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WIIT Weekly | Week of March 11, 2020
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Event Recap
2020 International Women's Day Celebration
A big thank you to New Zealand Ambassador Rosemary Banks and the New Zealand Embassy for graciously hosting our International Women's Day celebration! We'd also like to extend our thanks to our other sponsors and wine donors for helping to make this event a success. We had a wonderful time mingling with special guest, Hon. Tracey Martin, Minister for Children, Internal Affairs and Seniors and other members of the diplomatic corps, and seeing so many women trade leaders in one room!
                      
  

March 20, 2020 | 12:00pm - 1:30pm

The WTO Government Procurement Agreement: Why Open Procurement is Good Policy

The benefits of open procurement policies are well-established: better value for taxpayer dollars, expanded choice, transparency, efficiency, and enhanced growth. Yet, periodically these policies are called into question. This discussion will outline the legal framework in the U.S. related to international procurement rights and obligations, highlight the benefits to American businesses and workers from open procurement policies, and deliberate on the potential consequences of reduced international commitments and closed procurement markets. Panelists will touch on U.S. leadership in establishing the current international framework, misconception regarding the balance of interests, differing approaches and data deficiencies, and potential geopolitical considerations. 

Panelists:

  • Jean Heilman Grier, Principal and Manager, Trade Practice, Djaghe LLC
  • Vanessa Sciarra, Vice President, Legal Affairs and Trade & Investment Policy, National Foreign Trade Council
  • Andrew Quinn, Director of Trade and Development Policy, General Electric

Note: This event is open to WIIT members only. Refreshments will be provided. Preregistration is required. Governement issued photo ID required for entry. Invitation Non-Transferable.

Location:
Embassy of Canada
501 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20001

Nearest Metro: Judiciary Square

Pricing:
Members: Free

To Register: 
Please log in to your WIIT account and click the "WIIT Member Registration" button. You will be redirected to another page with a link to register. Please click that link and follow the prompts. 


March 30, 2020 | 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Views From the Hill: Congressional Trade Agenda 2020

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED.

Please join us for the third annual Views from the Hill event, hosted by Sidley Austin LLP in collaboration with GATT DC (LGBT Professionals in International Trade) and WIIT (the Association of Women in International Trade). This event will feature a networking reception followed by remarks from the Hill’s top brass on international trade matters. This year, we are pleased to feature insights and perspectives from chief trade counsel Angela Ellard, Katherine Tai, Nasim Fussell and Jayme White. The panel discussion will be moderated by former U.S. Congressman Jim Kolbe of the German Marshall Fund. A short Q&A session will follow the panelists’ remarks. All comments are strictly off the record.

Featuring:

  • Angela Ellard, Ways & Means Committee, Chief Trade Counsel (minority staff)
  • Katherine Tai, Ways & Means Committee, Chief Trade Counsel (majority staff)
  • Nasim Fussell, Senate Finance Committee, Chief International Trade Counsel (majority staff)
  • Jayme White, Senate Finance Committee, Chief International Trade Counsel (minority staff)


Moderator:

  • Former U.S. Congressman Jim Kolbe, Senior Transatlantic Fellow at the German Marshall Fund

Note: Networking Reception to be followed by panel discussion. 

Location:
Sidley Austin LLP
1501 K Street, NW 
Washington, D.C. 20005

Nearest Metro: Farragut North, Farragut West or McPherson Square 

Pricing:
Members: Free
Non-members: $25

Note: GATT/Sidley attendees can register at the WIIT member rate of $0 with the assigned code. To register click on “Non-Member Registration” and follow prompts. Enter code at checkout.


March 31, 2020 | 12:00pm - 1:30pm

Global Supply Chain Security: Keeping the Bad Stuff Out 

The Association of Women in International Trade (WIIT) invites you to a brown-bag discussion on the topic of supply chain security. When a parcel arrives at your doorstep from a foreign origin, do you consider what measures were taken by all parties involved to verify that it didn’t contain illicit goods, consumer safety hazards, or IPR infringements? Keeping the “bad stuff” out of the global supply chain is an important component of international trade – even more so in the days of e-commerce. Our speakers will discuss the biggest issues they face and the solutions at play to ensure that the “good stuff” can keep flowing. 


Featuring:

  • Liz Merritt, Managing Director, Cargo, Airlines for America (A4A)
 

Note: Attendees are invited to bring their own lunch. Preregistration recommended due to limited space of 20. 

Location:
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
1615 H Street NW
Washington, DC 20062

Nearest Metro: Farragut North (red line) and McPherson Square (blue/orange/silver line)

Pricing:
Members: Free
Non-members: $25


April 8, 2020 | 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Singapore-United States Relations and Geopolitics and Opportunities in the Indo-Pacific Region 

The International Student House of Washington, DC is pleased to invite members of the Association of Women in International Trade to a special off-the-record briefing with His Excellency Ashok Mirpuri, Ambassador of Singapore to the United States.

As one of the world’s fastest growing economies, Singapore has been highly successful at developing a strong free-market economy based on trade and innovation, despite limited natural and human resources. In fact, the Index of Economic Freedom ranks Singapore as the second freest country in which to do business. Yet, Singapore, like many other countries, faces challenges with shifting geopolitics, global health threats, and a changing climate. Join Ambassador Ashok Mirpuri for a discussion on Singapore - United States relations and geopolitics and opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region. 
 

Featuring:

  • His Excellency Ashok Mirpuri, Ambassador of Singapore to the United States.
 

Note: This event is open to WIIT members only. Preregistration recommended due to limited space of 20.

Location:
International Student House of Washington, DC
1825 R St NW
Washington, DC 20009

Nearest Metro: Dupont Circle (Red Line)

Pricing:
Members: Free

In the News
WIIT Member Wendy Cutler explains how the coronavirus may impact U.S.        
and China trade deals in her latest op-ed for The Hill. Read it here: 
https://thehill.com/opinion/international/486489-coronavirus-outbreak-may-force-us-china-to-rework-trade-deal.
Calling all Candidates for Programming
Co-chair Postions!


Co-chair for Health
Co-chair for Anti-corruption
Co-chair for Customs, Logistics and Transportation 
Co-chair for International Development 
Co-chair for Legislative Initiatives 
VP of Professional Development 

We're looking for people who are passionate about trade and education to fill these programming co-chair positions! For more information and to apply, please email info@wiit.org

Do you know the perfect women for these roles? Please pass this opportunity along to others who may be interested!
Event Recap
Mindfulness for Success with Ishan Shivanand
    

With thanks to Ketan Thacker, USISPF and Squire Patton Boggs for proposing, hosting, and organizing, WIIT members benefitted greatly from a mindfulness training session with Ishan Shivanand. Ishan kindly shared his own personal story, as well as a range of breathing and focus techniques that create calm in our stressed-out city. The session encouraged everyone to focus on the most meaningful things in life, and to pursue the mantras of “I deserve…”  and “good things will happen to me”. For everyone who missed this great learning, or those that want to pursue further, Ishan has regular updated weekly sessions found on his social media at
https://www.facebook.com/IshanShivanand.
 

WIIT and BSA Host 2.25 Trade Talk on
the WTO Digital Trade Negotiations

    

On February 25, 2020, the Technology & Digital Economy program section of WIIT put on a Trade Talk on the WTO Digital Trade Negotiations with representatives from government and the private sector. Hosted by BSA | The Software Alliance, the off-the-record event drew an engaged crowd from government, business, civil society, and the press.
 
Following introductory comments by Sarah Skaluba, Policy Associate, BSA, the panel discussion was moderated by Eva Hampl, Senior Director, Investment, Trade and Financial Services, USCIB. The discussion featured Sam duPont, Director of ICT Services & Digital Trade, Office of the United States Trade Representative, Hera Abbasi, Government and Regulatory Affairs Executive, IBM, and Kaitlin Sighinolfi, Director, Tax & Trade, Siemens. Mr. duPont provided an overview of the status of the E-commerce negotiations taking place in Geneva, and Ms. Abbasi and Ms. Sighinolfi outlined the priorities in these negotiations from an industry perspective.
OWITCon Vancouver
OWITCon Vancouver will be May 27th-29th, 2020 in Vancouver in collaboration with Gro Your Biz. The OWIT Board meeting will be held on Saturday, May 30th in Vancouver, all members are welcome and details will follow. To purchase the full conference package please go to: https://excelerate-conference.com/shop/full-conference-package/. Once you start registering, you will be asked to provide a VALUE CODE. Just type in MEMBER, and it will automatically provide you with the special rate of $499.00 Canadian. To register for the OWITConVancouver hotel, please go here: https://excelerate-conference.com/hotel-reservation/
 
Check out the newest WIIT Communique: Multitasking. 
In this issue of WIIT Communiqué, we wanted to ask some of our amazing WIIT members how they "do it all" when they are super busy, especially around the holidays. Read more about how Carrie Goodge O’Brien, Evelyn M. Suarez, Barbara Weisel, and Lisa Schroeter use their unique perspectives to help them succeed when it comes to multitasking. 
 
 Follow on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for reminders on our upcoming WIIT Trade Talks and other networking events!

 
This photo represents the group of dedicated women that work "behind-the-scenes"
to manage the high-level and engaging events that WIIT sponsors.
 Join or Invite Colleagues to Join WIIT Today!
Click Here to Join Now!
 
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