Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago visited USCIB on January 17 at its NY headquarters. The goal of the meeting was to discuss areas of mutual interest and opportunity regarding international investment and trade policy as well as commercial services.
Joining USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson were SVP and Chief Operating Officer Declan Daly, SVP for Policy and Global Strategy Norine Kennedy and Senior Counsel Brian Lowry.
Accompanying Under Secretary Lago were DOC/ITA colleagues including Director of the U.S. Commercial Service in New York Carmela Mammas, New York Commercial Officer Susan Hettleman, ITA Director of Public Affairs Tyrik McKeiver, and Special Assistant Hannah Followill.
Under Secretary Lago laid out key priorities for the Commerce Department and its International Trade Administration for 2023, and USCIB responded with its key priorities and noted those areas in which it will be of active support to DOC. The group discussed challenges to business inclusion in multilateral institutions and the desire for active U.S. leadership in key positions.
A key point of discussion was the ATA Carnet system for temporary, duty/tax-free imports around the world, for which USCIB serves as the U.S. National Guaranteeing and Issuing Association. The group explored how USCIB can work better with DOC to broaden and leverage the ATA Carnet service to expand U.S. exports. USCIB, which received the President’s “E” Award for Export Service in 2016, intends to renew its MOU with DOC.