When?

We always strive to keep you informed of the latest and greatest trade events. In this vain, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be hosting the 2017 EAST Coast Trade Symposium on December 5-6 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

More information about the event, including where to register may be found below.

• Click here to register.
• For additional information, please click here 2017ECTS.
• For hotel reservations, please click here MarriottMarquis

If you need reasons to attend (or to get your employer to foot the bill), here our the top reasons!

1. Interact with ALL LEVELS of CBP at one place and time! Shy to ask questions in large groups? Well, this is your chance to get one on one interaction with ALL levels of CBP – ask all of the questions you want. You get to have a POSITIVE interaction with CBP and make priceless connections.
2. Want to know more about CBP Priority Trade Initiatives? CEE’s? Trusted Trader Program Status? CBP’s efforts with E-commerce and MUCH more? This is the event for you!
3. NETWORK! The biggest and best importers, exporters, brokers, forwarders and amazing customs attorneys are all under one roof at the same time! Expand your network!
4. Enjoy networking event with the Organization of Women in International Trade (www.OWIT.org). OWIT is THE premier networking organization for women (and men that support the advancement of women!) in international trade and business. We typically have an informal get together! Email me at jen@diaztradelaw.com for the details. You don’t have to be a current member to join us!

Our guest speakers are ROMAINE SEGUIN and ANNA COLAVITTI. The discussion will be moderated by JENNIFER DIAZ. The webinar will take place on WEDNESDAY, JULY 26 at 12:00 P.m. EST. Members of any OWIT chapter pay a discounted rate of $25.00 and future members of OWIT are charged $40.00. Register now to reserve your space! Bio’s of the speakers are below.

ROMAINE SEGUIN is President of UPS International, Inc., Americas Region. As president of UPS Americas Region, Romaine Seguin is responsible for all UPS package and cargo operations in Canada and more than 50 countries and territories, as well as the UPS Supply Chain Solutions operations throughout Latin America, Miami and the Caribbean. Romaine began her career with UPS in the Missouri District in 1983. Throughout her career, she has held a variety of operational and management roles including serving as the ramp and division manager in Louisville, Ky. responsible for the opening of the very first automated test wing at the company’s global air hub, UPS WorldportTM. She has been managing director of UPS’s Gulf South District and Minnesota District as well as chief operating officer, UPS Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). She sits on several boards, including the Florida International University (FIU) School of Business Dean’s Council, the board of Trustees of William Woods University, the United Way of Miami-Dade board, the Conferencia Latinoamericana de Compañías Express (CLADEC) board – Latin America Conference of Express Companies, and the World Trade Center Miami’s board of Directors, of which she was recently named the 2017 Chair-Elect.  Romaine holds a degree in Marketing Management from William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri and an MBA from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.

ANNA COLAVITTI is Import Manager at MIQ Logistics. Prior to her position as Import Manager, Anna served as Export Manager at MIQ Logistics. Anna has a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

JENNIFER DIAZ is a Customs and International Trade Law attorney at Diaz Trade Law. Jennifer is a Board Certified International Attorney who is considered an expert in international law by the Florida Bar. She joins an elite group of Board Certified International Attorneys in Florida. She is the founder of Diaz Trade Law, P.A., assisting clients with issues relating to the import and export of merchandise to and from the United States. Ms. Diaz is experienced working with the many Federal agencies including, but not limited to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Jennifer is also the Executive Vice President of OWIT International and a Small Business Sponsor of OWIT International.

Register TODAY!

The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT South Florida) is hosting an event you don’t want to miss: The Making of Global Cities: Can Miami Follow a Bold Strategy?

The CBP East Coast Trade Symposium theme is “Trade’s Impact on American Health, Safety and Economic Prosperity” and will take place from December 1-2, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia.

Our top 5 reasons to attend including an invite to a premier networking event are below!

Why Attend?

1. Interact with ALL LEVELS of CBP at once place and time! Shy to ask questions in large groups? Well, this is your chance to get one on one interaction with ALL levels of CBP – ask all of the questions you want. You get to have a POSITIVE interaction with CBP and make priceless connections.
2. Want to know more about ACE? CEE’s? Trusted Trader Program Status? CBP’s efforts with E-commerce and MUCH more? This is the event for you!
3. NETWORK! The biggest and best importers, exporters, brokers, forwarders and amazing customs attorneys are all under one roof at the same time! Expand your network!
4. If you’re a member Global Entry – you can sign up and get fast tracked by having your in person interview AT the Symposium. (Global Entry is the BEST PROGRAM ever allowing expedited clearance upon arrival to the US for low risk travelers. More information on WHY you NEED in is here). Once conditionally approved schedule your interview at the special enrollment center ECTS2016! Easy!
5. Enjoy a TERRIFIC networking event with the Organization of Women in International Trade (www.OWIT.org). OWIT is THE premier networking organization for women (and men that support the advancement of women!) in international trade and business. We will be meeting on 12/1/16 at 5:30pm (for the secret location, email me at jen@diaztradelaw.com). You don’t have to be a current member to join us!

Convinced? I hope so! Let me know if you’ll be attending so I can invite you to our OWIT event! Would love to see you there. For information on registration/lodging and the full agenda, see below.

How to Register?

• REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!!! To Register Click Here!!

Cost to Register?

• The registration fee is $143.00 U.S. dollars. Registration must be made on-line at CBP.gov and payment must be made by credit card. (Online Registration Form)

Location & Lodging

• CBP has confirmed the following hotel room block for the Trade Symposium:
• Hyatt Regency Crystal City
  2799 Jefferson Davis Hwy
  Arlington, VA 22202
  Website: https://aws.passkey.com/go/USCustomsEastCoast16

Agenda

Thursday, Dec 1, 2016

• WELCOME
  • 8:05 am – 8:20 am     
• OPENING REMARKS
  • 8:20 am – 9:40 am     
• A NORTH AMERICAN LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVE 
  • Recently, President Enrique Peña Nieto, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Barack Obama met at the North American Leaders Summit in Ottawa, ON. The meeting was an opportunity to reaffirm their desire to beef up economic integration across North America and by working together North America can be the most competitive Region in the world.  Hear from the North America Customs leaders their perspective on how this integration can become a reality.
  • 9:55 am – 10:15 am                                                                                                   
• WCO: COMPLIANCE AND FACILITATION- OVERVIEW
  • 10:30 am– 11:45 am  
• THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN
  • It’s an important business practice to enhance, improve, and maintain the security of your supply chain.  During this panel, CBP and Trade will discuss the complexities of the supply chain and share how you can continue to strengthen the compliance and integrity of international trade.
  • 11:45 am – 1:00 pm
• KEYNOTE ADDRESS
  • 1:15 pm – 2:30 pm
• INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS
  • This panel will focus on the some of the long-term challenges for trade enforcement and facilitation as well as opportunities to undertake and overcome these challenges. In looking ahead five years, this panel aims to highlight these challenges and how institutions are positioning themselves in response.
  • 2:45 pm– 4:00 pm
• THE FUTURE OF TRADE FROM AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
  • This panel will focus on how America’s trade partners are positioning themselves to react and ever-shifting trade environment. In looking ahead, this panel aims to discuss upcoming challenges to both governments and the Trade.

Friday, Dec 2, 2016

• NORTH AMERICAN SUMMIT
  • 8:00 am – 9:05 am 
• NORTH AMERICAN SINGLE WINDOW APPROACH and VISION
  • As Canada, Mexico, and the United States advance their respective Single Windows, the 3 countries have committed to align their approaches in order to streamline processes and requirements to greatest extent possible to foster fair and competitive trade in North America.
  • 9:00 am – 10:10 am
• A NORTH AMERICAN BROKERS PERSPECTIVE 
  • Customs Brokers in North America approximately file over 90 percent of the filings of imports to their respective countries. Hear from their perspective how they view the future of North American trade and the areas that they are focusing on for the next five years.
  • 10:10 am – 11:15 am
• NORTH AMERICAN COORDINATED BORDER MANAGEMENT
  • Discuss the perspective for achieving harmonization between North American government agencies.
  • 11:15 pm – 12:30 pm
• 4 BREAKOUT SESSIONS
  • 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm
• LUNCHEON KEYNOTE ADDRESS
  • 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm
• 4 BREAKOUT SESSIONS
  • 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm
• 4 BREAKOUT SESSIONS
  • TRADE ENFORCEMENT
    • During this breakout session CBP, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Labor, and industry will discuss forced labor, e-allegations regarding anti-dumping and countervailing duty evasions, and other trade enforcement issues.
  • ECOMMERCE
    • E-commerce is growing at a fast pace and the opportunities are endless.  The technological advancements in marketing, online financial exchanges, and business sales are key to this growth.  During this panel, CBP and Trade will discuss the facilitation, flow, and future of E-commerce.
  • EXPORTS
    • “Reinventing exports with the Single Window, how modernizing the export process will create a more streamlined supply chain.  How will post departure filing evolve to fit into this new paradigm?”
  • ACE
• New! CENTERS DISCUSSION ROUNDTABLE
  • The Centers of Excellence and Expertise (Centers) will conduct interactive discussions with participants through an individual round-table style format. The Centers will spend time at each table hosting conversations focusing on one of the CBP trade priorities, such as enforcement, strategic trade processing, industry collaboration, efficiencies gained and account based principles.  This is an opportunity to have an up-close and personal discussion around the mission and operational focus of the Centers.

We are excited to announce our upcoming 3 part seminar series on Importing, Exporting, and FDA Compliance! Government and private speakers will participate.  

• Import/Export clearance requirements
• Import/Export laws and regulations
• Importers “Reasonable Care” requirements including a summary of the importation process
• Best practices for enforcement issues and mitigation strategies with U.S. Customs
• FDA and U.S. Customs compliance issues when importing food, cosmetics, and medical device products
• Medical device basics, FDA Laws/Regulations
• FDA import process, what you need to know to import
• FDA Notices of Action, and best practices for due diligence and responding to enforcement actions

• Learning what is legal for U.S. businesses as it relates to Cuba.
• Learning what travel to Cuba is authorized.
• Learning about IDT Telecom’s direct interconnect with Cuban Telecom (ETECSA), and future opportunities for growth in telecom and financial services

I have the pleasure of presenting with Julie Manevitz the Director of Operations for  Global Top Up at IDT Telecom. 

OWIT Members benefit from a reduced registration fee of $25, while the fee for future members is $40. REGISTER TODAY!

Pictured above from left to right: Natalie Putman, Michelle Livingstone, Jennifer Diaz, Monica Wooden, Andy Funk

Bold is the operative word of the day. 250 people gathered at Miami Dade College today to hear about educational and career opportunities for women and minorities in the transportation/supply chain industry. The event was put on in collaboration with the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT-South Florida), and the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). The audience was composed of high school and college students as well as industry professionals. The message was incredibly positive, after all, trade is booming. Jennifer Diaz, Partner & Chair of Becker & Poliakoff’s Customs and International Trade Department, cited U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) statistics from its recent import trade trends, stating CBP processed 2.38 trillion worth of imported goods in 2012, up 5% from 2011. The top trading 5 partners, in order, include China, Canada, Mexico, Japan and Germany.