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In This Edition:
- NADEC Chair
- Meet the Team
- Committee Spotlight
- Trade News
- Upcoming Events
- NADEC Partners
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Anne Burkett
NADEC Chair, Alabama DEC
A Message from the NADEC Chair
As the National Association of District Export Councils (NADEC) begins a new year, I extend my deepest appreciation to the many companies and organizations that have supported our mission. Your involvement as sponsors of the NADEC Annual Export Conference, your engagement in local District Export Councils (DECs), and your commitment to being a Voice for Trade continue to strengthen NADEC’s impact nationwide.
I also want to recognize our dedicated NADEC Board of Directors for guiding our work in trade policy, legislative outreach, programming, and timely communications. A special thank-you goes to the U.S. Commercial Service Global Markets team and our U.S. Export Assistance Center partners for their continued guidance and support.
“NADEC looks forward to working with you to chart a new path for expanded
export success.”
The year 2026 promises to be a pivotal period for trade, with new agreements and emerging global programs. NADEC will continue monitoring the progress and opportunities associated with recently announced trade deals with the European Union, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, China, Japan, South Korea, and the ASEAN region—including Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Central & South America—including El Salvador, Argentina, Ecuador, and Guatemala. We also continue to follow developments related to tariffs, Section 301 and 232 actions, and other tools shaping reciprocal and balanced trade. Through webinars, local DEC events, and online programming, subject matter experts have provided valuable insights on these evolving issues. To stay informed, please follow the NADEC Newsletter, periodic trade alerts, and our website – www.usaexporter.org. Local DECs are encouraged to share their own programs and updates through NADEC communication channels.
NADEC is also taking an active role in advocating for the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). Please watch your email for updates on this important agreement and opportunities to support a positive outcome for U.S. small and medium-sized exporters.
I am excited to announce that the 2026 NADEC Annual Export Conference – “Global Trade in Transition” will be held May 12–13 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. We hope you will join us in the “Music City” for the latest insights on global markets, trade policy, and evolving export regulations. Please visit our website at www.usaexporter.org for program details, speakers, sponsorship opportunities, registration, and hotel information.
The NADEC Board looks forward to your engagement and support throughout the coming year.
With gratitude,
Anne
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Education & Outreach Committee
Dear Fellow DEC Members,
NADEC’s Education-Outreach Committee continues to advance exporter education through impactful monthly webinars, including the recent Global Supply Chain session with trade expert Tom Cook. Stay tuned for upcoming NADEC seminars highlighting Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, and Advanced Manufacturing, designed to deliver expert insights on high-growth export sectors.
We are strengthening partnerships with trade schools, colleges, and technical institutes to connect students with exporter mentorships and global career opportunities, expanding our programming to include agriculture and tourism through major ag, sports, and hospitality events. These collaborations support the skilled trades pipeline while providing diverse, sector-driven learning experiences.
Looking ahead, Arizona DEC is hosting the 4th USMCA SME Dialogue in Phoenix on November 19, with a B2B Matchmaking event November 18, bringing together SMEs and senior officials from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to collaborate on export opportunities. Registration is free but space-limited, with strong U.S. and Mexican participation and a special effort to recruit Canadian SMEs in growth industries.
Our sustainable sponsorship model gives partners increased visibility and long-term support, anchored by government, academic, and industry leaders.
Fred Latuperissa, NADEC Chair, Education-Outreach Committee; President, ExIm20/20 Group, LLC
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David L. Fogel Sworn In as
Assistant Secretary of Commerce
"WASHINGTON, D.C. - The International Trade Administration (ITA) announced that David L. Fogel was sworn in on October 15, 2025 as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service. In this role, Assistant Secretary Fogel will lead ITA’s Global Markets business unit dedicated to commercial diplomacy, commercial advocacy, export promotion, and foreign direct investment, with more than a thousand trade professionals across hundreds of offices globally.
David L. Fogel was nominated by President Donald J. Trump for the position, and the United States Senate voted to confirm him on October 7, 2025."*
*International Trade Administration. “David L. Fogel Sworn In as Assistant Secretary of Commerce.” U.S. Department of Commerce, 16 Oct. 2025.
Click HERE to view the full Press Release.
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USMCA SME Dialogue
Dr. John Pournoor, Co-Chair NADEC Trade Policy Committee
The United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SME) Dialogue, a trilateral government event, is happening mid-November co-hosted by Arizona DEC. NADEC is represented by several members like Tom Dustman (Missouri DEC) and Bill Edwards (Southern California DEC). NADEC also submitted a letter of support to the U.S. Trade Representative for the congressional reauthorization of USMCA coming up in 2026 early November. The (USMCA) is disproportionately important to small and medium-sized exporters because it is the one trade agreement they can actually use at scale. Canada and Mexico are typically the first export markets for smaller firms, and USMCA keeps those markets predictable with no/low tariffs on qualifying goods, modern customs rules, and strong digital-trade provisions that let U.S. companies sell manufactured goods, services, software, and technical support across borders. For SMEs that cannot afford in-house trade counsel, the fact that USMCA builds on decades of North American supply-chain integration matters even more, because their inputs, distributors, logistics providers, and buyers are already operating in the same framework. The agreement also protects U.S. content moving back and forth in regional production, which is vital for SMEs that supply parts to larger manufacturers in autos, aerospace, electronics, and medical technology. Just as important, USMCA reduces the “uncertainty premium”: smaller firms do not have the working capital to absorb surprises, seasonal measures, or inconsistent documentation. A stable, renewed USMCA gives them confidence to quote prices, to invest in e-commerce and border logistics, and to hire, turning North American proximity into real export growth for smaller businesses.
See event below
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2026 Sponsorship Opportunities
Corporate and Local DEC sponsorship opportunities are available.
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Book Your Hotel
Reserve your hotel room NOW and get a $50 discount on your conference registration!
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Provide Input on the American AI Exports Program by December 13.
As you may know, the Department of Commerce recently announced the implementation of the American AI Exports Program (Program), following President Donald J. Trump’s July 23 Executive Order on Promoting the Export of the American AI Technology Stack (E.O. 14320). The Program will select industry-led export packages that will include AI hardware, software, models, and applications across industry sectors for promotion to countries and regions around the world.
To help us shape the Program, understand industry needs, and ensure that policy outcomes are met, we have published a Request for Information (RFI) in the Federal Register and launched the aiexports.gov site. We welcome inputs and comments from U.S. and global technology companies. We encourage you to review the notice and consider submitting comments by EXTENDED DECEMBER 13, 2025, DEADLINE.
You can access the RFI here: Request for Information (RFI)
Thank you in advance for your contributions.
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Shopify for Global Growth: Powering B2B and B2C Success: Supercharge your Shopify store to win more customers at home and abroad.
Join us to discover how to harness Shopify’s powerful ecommerce capabilities - combined with AI-driven digital strategies and expert localization - to grow sales across the U.S. and in key international markets.
In this fast-paced session, you’ll learn how to:
- Optimize Shopify for both U.S. and global B2B and B2C sales
- Localize your store for trust, visibility, and conversion in any market
- Integrate AI tools to personalize the buyer journey and increase ROI
- Align Shopify with your wider marketing, sales, and fulfillment strategies
Whether your focus is domestic growth, international expansion, or both, this session will give you the roadmap to make Shopify work harder for your business.
Register HERE for the webinar.
Thursday, January 29th, 2026, 11AM EST
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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.
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