Thank you to our speakers and hosts, left to right: Anne Doherty Johnson, AeA; Steve Handy, Agilent Technologies; Jim Paul, U.S. Department of Commerce; Ed Szymczak, U.S. Customs & Border Protection; Peter McDermott, Agilent Technologies; Paula Murphy, Massachusetts Export Center and Kerry Scarlott, Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green, PA.

Back for the fifth consecutive year, AeA hosted the Keeping Your Company Trade Compliant Seminar on May 6, 2004 at AeA Member Company, Agilent Technologies in Andover, MA. The program provided an update on export controls and customs regulations.  

The import panel consisted of Ed Szymczak, U.S. Customs Service; Steve Handy, Agilent Technologies and AeA's Anne Doherty Johnson. The import panel discussed the new obligations of the industry due to the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), how to comply with C-TPAT and the 24 hour rule when importing goods through a U.S. port and the impact of Free Trade Agreements (FTA). Steve Handy examined Agilent Technologies' Risk Assessment Program, which provides an internal review of both transactions and processes at the business unit level. At the end of the import panel, attendees learned about resources available to AeA member companies through the Customs and Export Committees .  

Following a short break, the audience heard from the export panel: Jim Paul, U.S. Department of Commerce; Peter McDermott, Agilent Technologies; Kerry Scarlott, Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green, PA, and Anne Doherty Johnson, AeA. Topics discussed included the latest regulations from Office of Defense Trade Controls (ODTC) on International traffic in arms regulations (ITAR), and Agilent Technologies best practices in establishing an internal export compliance program. Attendees also learned how to receive licensing for the Automated Export System (AES), and were provided with additional information resources.

The program ended with a presentation by Paula Murphy, Massachusetts Export Center, on the services her agency provides to Massachusetts businesses, including a new Export Compliance Program.

This AeA seminar provided an excellent opportunity for member company senior executives to meet and learn about trade compliance in an informal, intimate setting. Special thanks to Agilent Technologies for hosting this event.

Please contact the AeA New England office for additional information on this seminar. Due to interest in the topic, AeA New England will hold a program on ITAR: What Every Technology Company Needs to Know on September 29, 2004 in Lexington, MA. In the meantime, to learn more about this issue and how your company may be impacted, call the AeA office at 781.938.1925, x105.

Don't miss our next event - review the AeA New England event calendar for networking and learning opportunities.