Washington DC – Today, National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Bill Reinsch issued the following statement in response to the World Trade Organization (WTO) announcement that Mexico and Canada may impose $1 billion of combined retaliatory tariffs on imported U.S. products as a result of U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) rules. 

“This decision by the WTO arbitrator is a vivid reminder of the costs of not complying with our international obligations. We have had literally years to fix this problem and have not done so, and now we face a billion dollar penalty. The House has acted responsibly by repealing the offending provision, and it is now time for the Senate to do the same thing without delay.” 

The NFTC is a member of the COOL Reform Coalition, which advocates for U.S. compliance with WTO obligations.

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About the NFTC
Serving America’s Global Businesses Since 1914 – The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules- based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.

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Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) announced the departure of James Wilkinson, Vice President for Strategy and Growth. Wilkinson headed NFTC’s business development efforts, including marketing, communications and membership growth. In addition, Wilkinson coordinated with the Board of Directors, organized the NFTC Foundation’s annual World Trade Dinner and led the promotional activities and events surrounding the organization’s 100th anniversary last year. 

“I want to thank James for his leadership and contributions to NFTC over these last couple of years – most notably, for his role in heading the centennial celebratory activities for the NFTC Foundation,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “James has been an invaluable addition to our staff, and he will be greatly missed.” 

Wilkinson joined NFTC in April 2013 after serving as Executive Director of the Washington International Trade Association since 2003. His last day at the NFTC will be Friday, October 30.  

“I have enjoyed the time I’ve spent with NFTC. I am proud to have been a part of the centennial celebration, a milestone in the organization’s impressive history,” said Wilkinson. “I turn now to my next adventure, leading a growing, nationwide professional society in the medical field. I look forward to serving the members there, while pushing myself professionally in my new capacity.”

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About the NFTC
Serving America’s Global Businesses Since 1914 – The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules- based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.

Washington, DC – Today, National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Bill Reinsch issued the following statement applauding House approval of legislation to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank).

“Today’s vote to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank’s charter in the House is a welcome step toward reinstating this important institution and securing U.S. jobs, export potential and economic growth.

“For more than 70 years, the Ex-Im Bank has been effective in providing critical financing to U.S. companies acting in an increasingly competitive global economy. Since the Bank’s charter expired at the end of June, we’ve already seen the implications for U.S. jobs and businesses across the economy. Today’s action signals important forward movement toward addressing the many negative effects of the lapse of the Bank’s charter.

“We applaud members of the House for their support and urge the Senate to act swiftly to deliver a bill to the President’s desk and put the Ex-Im Bank back in business without further delay.”

Yesterday, NFTC President Bill Reinsch sent a letter to members of the House urging their support of H. Res. 450 and the Fincher-Kirk-Heitkamp reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank.

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About the NFTC
Serving America’s Global Businesses Since 1914 – The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules- based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.

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Washington DC – Last night, at its annual World Trade Dinner and Award Ceremony, the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Foundation honored both U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker for their leadership and contributions to the trade community.

Ambassador Froman, recipient of the NFTC World Trade Award for his lifetime achievement in opening markets worldwide to U.S. trade and investment,deliveredremarks highlighting the many successes over the past year, from the renewal of the Generalized System of Preferences to passage of updated Trade Promotion Authority legislation, as well as the recently concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.

“When you step back and consider everything that TPP will help achieve, it’s clear that TPP’s importance is strategic as well as economic – it’s a victory for the open, rules-based system the United States has helped lead for decades. It’s a concrete manifestation of our commitment to the Asia Pacific and a long-term investment in global peace and prosperity,” said Ambassador Froman. “We know that every additional billion dollars ofexportssupports an average of more than 5,000 jobs, and that export-related jobs pay up to 18 percent more on average than non-export related jobs. We know that businesses that export hire more, pay more, and grow faster. So, to create jobs, increase wages and strengthen the middle class, TPP is part of the answer.”

Secretary Pritzker was presented with the Trade Leadership for the Digital Age award in recognition of her leadership in fostering policies beneficial to the way global companies conduct business in the Internet age and awareness of the ways digital trade connects ideas with people to transform the world. Inherremarks, Secretary Pritzker discussed how TPP, as well as the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework, will improve the digital trade landscape for U.S. exporters.

“The Safe Harbor Framework – administered by the Department of Commerce – is a foundational policy that protects privacy and facilitates data transfers across borders. This Framework is a critical infrastructure that underpins every sector of the global economy, and for the last 15 years, it has enabled American and European businesses to remain interconnected and thrive,” said Secretary Pritzker. “The best way to protect privacy and restore confidence in transatlantic data flows is to promptly release the strengthened Safe Harbor Framework that we have negotiated over the last two years with the European Commission.”

Now in its 101st year, NFTC Foundation’s World Trade Dinner has become a valued tradition for guests, ranging from senior U.S. government officials and diplomats to executives of critical global industries.

About the NFTC
Serving America’s Global Businesses Since 1914 – The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules- based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.

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Washington DC – National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Bill Reinsch today announced he has informed the NFTC Board of Directors that he intends to retire from his position in April 2016, having led the organization for the past 15 years.

“For the past 100 years, the NFTC has been a strong voice for an open rules-based trading system and rational international tax policies, and I am honored to have been a part of that. However, it is time for me to do something different. I don’t know what that will be, but I look forward to finding out,” said Reinsch in making the announcement. “I also have no doubt the NFTC will continue to be a thought leader in the areas of trade, tax and human resources, and I look forward to being a part of that as its president for the next six months and then as a strong supporter after that.”

“I have known and worked with Bill Reinsch for nearly 40 years, and I am proud to have had the opportunity to partner with him in his capacity as president of the NFTC,” said Ambassador Alan Wolff, Chairman of the NFTC. “He has been with the NFTC for close to 15 years as our leader and has done an outstanding job in every capacity in which he has served during his long and distinguished career of public service. We are thankful for his many contributions to the shaping of American public policy over this entire period. We will work over the next several months to find our next NFTC president to take the organization into its second century.”

Prior to joining the NFTC, Reinsch served in the Clinton Administration as the Under Secretary for Export Administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce. In that position, he administered and enforced the export control policies and anti-boycott laws of the U.S. government and monitored the condition of the nation’s defense industrial base. Prior to serving at Commerce, Reinsch spent 20 years on Capitol Hill from 1973 to 1993, most of them as Senior Legislative Assistant to the late Senator John Heinz and subsequently to Senator John D. Rockefeller IV.

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About the NFTC
Serving America’s Global Businesses Since 1914 – The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules- based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.

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