statement as the Senate considers “The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia” (S. 5205) bill.

“The NFTC recognizes the need to enhance the United States’ ability to impose and enforce meaningful sanctions against Russia and the countries that support its aggression against Ukraine. However, authorizing the use of tariffs to penalize sanctions evasion would be an unprecedented expansion of tariff authority and conflates two very different concepts. Such a move would expand both trade and national security authorities, and enable the Executive Branch to impose broad tariffs on America’s allies and major trading partners disguised as targeted sanctions.

“Given the Administration’s history of using national security as a pretext for imposing new tariffs, rushing to give the President additional unchecked tariff authority to use against America’s allies without adequate guardrails is a surprising choice.

“Congressional leaders ought to consider the long-term effects of the sanctions legislation they seem ready to ram through. Yesterday, the President used a nearly 100-year-old statute for the first time to impose tariffs on Canada. Once Congress delegates an authority, it is nearly impossible to claw it back or control its use.

“We urge Congress not to sleepwalk through this process. Congressional leadership should revisit the tariff provisions in the bill, decouple them from sanctions enforcement measures, and include guardrails and best practices that preserve Congressional authority.”

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About the NFTC
The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) is the premier business association advancing trade, tax, national security, and supply chain policies that support access to the global marketplace. Founded in 1914, NFTC promotes an open, rules-based global economy on behalf of a diverse membership of U.S.-based businesses, who account for over $6 trillion in revenue and employ nearly 6 million people in the United States.

USMCA is Critical to American Competitiveness

Posted on by Veronica Berkshire

WASHINGTON, D.C. – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Senior Director for Trade and Innovation Brad Wood today issued the following statement, on the date of the first United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Joint Review:

“The integrated North American marketplace created by USMCA is the bedrock of U.S. competitiveness, delivering affordable domestic manufacturing and enabling American firms to compete and win in global markets.

“As negotiations continue beyond today’s formal review date, the NFTC urges all three governments to work trilaterally to address the remaining barriers and prioritize renewal of the agreement to restore the stability, predictability, and rules-based framework that the USMCA provides to U.S. businesses, workers, and consumers.”

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About the NFTC
The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) is the premier business association advancing trade, tax, national security, and supply chain policies that support access to the global marketplace. Founded in 1914, NFTC promotes an open, rules-based global economy on behalf of a diverse membership of U.S.-based businesses, who account for over $6 trillion in revenue and employ nearly 6 million people in the United States.

NFTC Cautions Utility of Public CbCR Reports

Posted on by Veronica Berkshire

Today, the first Public Country-by-Country reports are due in Australia and Europe for fiscal year taxpayers with a June 30 year-end. Calendar-year taxpayers will submit reports by December 31, 2026. These reports are separate from confidential Country-by-Country reports, which companies have submitted to tax authorities for several years.

While both the Australian and European regimes aim to increase transparency, they are based on different legal frameworks and reporting rules that limit comparability. The starting point for each of these reports is financial accounting data, but there are several differences and required adjustments that could lead to misinterpretations about the actual economic activity occurring in a particular country. For example, reported revenue amounts may double count intra-company sales common in complex multinational supply chains, leading to artificially inflated revenues. Country-by-Country reports also do not take into account routine tax outcomes, such as refunds from prior-year overpayments, audit adjustments, or the use of loss carryforwards, which may create volatility in reported tax paid that does not reflect current-year activity.

Furthermore, these reports do not reconcile with U.S. financial reporting, which uses other standards and rules. As a result, Country-by-Country reports may create confusion if viewed without the proper context. Accordingly, stakeholders, including lawmakers, should exercise caution when drawing conclusions based on comparing data across jurisdictions or to financial reporting metrics.

More Information

More details about Australia’s reporting requirements can be found here.

For more details about reporting in the European Union, please see EU Directive 2021/2101.

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About the NFTC
The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) is the premier business association advancing trade, tax, national security, and supply chain policies that support access to the global marketplace. Founded in 1914, NFTC promotes an open, rules-based global economy on behalf of a diverse membership of U.S.-based businesses, who account for over $6 trillion in revenue and employ nearly 6 million people in the United States.