Founded in 1914, the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) is the oldest and largest trade association advocating an open, rules-based international trade system. It serves hundreds of member companies in activities encompassing international trade policy, international tax policy, human resources, and unilateral economic sanctions. The NFTC is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has an office in New York. Its current president is William A. Reinsch, former Under-Secretary for Export Administration in the Clinton Administration.[1]
According to its website, the NFTC’s mission is to advance global commerce through advocating public policies that foster an open international trade and investment regime, mobilizing and disseminating expertise and information on key issues, and influencing public debate through interaction with policy makers and opinion leaders.[2]
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NFTC develops and advocates trade and export finance policies that maximize the competitiveness of its member companies in the global marketplace. The NFTC focuses specifically on the following areas of trade:
The NFTC places great emphasis on international tax issues and initiates and resolves tax matters affecting U.S. business. It is the leading business organization on international tax issues, and successfully initiates and resolves significant tax matters affecting U.S. business. The NFTC maintains a Tax Committee which has four Working Groups: Legislative, Regulatory, Non-U.S. Issues and Tax Treaty.[4]
The NFTC serves as a thought leader on human resources trends through its international human resources (IHR) program, and provides international HR information, advice and consulting services to its members.
The NFTC IHR program:
In order to create a greater understanding of the importance of intellectual property rules, the NFTC launched a major new initiative, the Global Innovation Forum. The NFTC believes that the creation, trade and employment of innovation requires an open, rules-based system to enable effective solutions to global challenges.[6]
The NFTC develops policies to reform U.S. visa procedures for inbound business travelers and employees of U.S. multinational companies in an effort to eliminate adverse impacts on companies and their ability to compete internationally. In addition, it also monitors and advocates new visa and immigration proposals introduced in Congress, and supports comprehensive immigration reform.[7]
In 1997, the NFTC established USA*Engage, a coalition of businesses, agriculture groups and trade associations, to promote the importance of exports and overseas investment and to inform policymakers, opinion leaders, and the public about the counterproductive nature of unilateral sanctions.[8]
Incorporated in 1979, the National Foreign Trade Council Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, serves as the educational arm of the NFTC. Its mission is to inspire, promote, encourage and facilitate international trade and investment in order to enhance economic growth and job creation throughout the world. The Foundation furthers its mission through educational activities, including seminars and meetings, providing members with current information on international economics, conducting and disseminating research and studies.[10]
USA*Engage