Industry experts will share their perspectives at the Coalition of New England Companies for Trade (CONECT)'s 23rd Annual Northeast Trade & Transportation Conference, April 9-11 in Newport, R.I., providing information for importers, exporters, and providers of international logistics or trade services.
On April 9, opening day attendees have a choice of expert-led workshops on import compliance, export operations, and ocean trade-lane updates. The afternoon finishes up with the popular "Off the Record" (no press, no government representatives allowed) discussion of customs and government policies affecting international trade and transportation, led by CONECT's Washington counsel, Peter Friedmann.
The keynote speaker on April 10, U.S.-China Business Council Senior Vice President Erin Ennis, will provide an inside look at trade negotiations and a forecast of where the U.S.-China trade relationship is headed. Other sessions will look at current U.S. Customs regulations and policies, including cargo security; how tariffs are changing sourcing decisions; cargo insurance and catastrophic events like shipboard fires; and the pricing and operational outlook for ocean, trucking, and rail transportation.
The final day, April 11, begins with a presentation by international supply chain managers from Wayfair and L.L. Bean on cutting-edge technology in e-commerce. That will be followed by a session analyzing port and intermodal congestion problems from the viewpoint of an importer, a trucking company, and a major West Coast port. The conference wraps up with a keynote by an ocean carrier executive and with Peter Friedmann's annual Washington forecast.
CONECT is a nonprofit business association focused on free and fair international trade and transportation, serving members representing over 300 U.S. companies and organizations including major importers, exporters, carriers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, government agencies, and providers of trade-related services.
For further information about CONECT's 23rd Annual Northeast Trade & Transportation Conference or to register, go to www.conect.org and click on the "Events" tab.
