|
In This Edition:
- NADEC Chair
- Trade News
- Upcoming Events
- NADEC Partners
| | |
2025 Conference Agenda
Please click the button below to view topics, round table discussions, awards, training sessions and hill visits.
| | |
2025 Sponsorship Opportunities
Market your company to this targeted audience.
Corporate and Local DEC sponsorship opportunities are available.
| | |
Link to Hotel
The Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036, US
| | |
Anne Burkett
NADEC Chair, Alabama DEC
Happy World Trade Month!
I look forward to welcoming many of you to Washington, DC in a few days, on May 19th, for the 2025 NADEC Annual Export Conference! The Events Committee, along with the entire NADEC Board, has been working hard to plan an impactful program addressing many key issues focused on trade and how exporters can navigate this new global landscape.
There will be a full day of meaningful discussions on “Strategies for Success in a Changing World.” Leveraging the America First Trade Policy will set the stage as our first plenary session and lead into specific conversations about how to navigate the new tariffs, supply chain strategies, and changes to export regulations to protect our nation and promote fair trade for American exporters. Specific topics to assist businesses will include an update on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), using AI for enhanced global research, new energy technology innovations enhancing U.S. competitiveness, and specific trade developments in the U.S. agriculture and aerospace & defense industries.
DECs are a critical component to the success of U.S. exporters, and we will be hearing from many local DECs on their innovative practices to support exporting companies and on how DECs and NADEC can work together and build the Trade DNA for our future workforce. We will also discuss the various non-profit structures for DEC incorporation based on each DEC’s unique needs and strategies.
Now more than ever, it is critical that we educate our elected officials on the importance of exports to local, state, and national economic development and how the expertise of the DEC community can be a tremendous benefit in this endeavor. A strong and unified DEC network is key to broadening our influence. May 20th will cover the new NADEC Public Policy Platform in detail, and how local DECs can establish their own trade policy arm. We will address best practices for reaching out to elected officials, whether on The Hill following the conference or in your district at home.
After our networking lunch on May 20th, all DEC members are invited to join the NADEC Board of Directors for an interactive discussion on planning for the future and how NADEC and the DECs can best work together in a structured approach to boost America’s exporters!
There is still time to register for this very important forum.
I hope to see you all in DC!
| | |
Exporter Agility Required in a Fast-Changing Trade Landscape
Dr. John Pournoor, Co-Chair NADEC Trade Policy Committee
Exporters today face a fast-moving trade environment shaped by evolving federal policy, global competition, and shifting demand. Staying competitive requires nimble decision-making and a commitment to market diversification.
Preparedness: Policy changes—such as updated tariffs, trade remedy enforcement, or new bilateral agreements—can quickly impact pricing, supply chains, and long-term contracts. Exporters must respond swiftly to remain viable, adjusting their logistics strategies, regulatory compliance, and customer outreach. When trade dynamics shift, those who adapt fastest are often best positioned to preserve and grow their global footprint. NADEC’s Trade Policy committee is tracking these changes and impacts via our Public Policy Platform.
Diversification: One example is in the agriculture sector, where shifts in trade policy prompted exporters to reorient shipments toward alternative markets. That kind of flexibility—being able to identify new buyers, understand regional compliance requirements, and tailor product offerings—applies across all sectors. To mitigate risks, many exporters are turning to regions with growing consumer demand, such as Southeast Asia, Latin America, and select African economies. Diversification reduces dependence on a single market and increases resilience to policy disruptions. NADEC and District Export Council’s (DECs) across the U.S. are organizing various programs to highlight these high potential markets especially for small and medium size businesses.
TA, Supply Chains & Digital: Exporters are also leveraging trade agreements (TA) to expand access and reduce tariff exposure. Others are strengthening supply chain visibility and investing in digital trade tools to manage risk and compliance more effectively.
Learn More in Washington, D.C. on May 19th.
To better understand how to navigate these complex developments, attend the NADEC Annual Export Conference on May 19 in Washington, D.C. Connect with trade leaders, explore new tools, and gain insights that can help your export small and medium size business continue to transform and thrive globally. Members of DECs from across the country will be there to learn and share.
| | |
2025 Conference Agenda
Please click the button below to view topics, round table discussions, awards, training sessions and hill visits.
| | |
Register Now
Early Bird Registration Ends After April 18th.
| | |
American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI) is accepting nominations for the AAEI Small Business Exporter of the Year Award.
NADEC is pleased to partner with associations to showcase America’s exporters and promote the importance of trade to our national economy. The American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI) is accepting nominations for the AAEI Small Business Exporter of the Year Award. Nominations are due by May 30, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. EST. Please contact Maxwell Pollack at mpollack@aaei-hq.org with the subject line “AAEI Small Business Exporter Award Information Request” for further information on the criteria to apply for this award.
The winner will be presented with the Small Business Exporter of the Year Award at AAEI’s Annual Conference in Washington, DC at the National Press Club on June 26, 2025, during the morning programming. The winner will also receive one complimentary conference registration and one voucher for a two-night stay at the Hotel Washington.
NADEC encourages Small Business Exporters, especially our DEC members, to consider applying for this award.
| | |
B2B exporters are facing a new challenge: the rules of search are changing. Traditional SEO tactics alone are no longer enough. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Google’s SGE, and Microsoft Copilot are now curating answers, not just serving up results. If your business isn’t showing up in those AI-generated responses, you're already falling behind.
IBT Online knows this — and we’re building strategies that help U.S. businesses adapt, compete, and stay visible in a world powered by AI search.
| | |
Please share your events with the
NADEC Network!
Please send any events that you would like added to the newsletter to Brenda Stelly, Communications Co-Chair, at brenda@oilcenter.com.
| | | | | |
