| National Association of District Export Councils

NEWS:

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

Conversation with the Former NDEC Chair, Philip Pittsford . . .

Q: What is the mission of the National DEC Legislative Affairs Committee?

A: The mission of the Legislative Affairs Committee is to identify, support and advocate for 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 local DECs.

Q: What are some of the ways in which the Legislative Affairs Committee carries out this mission in relation to local DECs?

A: The Legislative Affairs Committee has two programs which are specifically designed to assist local DECs and DEC members in their legislative outreach. The first program is the DEC Regional Legislative Network. This Network consists of 8 Regional Legislative Coordinators, who are DEC members from each of the 8 Commercial Service regional networks. These Regional Legislative Coordinators assist in mobilizing local DECs to take action on key trade legislative issues, particularly in the initial stages of the consideration of such issue. The second program is the National DEC Email Alert System. This System sends out email alerts to DEC members nationwide whenever a key trade legislative measure is about to be voted on by Congress and provides a simple way for DEC members to contact their congressional representatives to express their views on such measures.

Q: How do these Regional Legislative Coordinators assist in mobilizing local DECs to engage in legislative outreach?

A: They assist in facilitating communication between local DECs and congressional members of the U.S. House and Senate, as well as with their congressional staffs, local district directors and constituents. This includes facilitating programs such as USEAC Export Achievement Awards, World Trade Day/Week, US&FCS Gold Key programs and organizing local events and webinars on legislative issues.

Q: What is the significance to exports and trade regarding the FTA legislation passed in 2012?

A: October 21, 2012, is an important day to remember in the history of exporting and trade. It was on that day that the South Korea, Colombia and Panama Free Trade Agreements were entered into. These trade agreements will significantly boost American exports, support tens of thousands of American jobs and enhance the competitiveness of American exporters in these markets.

Q: Did any of the DECs play a role in getting these trade agreements through Congress?

A: We are proud of the role that the National DEC, the 59 local DECs, and our over 1600 DEC members nationwide played in helping to get this very important legislation enacted.

Q: What are the legislative issues that lie ahead in 2014?

A: Among the issues the National DEC will be addressing in 2014 is Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), the Trans-Pacific Partnership, (TPP), the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (MTB), Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Pact (TTIP), and the U.S. Export-Import Bank Reauthorization.

You can use this National DEC presentation for below purposes: