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Spring Seminar Agenda

This year’s agenda include general Foreign-Trade Zone topics as well specific tracks for:

Grantees, Operator/Users, Advanced Professionals, and those learning the Fundamentals.

Sunday, May 18, 2025

5:00pm-6:30pm Welcome Reception

  • Network with FTZ Industry partners

Monday, May 19, 2025

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7:30am-8:00am Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:00am-8:30am Welcome Remarks

  • Explore the daily outlook & NAFTZ developments
INVITED SPEAKER: James Grogan, FTI Consulting, Inc. MODERATOR: Jeff Tafel, NAFTZ
8:30am-9:30am FTZ Board Developments

  • Review important policy changes affecting the Foreign-Trade Zones program.
    • Ocean House Bill Release Update
    • ACE Functionality Updates Impacting FTZs and Import Processes
    • Part 146 Rewrite Update
    • Truck Manifest Update
    • Looking Ahead to In-Bond Regulation Changes
TO INVITE SPEAKER: Liz Whiteman, US FTZ Board

 

TBD_ Dawn Schackleford

MODERATOR: TBD
9:30am-10:00am CBP State of the Trade

  • Understand the 321 developments, where lobbying efforts stand, status of law & next best steps
TO INVITE SPEAKER: CBP Headquarters MODERATOR: Jeff Tafel, NAFTZ
10:00am-10:30am Refreshment Break
10:30am-11:30am REQUESTED CALL for speakers OPERATORS/USERS: FTZ Inventory Discrepancies & Reporting: A DEEP DIVE 

  • Review the CBP rules around identifying and reporting inventory discrepancies (overages, shortages, damage, etc.) in a UIN/FIFO tracking methodology, including ways to mitigate and investigate solutions.
SPEAKER: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
FUNDAMENTALS: FTZ Overview, Benefits, Participants & Zone Types

  • Identify benefits & review the regulatory process (review advanced webinars highlighting benefits, a roles & types
  • BONUS Grantee 202 webinars available for purchase
SPEAKER: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
REQUESTED CALL for speakers GRANTEES: Advanced Annual Report Preparations

  • Address what is required by Operators and how to address Operator’s questions regarding added value, and how to hold 3PLs responsible for data, etc.
SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
11:30am-12:30pm Lunch
12:40 pm-1:40pm REQUESTED CALL for speakers -OPERATORS/USERS: What are you facing in the current Zone Compliance Review from CBP? 

  • Explore the main issues CBP is focusing on with current CBP Zone Reviews.
  • Understand Perspectives from Operators around the country. What to expect?
  • Review CBP Expectations on Inventory Management (ICRS) and Requests
SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
FUNDAMENTALS: FTZ Application, Zone Status & Activation Process

  • Identify proper documentation
  • Determine delivery type & authorization requirements
  • BONUS Grantee 202 webinars available for purchase
SPEAKER: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
REQUESTED CALL for speakers GRANTEES: All about Production

  • Learn what is required by Manufacturers to apply for production authority
  • Define what a grantee needs to know about production authority & Equipment/Machinery
SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
1:50pm-2:20pm  FTZs in your Area

  • Review local FTZ outlooks
TO INVITE SPEAKERS: Savannah, Charleston, Jacksonville, - backup Atlanta)  MODERATOR: Jeff Tafel, NAFTZ
2:20 - 2:50 pm

 

 Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: Navigating the Benefits and Risks of Your FTZ Program

  • Explore dual nature of the US Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) program through a dynamic dialogue
  • Understand the economic benefits, enhanced supply chain efficiency, and successful FTZ implementations vs addressing compliance risks, common errors, and case studies of FTZ failures.
  • Review risks management strategies
  • Understand how to consider both sides of the program to achieve success.

2:50-3:20pm REFRESHMENT BREAK 

TO INVITE SPEAKERS: Trey Boring, IMS Worldwide Inc & Eric Berry, Copper Hill Inc. MODERATOR: Jeff Tafel, NAFTZ
3:20pm-4:20pm OPERATORS/USERS: Zone Entry

  • TBD
SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
FUNDAMENTALS: Inventory, Merchandise & Admissions

  • Identify storage, removal, and destruction rules
  • Determine necessary authorization required
  • BONUS Grantee 202 webinars available for purchase
SPEAKER: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
REQUESTED CALL for speakers GRANTEES: Avanced Marketing Techniques 

  • Explore resources most beneficials to producing FTZ leads
SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
4:30pm-6:00pm OPERATORS/USERS ONLY: Roundtable

  • Join the discussion on hot topics for Operators/Users
MODERATOR: Shana Head, GEODIS
GRANTEES ONLY: Roundtable

  • Join the discussion on hot topics for Grantees
MODERATOR:  Will Cawthern, FTZ #74 & Justin Ryan, JAXPORT
6:00pm Adjourn
6:00pm-7:00pm Reception

Location: TBD
Q's call 703-309-6640

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

7:30am-8:30am Networking Continental Breakfast
8:00am-8:20am Opening Remarks

  • AZS Announcement & announce winner of the Photo Scavenger Hunt
  • Explore the daily outlook & NAFTZ developments
SPEAKER: James Grogan, FTI Consulting, Inc. MODERATOR: Jeff Tafel, NAFTZ
8:20am-8:50am FTZ Board Update

  • Review the latest FTZB developments
SPEAKER: Elizabeth Whiteman, U.S. FTZ Board MODERATOR: James Grogan, FTI Consulting, Inc.
8:50am-9:20am Trade Policy

  • Review UFLPA Mechanics: How to handle a response
  • Understanding the Penalty Process: Who, what, why and how
  • Classification Basics: What you should do and resources
SPEAKER: Melissa Irmen & Megan Costello MODERATOR: Jeff Tafel
9:20am-9:50am Forced Labor

  • Review storage nuances, policy and outlook developments
SPEAKER: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
9:50am-10:20am Refreshment Break
10:20am-11:20am REQUESTED CALL for speakers OPERATOR/USERS: The Life Cycle of an FTZ Widget

  • Understand and visually trace the lifecycle of a commodity from arrival at port, movement to FTZ, receiving/admission into FTZ, storage in inventory, and then the various disposition
SPEAKER: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
FUNDAMENTALS: Transfer Merch / Movement / Withdrawal

  • Identify discrepancies
  • Define HMF
  • Review Reporting Responsibilities
  • BONUS Grantee 202 webinars available for purchase
SPEAKER: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
ADVANCED: CBP Investigations

  • Review findings & methods of prevention
TO INVITE SPEAKER:
CBP
MODERATOR: TBD
11:30pm-12:30pm REQUESTED CALL for speakers OPERATORS/USERS: In-Bonds: Capitalizing on the Program & Staying Out of Trouble

  • Review how the in-bond program underpins the inbound and certain outbound benefits in an FTZ, including important details about responsibilities/timeframes and how the various in-bond parties can remain compliant and avoid penalties and liquidated damages.
SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
FUNDAMENTALS: Special Handling, Periodic Reporting & Regulatory Requirements and Inspections

  • Understand regulations and inspection protocols
  • BONUS Grantee 202 webinars available for purchase
SPEAKER: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
REQUESTED CALL for speakers ADVANCED: First Sale & FTZ

  • Review “First Sale” as a valuation structure that can help lower your overall duty cost if properly implemented and maintained. 
  • Understand the requirements, the ongoing compliance aspects, and how it can benefit your FTZ and your customers operations.
  • Develop a better understanding of this duty opportunity; the risks, benefits, and pitfalls; and how to present the issue to management.

REQUESTED CALL for speakers ADVANCED: CBP Who's Who - Stay in the Know & Understand Who does that Role

  • Explore how to get in touch with key contacts (ABI rep, etc.
  • Determine how to find out who your contacts (ABI, etc) in relationship to your FTZ
  • Identify ideal resources to get your questions answered
SPEAKERS: TBD MODERATOR: TBD
12:30pm Conclude

12:30-4pm TBD - Optional FTZ Tour(s) (12:30-1:45 & 2:15-3:30 pm)