Free Trade Agreements: Current Trends in Policy and Practice

Date:  September 15, 2009 Time:  11:30 AM - 2:00 PM Location:  Sheraton Madison Hotel Phone:  608-265-4938 Email:  sdove@bus.wisc.edu Web Address:  http://www.bus.wisc.edu/ciber/events/ciberevents.asp?eid=1029 Contact:  Suzanne Dove Sponsor:  Madison International Trade Association (MITA) Co-Sponsor:  Center for World Affairs and the Global Economy (WAGE) and the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) Cost:  $30 for MITA members; $35 for non-MITA members

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View Frank Bryant's PowerPoint presentation here.

Overview:
Important changes have occurred in the U.S. government during 2009. The arrival of a new administration in the White House and the major shift in the balance of power in Congress bring new policy approaches in many areas, including international trade policy. Meanwhile, the world economy is experiencing what some term the sharpest recession in 50 years. With rising unemployment, calls against global trade are heard in the U.S. and elsewhere, leading to concerns about an increase in protectionist trade measures. Indeed, international trade activity has declined in absolute terms for the first time in decades. What are the Obama administration’s priorities with regard to free trade? Will it focus its efforts on expanding the number of bilateral trade agreements or take a multilateral approach under the Doha Round? In an economic environment where even successful U.S. exporters have seen their export sales decrease, what strategies can Wisconsin companies adopt to take advantage of existing free trade agreements?

Topics to Be Addressed:
Policy perspective:
(1) The Obama administration’s views on international trade
(2) Priority issues and current status of free trade agreements
(3) The next four years: bilateral vs. multilateral approach?

Business perspective:
(1) Using government and other resources to build exports
(2) Improving export sales trends in the economic downturn
(3) Strategies and resources for using free trade agreements to build exports


Speaker Biographies:
Dr. Christina Sevilla is Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Executive Office of the President. She is responsible for USTR’s private sector advisory committee system established by Congress to advise the USTR, the President, and other Executive Branch agencies on trade issues. She also manages USTR’s consultations and outreach with state and local governments on trade policy issues, including matters pertaining to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and other trade agreements. She speaks around the country and abroad to private sector groups, state and local associations, universities, think tanks and other non-governmental organizations regarding the U.S. trade agenda. Ms. Sevilla is an Adjunct Professor at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs in Washington, D.C., teaching in the Master of Arts program.

Sevilla received a Ph.D. in political science and international relations from Harvard University in 1998 as a Harvard Graduate Prize Fellow. Her articles have appeared in the National Interest, the Berkeley Journal of International Law, and the State Department'’s Economic Perspectives journal.

Frank Bryant is Vice President, Strategic Development at InSinkErator, a division of Emerson Electric Co. InSinkErator is the world’s largest manufacturer of household food waste disposers and instant hot water dispensers. Emerson Electric is a diversified global manufacturing and technology company serving industrial, commercial and consumer markets around the world.

At InSinkErator, Mr. Bryant is responsible for international marketing and sales to approximately 90 countries, marketing and sales for the division’s foodservice business, and acquisitions. A key responsibility has been to open up new international markets where InSinkErator's products were previously unknown to consumers or were unable to be sold because of local government regulations.

Before joining InSinkErator Mr. Bryant worked with S.C. Johnson & Son (Johnson Wax) in marketing positions in Canada, Mexico and the U. S., most recently responsible for worldwide business development. He previously worked with the Quaker Oats Co. in England in a variety of marketing positions. He holds an M.A. from Cambridge University, England.

Registration Required.  On-line registration is available at MITA Web site, or you can register by sending an e-mail to Jill Carmichael, MITA Treasurer, at jcarmichael@johnsonbank.com by Friday, September 11. Payments are accepted at the door on the day of the event.