Your Trade Policy & Legislative Affairs Committee
The mission of the Trade Policy and Legislative Affairs Committee is to identify, support, and promote the trade policies of the U.S. that will result in an increase in U.S. exports, enhancement of the competitive position of U.S. exporters, and improvement in the U.S. balance of trade. In addition, this committee’s mission includes identification, supports and advocacy of key trade legislative issues which impact American exporters (particularly small to medium-sized exporters), the U.S. export competitive position, the Department of Commerce International Trade Administration, the U.S. Commercial Service, and the legislative activities of the local DECs.
These trade legislative issues include matters such as free trade agreements and federal government exporter assistance programs, including, for example, US&FCS Gold Key programs and U.S. Export-Import Bank export financing programs. Trade Policy and Legilative Affairs Committee also identifies foreign trade barriers that hinder U.S. exporters and exports, as well as the U.S. legislative and regulatory policies that are disincentives to exporting. While performing its tasks Trade Policy and Legislative Affairs committee works together with the Regional Legislative Coordinators who are appointed to coordinate the legislative affairs at eight regional District Export Council networks in the U.S.
Trade Policy and Legislative Affairs committee includes the following sub-committees and working groups:
• Domestic and Americas Sub-committee
• Asia Sub-committee
• Europe Sub-committee
• Middle East and Africa Sub-committee
• Global Investment in America Sub-committee
Current Position Papers
Revitalizing the Commercial Service to Level the Playing Field for U.S. Businesses
Politico Weekly Trade, April 10, 2023: NADEC President, Jonathan Szucs, on the need for more Commercial Service Officers
National DEC Members Serving on the Trade Policy & Legislative Affairs Committee

David Day
Chair
Chairman, Global Risk Mitigation Foundation

Mark Ballam
Associate
Managing Director, Wendy Gillespie Center for Advancing Global Business, San Diego State University

Scott Blacklin
mid-atlantic representative
Principal & CEO, Blacklin & Associates

Robert Brown
advisory board
Senior Attorney, Lynch Cox Gillman & Goodman

Anne burkett
southern representative, vice chair
Executive Director, North Alabama International Trade Association

Dr. Elizabeth Chan
CEO, Global Risk Mitigation Foundation

W.E. DaCruz
At-Large Representative
Cofounder, The VGC Group and the Mushroom Angel Co

Tom Dustman
Midwest representative
International Sales Director, Sunnen Products Company

Charles Fiske
Global Trade Compliance Specialist, Valvoline

Richard Grana
advisory board
President, IMPEX

Nick Grooters
advisory board
Director of International Sales & Hobby Sales, Super Glue Corporation

Miles Hansen
PACIFIC NORTH REPRESENTATIVE
President & CEO, World Trade Center Utah

Peter Jones
Global Vice President, SmartMatic

Nate LaMar
Advisory Board
Senior Manager of International Business Development, GM Defense

FRED LATUPERISSA
Pacific south representative
President, EXIM 20/20

Luke lindberg
at-large representative
Principal, E Pluribus Unum

mariano parlato
associate
Project Manager, True North Corporation

ernesto pinal
Managing Director, Export Optimizers

Sandy Renner
Associate
Chair of the Board, FasTrack Global Expansion Solutions Inc.

john saylor
Associate
Deputy Director, International Trade Group, Commonwealth Trading Partners, Inc.

Susanne Stirling
Associate
Vice President, International Affairs, California Chamber of Commerce

Jonathan Szucs
Chair
General Manager, Advanced Superabrasives, Inc

Urszula Wojciechowska
at-large member, communications officer
Ambassador, Coalition of New England Companies for Trade

karen wyman
northeast representative, secretary
Senior Manager, Global Export Licensing, Teledyne FLIR