WASHINGTON DC – Last week the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Foundation hosted its annual World Trade Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Washington, DC. This year’s dinner honored Representatives Brad Schneider, Kevin Hern, Carol Miller and Adrian Smith and featured remarks from Arun Venkataraman, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets, and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service.
The first honorees of the night, Representatives Kevin Hern and Brad Schneider, were recognized with the International Tax Award for reaching across the aisle and working together on a Foreign Tax Credit rule that would have had enormous impacts on American companies.
Congresswoman Carol Miller was recognized with the World Trade Award for her commitment to encouraging U.S. trade leadership, including through the recent introduction of the U.S. Trade Leadership in the Indo-Pacific Act (USTLIPA).
“I am honored to have received the World Trade Award from the NFTC and be recognized for the work that I have been doing with my colleagues to help strengthen our trade relations with our allies specifically in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Congresswoman Miller. “The United States is falling behind China when it comes to trade in the Indo-Pacific, which is why I introduced the bipartisan U.S. Trade Leadership in the Indo Pacific Act. Congress needs to implement a strong trade agenda, and this legislation is the first step in strengthening our trade opportunities with our Indo-Pacific allies while allowing the U.S. to compete in the region against the threat of China’s economic influence. I will continue to work on trade policies that will help the United States be the world leader that we need to be on the global stage.”
Congressman Adrian Smith, this year’s Trade Leadership for the Digital Age Award honoree, was recognized for his advocacy of strong digital trade provisions, including his support for a resolution outlining the importance of the U.S. digital economy and his longstanding emphasis on the role of digital technologies in supporting agriculture communities.
Arun Venkataraman, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets, and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, closed out the dinner with remarks. He emphasized that, “in the face of so much criticism leveled at trade…trade is a force for good.” He noted that the International Trade Administration is “in the business of promoting U.S. exports to foreign markets…fighting trade barriers and creating a level playing field for American firms and workers…[and] harnessing the potential of the digital economy, especially promoting trusted cross‐border data flows that are vital to the modern global economy – all the more so for small enterprises.”
The dinner also included remarks from Jake Colvin, President of the NFTC, Leslie Griffin, President of the NFTC Foundation and Susan Schwab, Chair of the NFTC Board of Directors.
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