American Visa Policy for traders

Founded in 1914, the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) is the oldest and largest trade association advocating an open, rules-based international trade system. It serves hundreds of member companies in activities encompassing international trade policy, international tax policy, human resources, and unilateral economic sanctions. The NFTC is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has an office in New York. Its current president is William A. Reinsch, former Under-Secretary for Export Administration in the Clinton Administration.

According to its website, the NFTC’s mission is to advance global commerce through advocating public policies that foster an open international trade and investment regime, mobilizing and disseminating expertise and information on key issues, and influencing public debate through interaction with policy makers and opinion leaders.

Innovation

In order to create a greater understanding of the importance of intellectual property rules, the NFTC launched a major new initiative, the Global Innovation Forum. The NFTC believes that the creation, trade and employment of innovation requires an open, rules-based system to enable effective solutions to global challenges.

Visa Policy

The NFTC develops policies to reform U.S. visa procedures for inbound business travelers and employees of U.S. multinational companies in an effort to eliminate adverse impacts on companies and their ability to compete internationally. In addition, it also monitors and advocates new visa and immigration proposals introduced in Congress, and supports comprehensive immigration reform.

Sanctions and Export Controls

In 1997, the NFTC established USA*Engage, a coalition of businesses, agriculture groups and trade associations, to promote the importance of exports and overseas investment and to inform policymakers, opinion leaders, and the public about the counterproductive nature of unilateral sanctions.