WIIT and WIIT Trust Holiday Party and Silent Auction
Please join the Association of Women in International Trade (WIIT) and the WIIT Charitable Trust for our Annual Holiday Reception and Silent Auction on Wednesday, November 28th from 6:00 - 8:30pm at the Australian Embassy!
Our list of auction items is growing fast – so many interesting things to bid on –and you can get your holiday shopping done early!
Enjoy drinking or learning about wine? We have a tasting and tour at the City Winery in DC, several baskets of amazing New Zealand Wines, a tasting for 4 at the Paradise Springs Winery, and more up for grabs.
Are you a foodie or enjoy hosting? Bid on a Crack Pie from Milk Bar, a "Tea for Two” basket featuring Ceylon Teas from the Embassy of Sri Lanka, or a “Sleepless in Seattle” basket featuring coffees from local beaneries in Seattle!
Come prepared to bid – the silent auction benefit the WIIT Trust scholarship fund, which provides financial support to our awardees with graduate or undergraduate studies in international trade.
Registration Fees
(November 1st – 27th)
$50 WIIT Members (MUST be logged in to register)
$60 Non-Members
November 8, 2018 | 5:30pm - 8:00pm
Trade Policy and Agriculture: A Perspective from Canada,
Mexico and the European Union
Hosted by the Delegation of the European Union to the United States, Washington, DC
November 13, 2018 | 8:30am - 10:00pm
The Fight Against Corruption to Level the Playing Field
for U.S. Exporters
Hosted by C&M International, Washington, DC
November 28, 2018 | 6:00pm - 8:30pm
WIIT and WIIT Charitable Trust Holiday Party and Silent Auction
Hosted at the Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia, Washington, DC
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement: What’s New and What’s Not in a Post-NAFTA North America? November 8th from 12:15 - 2:00pm at the D.C. Bar
President Trump made renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) one of his Administration’s primary trade policy objectives. On September 30, 2018, the three countries, the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, announced that they had reached consensus on a new framework for trade in North America, which President Trump stated would be known as the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Pre-registration for this program is encouraged. D.C. Bar membership is not required to attend. Food is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 11:30 am.
(Left to Right) Cami Mazard - WIIT DC, Fridah Kilemi - OWIT Nairobi, Susan Baka - OWIT Toronto. Hulya Kurt - OWIT Lake Geneva
USDA Economist Position Open
The Office of Agreements and Scientific Affairs (OASA) is excited to announce a GS-11/12 International Economist vacancy announcement for multiple Divisions. This high-profile OASA position allows the successful candidate to be at the forefront of contributing to the defense and expansion of U.S. agricultural exports in foreign markets.
This vacancy is currently open from November 2-8, 2018. To view the announcement for more details, please click DEU or MP as appropriate.
WIIT Event Recaps
Pillsbury Hosted WIIT's November 1st
Roundtable Discussion with Senator Brock
On November 1, WIIT hosted former Senator, USTR, and Secretary of Labor Bill Brock for an interactive roundtable on the state of international trade relations. In a conversation moderated by Lisa Schroeter, President WIIT, Senator Brock first provided a useful history of the 20th century highlighting how the two world wars and economic downturns necessitated the creation of strong multilateral economic and political institutions. He stressed that the US economy, like economies across the globe, had changed in fundamental ways - moving away from manufacture of goods to a services based economy. Going forward, there needs to be a recognition and effort to address job losses and employment deficits through new models, skills retraining and economic support to ensure that workforce adapts to modern economies.
Senator Brock addressed the challenges with the WTO including its inability to keep up with the changing nature of the global economy. On the current negative rhetoric against globalization and trade, Senator Brock stressed on the need to educate not just companies and decision makers but workers on the opportunities that trade has brought to their particular industry.
CT Strategies Hosted WIIT's Annual
Speed Mentoring Event on October 24th
The WIIT Professional Development Committee held its popular annual speed mentoring event at CT Strategies this past Wednesday, October 24th. Professionals new to the field of international trade individually met with experienced WIIT attorneys, government personnel, and other trade specialists to learn about career experiences and hear advice at the fast-paced speed dating style event. The mentors and mentees also enjoyed networking while enjoying snacks and wine. Thanks to CT Strategies for hosting this great event!
Trust Tidbit
So did we get you excited with our Wine Not? Items last week? That category has grown since then, but this week we would like to entice you with you a few of the items generously donated by the Embassies in DC, a category we are calling Embassy Row:
Rum from the Dominican Embassy
Sake from the Japanese Embassy
Wines from the Canadian Embassy
Embassy of Guatemala Gift Basket
Selection of Wines from the Israeli Embassy
Tea for Two! A basket of Ceylon Teas from the Embassy of Sri Lanka
Scarves from the Embassy of Singapore
Gift Basket from the Embassy of Finland
We certainly hope that you already purchased your tickets. But not to worry – they are still on sale! And you don’t have to be a member to attend, so bring along a friend or two who could use a fun night out.
With the leadership of WIIT member Orit Frenkel and the American Leadership Institute – read about interesting potential for:
America’s Path back to Global Leadership – WTO Reform
by Dr. Paula Stern
Even before the explosion of trade-related news generated by President Donald Trump’s election, there were calls for reform in the World Trade Organization.
Two main issues face the organization: the challenge to market economy principles and practices from an ascendant China, as well as increasing populist, protectionist and isolationist pressures around the world, including in the United States (1). The U.S. must positively engage with other nations and play a leadership role to reform and modernize the WTO in order to address these challenges.
The WTO, and the multilateral, rules-based system world order it represents, provides an essential strategic underpinning that bilateral agreements -- and unilateral demands -- lack. For seven decades, market-oriented, rule-of-law economic principles have been the core of the WTO. This approach, rather than an “America First” strategy which isolates the United States, is key to American interests and values.
1. Alan Wolff, Deputy Director General, WTO,” The WTO and the Future of the Global Trading System.”The American Leadership Initiative was founded to develop a new vision for restoring American global leadership through smart and robust diplomacy, development and trade policies. This new vision seeks an effective, long-term alternative to the populist isolationism now undermining American economic and national security interests.
Our Fall Communiqué was published in October!
Check out these interesting and insightful ideas on WTO Reform –
and the opportunity to re-engage on multilateral trade.
Have ideas you’d like to see discussed in the Communique? Let us know!
Self Confidence is one of the hardest things to achieve, especially for women. WIIT is sharing inspirational musings by women leaders to combat this and help women be less ambivalent to LEAN IN and get to the top!
“Take criticism seriously, but not personally. If there is truth or merit in the criticism, try to learn from it. Otherwise, let it roll right off you."
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement: What’s New and What’s Not in a Post-NAFTA North America?
on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for reminders on our upcoming WIIT Trade Talks and other networking events!
