Legislative Summit and Fundamentals Week Review

By National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones

3/25/2024

Last month, NAFTZ co-located our annual Legislative Summit and Fundamentals of FTZs events in Washington, DC. This is the first time NAFTZ has co-located any events, and it proved to be enjoyed by attendees at both. Our goal was to offer attendees that are newer to FTZs at the Fundamentals event the opportunity to network and interact with those attending the Legislative event. The co—located events shared breaks throughout the day and two evening receptions. As part of our continued emphasis to expand FTZ advocacy, participants of both events left DC with a heightened awareness and interest in engaging with NAFTZ advocacy.

NAFTZ’s 2025 Legislative Summit and Fundamentals of FTZs will also be located at The Madison hotel in Washington February 24^th – 25^th, 2025 with a full day of congressional visits on the Hill on Wednesday, February 26^th. We encourage you to mark your calendars now and join us next February.

Here’s a recap of each event held during Legislative/Fundamentals week:

NAFTZ in-person Board of Directors Meeting, Monday, February 27^th, 2024:

The NAFTZ Board of Directors holds three in-person meetings per year, gathering at each major in-person event. Key items covered at the February Board of Directors meeting are highlighted below:

Final approval of the 2024 association budget: The 2024 budget calls for a balanced budget for the year with revenues of $1.55M and expenses of $1.55M from operations. Membership in 2024 is expected to reach or exceed our all-time membership high watermark of 815 members. Dues are the primary revenue source for the association.

NAFTZ events are a key member benefit and engagement opportunity. However, the costs associated with in-person events has increased substantially post-pandemic, requiring us to take steps to mitigate costs such as the co-location of Fundamentals and Legislative in 2024 and 2025 and significant adjustments in a number of areas to manage expenses while maintaining an excellent attendee experience. The NAFTZ staff team is making expanded efforts to attract new exhibitors and sponsors to the annual conference.

The new Certified Zone Specialist (CZS) credential is one example of the efficiencies integrated in the 2024 budget. By partnering with NCBFAA’s NEI Foundation, NAFTZ is able to offer the new CZS credential with limited resources being expended while providing applicants with a full-featured on-line learning environment.

Association member profile data – a strategic discussion: As the association continues to execute our 5-year Advocacy Vision plan, it is evident that the association must capture additional detailed information about each member’s FTZ activity. It is critical that we can quickly identify specific activities and materials in each member FTZ. We need to know when FTZs are located in an area different than the members’ mailing address so that we can align FTZ activity with congressional districts. Watch for more information on this project thought the coming months.

Advocacy discussion with Sorini Samet and Associates (SSA): The February meeting was the first opportunity for the full board to meet with our new Government Relations Advisors - Ron Sorini and Megan Costello with SSA. NAFTZ has already started to significantly increase our presence on the hill, focused on building relationships with congressional offices, raising awareness of our issues and pursuing paths to resolve those issues. It is critical that trade staffers think of FTZs and NAFTZ when working on issues related to FTZs. Our efforts this spring are critical as Congress’s attention is likely to be lost by summer with the focus turning to the fall election.

Other items before the board:

The board opened its meeting with Liz Whiteman providing and update on FTZ Board activities including the recent Part 400 regulation updates and their efforts to improve FTZ data gathering and presentation.
Continued efforts to allow materials suspected of being produced with forced labor to be stored in FTZs.
New CBP COAC working group on FTZs and Bonded Warehouses
FY25 appropriations efforts for specific funding for CBP’s FTZ activities
Membership renewal rate continues to outpace prior years.

Joint Fundamentals / Legislative Summit reception Photos:

Fundamentals of FTZs:

54 individuals from 35 different organizations participated in this year’s Fundamentals event. We’d like to extend our thanks to our Fundamentals sponsors and our presenters!

Special thanks to our sponsors in making this event possible:

Fundamentals of FTZs attendees start a full-day of learning the basics of Foreign-Trade Zones in Washington, DC on February 27^th, 2024

Fundamentals of FTZs presenters Polia Comelia, Sr. Manager of Trade & Customs with the Rockefeller Group and Matt Williams, Director at FTI Consulting instructing students.

Fundamentals of FTZs attendees working through a day of learning at The Madison Hotel in Washington, DC on February 27^th, 2024

Fundamentals of FTZs presenters Polia Comelia, Sr. Manager of Trade & Customs with the Rockefeller Group and Matt Williams, Director at FTI Consulting instructing students.

Legislative Summit:

An email from a long-time member and attendee of Legislative Summits summarized the Summit in a way says it best…

I just wanted to take a few moments to thank you all for such a wonderful conference.

The Trade Policy session, with representatives from the National Retail Federation, the American Apparel and Footwear Association, and NCBFAA was very interesting. I am so grateful that we are all banding together in our visions for closer compliance, and better trade policies – which would benefit all of us. It also helps underscore how we are all united in our goals.

NAFTZ President Jeff Tafel; Jon Gold, National Retail Foundation (NRF) Vice President of Supply Chain and Customs Policy; and Beth Hughes, American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) Vice President of Trade & Customs Policy listen as Megan Montgomery, Executive Vice President of the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America discusses NCBFAA’s perspective on current trade policy.

Beth Hughes, American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) Vice President of Trade & Customs Policy addresses the Legislative Summit attendees.

In what proved to be one of the most popular new sessions to the annual Legislative Summit, Jeff Tafel, NAFTZ President; Jon Gold, National Retail Foundation (NRF) Vice President of Supply Chain and Customs Policy; and Beth Hughes, American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) Vice President of Trade & Customs Policy; and Megan Montgomery, Executive Vice President of the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America discusses each organization’s perspective on current trade policy and how they interact between associations and the common ground the associations share.

Hearing Luke Graeter [from Representative Wenstrup’s of Ohio’s office] speak was a pleasure – just having his guidance on conducting Congress visits, as well as hearing his experiences was very helpful.

Luke Grater, Legislative Director for Congressman Brad Wenstrup of Ohio’s 2^nd district advises attendees about what makes for a productive meeting with congressional staffers.

Luke Grater, Legislative Director for Congressman Brad Wenstrup of Ohio’s 2^nd district and session moderator Ron Sorini of Sorini Samet and Associates.

Jeff Tafel, NAFTZ President, Shannon Fura, NAFTZ Chair, Luke Grater, Legislative Director for Congressman Brad Wenstrup of Ohio’s 2^nd district, Katie Tangeman, NAFTZ Secretary and Eric Berry, NAFTZ Treasurer pose for a photo after Luke Grater’s very popular session.

Luke Grater, Legislative Director for Congressman Brad Wenstrup of Ohio’s 2^nd district speaks with an NAFTZ member after his session.

Liz Whitman’s session was very positive and her overview on the upcoming changes to Part 400 was very helpful, as well as her updates on Scope monitoring, OFIS monitoring, and Public Utility were helpful.

Liz Whiteman, Executive Secretary, U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board discusses recent updates from the Foreign-Trade Zones Board

Jeff Tafel, NAFTZ President; Liz Whiteman, Executive Secretary, U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board; Shannon Fura, NAFTZ Chair

The Customs sessions were wonderful – so appreciated XD Susan Thomas’ candor in her comments, followed by Director Brad Slutsky comments. These times are so valuable as it underscores the importance of our partnerships with Customs and the FTZ Board.

Susan S. Thomas; Executive Director Cargo and Conveyance Security Office of Field Operations U.S., Customs and Border Protection speaks to the Legislative Summit attendees.

Susan S. Thomas; Executive Director Cargo and Conveyance Security Office of Field Operations U.S., Customs and Border Protection; Shannon Fura, NAFTZ Chair; C. Shane Campbell Deputy Executive Director, Cargo and Conveyance Security and Bradford N. Slutsky, Director, Cargo Security and Controls Division, Office of Field Operations, CBP speak to the Legislative Summit attendees.

Members of the NAFTZ Executive Committee and speakers from Customs and Border Protection participating in the Legislative Summit.

Victor Ban’s (of USTR) comments were thorough – I wish I could have them in print. He covered so much ground that I couldn’t keep up with all of his comments – very informative. Again, I appreciate his attendance and his willingness to address the association.

Victor Ban, Special Counsel for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and Jeff Tafel, NAFTZ President

Shannon Fura, NAFTZ Chair; Victor Ban, Special Counsel for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; Jeff Tafel, NAFTZ President

I am in awe to how much the NAFTZ has expanded their legislative outreach. I appreciate the extensive organization that has gone into putting together the legislative meeting, and all of the work of the advocacy committee. The focus on building the relationships with our legislators is key – and a huge part of that is continuing the education to them of what the FTZ program means to the US economy.

I love the idea of having Fundamentals run concurrently with this summit – it gave us as veteran members a wonderful opportunity to welcome them to the FTZ community during the reception and lunch times. I am thinking having these two events combined would also make fiscal sense to combine expenses.

Finally, the recognition of Angie, and the poignant reception with her family had us all in tears. So well done. It will take a long time for us to get over her not being among us. It was so special being able to hug her family, and share our grief with them – as well as sharing with them how much Angie meant to us.

(End of email from member)

NAFTZ awarded the association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in memory of Angie Atwood from Columbus Regional Airports after her passing in December of 2023. The award was presented during the Legislative Summit as Advocacy and this event in particular, was consistently one of her favorites.

Legislative Summit attendees stand following the award presentation to Angie Atwood’s family.

NAFTZ Chair Shannon Fura presents the Lifetime Achievement Award to Angie Atwood’s husband, Dave.

Lifetime Achievement Award – Angie Atwood

NAFTZ President Jeff Tafel speaks with Angie Atwood’s family and co-workers following the reception held in her honor following the 2024 Legislative Summit.

Special thanks to our sponsors in making the 2024 Legislative Summit possible:

Congressional Visits:

In an unprecedented effort, NAFTZ conducted meetings with 36 Congressional offices on Wednesday, February 28^th following the co-located Legislative Summit and Fundamentals event. Discussions focused on educating lawmakers about FTZs positive impact to the U.S. economy and jobs, and the FTZ program’s inherent high-level compliance with U.S. customs and trade laws. Concerns about CBP’s longstanding limited ability to prioritize FTZ operational support were also raised, as well as USMCA, de minimis and UFLPA policies that are actively diminishing the competitiveness of the program and therefore holding the FTZ program back from its full potential as Congress originally intended.

Thanks to the more than 30 members who opted to participate in the hill visits! NAFTZ was able to create 6 different teams, each with a full slate of meetings. Along with the team from Sorini Samet, NAFTZ was able to arrange for teams around legislator’s districts and other key strategic alignments. This format will continue with future in-person fly-ins and similar efforts for virtual fly-ins this summer and fall.

Connecting with allied associations: The 5-year Advocacy Vision also calls for NAFTZ to enhance and nurture relationships with other professional associations in the international trade community. To this end, NAFTZ has met with several ‘sister’ associations through individual in-person meetings including an association leaders’ breakfast prior to the start of events during Legislative/Fundamentals week, and hosted the first post-pandemic meeting of trade associations leaders at the NAFTZ offices in the National Press Building earlier this month. These opportunities will continue on a regular basis going forward, as there is definitely strength in numbers when it comes to advocacy efforts.

Congressional Visits Photos

NAFTZ members posing with U.S. Representative John Garamendi.

Congressional Visit attendees gathered to discuss upcoming meetings and next steps

Photo taken in front of The Capitol in Washington, DC