WTCGP Breakfast Around the Region "DR-CAFTA/NAFTA: A Serious Look at Business Opportunities" - June 22, 2006

The Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) were the topic of the day at the bi-monthly Breakfast Around the Region held by the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia at the UPS Regional Air Hub facility in Philadelphia. Anthony Grasso, Lead International Trade Specialist - Asia Pacific Regional Team of the U.S. Department of Commerce Trade Information Center in Washington D.C. was this event's keynote speaker. In his presentation "Making Free Trade Agreements Work for You: Understanding DR-CAFTA/NAFTA," Mr. Grasso covered a number of important topics, such as: free trade agreements already in force, best prospect industries under CAFTA-DR/NAFTA, FTA tariff schedules, claiming preferential treatment, NAFTA/CAFTA-DR documentation requirements, and others. Seminar attendees also learned about issues relating to shipping documentation, delivery reliability and product clearances from our second presenter - Joe Brogan, Manager – Client Services, UPS Trade Management Services. In two case studies that followed, Filiberto Heras of M.E. Franks, Inc. and Donald Morrissey of The Rowland Company reported on "tricks of the trade" with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama and other CAFTA countries. After the presentations all seminar guests were invited to a bus tour of the UPS facilities.

WTCGP would like to thank its Breakfast Around the Region Series Sponsor - Sovereign Bank and the Latin American Trade Development Program Media Sponsor - Univision.