NAFTZ Annual Conference Draws Record 600 Attendees Amid Shifting U.S. Trade Policies

Industry leaders examine tariffs, supply chain challenges and the growing
role of U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones in commerce, global competitiveness

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ), the only national trade association focused solely on the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones (U.S. FTZ) Program, concluded its 2026 Annual Conference and Exposition yesterday in San Diego, drawing a record 600 attendees from across the U.S. FTZ community. The turnout underscores the program's growing relevance to businesses, economic developers and policymakers navigating an increasingly complex global trade environment.

Held Oct. 18-21, the annual gathering brought together economic developers, manufacturers, distribution operators, logistics professionals, service providers and other industry leaders to examine the program's evolving role in American trade and economic competitiveness. Speakers from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Department of Commerce and private industry delivered timely insights on trade policy, customs enforcement and compliance, alongside strategies for navigating corporate transactions and organizational change. These themes continue to resonate amid shifting federal tariff policy and ongoing supply chain realignment.

"Bringing hundreds of members of the U.S. FTZ community and government officials together strengthens the collective voice of a program that plays a meaningful role in American trade and economic competitiveness," said Jeffrey J. Tafel, president of NAFTZ. "As tariffs and trade policies evolve, these gatherings allow us to exchange insights, address shared challenges and align on priorities while working to ensure policymakers understand how the U.S. FTZ Program supports domestic investment and American jobs. We look forward to building on this momentum over the next year and continuing these important conversations at our next annual conference, among other planned events."

The U.S. FTZ Program is a federally authorized, U.S. CBP-supervised initiative that allows businesses to manage imported and domestic merchandise under specific customs rules before goods enter U.S. commerce. By providing greater flexibility in inventory management, manufacturing and duty treatment, the program can help companies manage costs, support domestic production and compete in international markets. It is an established component of the nation's economic infrastructure, operating under federal oversight and compliance requirements.

Across the country, the U.S. FTZ Program remains a significant driver of domestic economic activity and global trade. According to the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board's 2024 Annual Report to Congress, the latest available U.S. FTZ data, these zones received $964 billion in merchandise in 2024, generated $134 billion in exports and supported approximately 543,000 jobs nationwide. The report also recorded 381 active U.S. FTZ production operations, underscoring the program's role in supporting U.S. manufacturing and supply chain competitiveness.

NAFTZ's work also extends far beyond its annual conference. The association represents public- and private-sector members across the U.S. FTZ community, providing a coordinated national voice on policy issues, regulatory developments and operational challenges. A few of its current priorities include:

• Advancing competitive U.S. trade policy: Engaging Congress and federal agencies on the operational implications of tariff actions and advocating for policies that enable U.S. importers and exporters to compete effectively.
• Addressing longstanding trade disadvantages: Supporting legislative solutions to competitive challenges facing U.S. FTZ companies exporting to Canada and Mexico, particularly in connection with the ongoing review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
• Supporting effective customs administration: Advocating for directed funding for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to address the demands associated with growth in U.S. FTZ activity and help sustain effective program oversight.
• Strengthening policymaker understanding: Working with the bipartisan Congressional U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Caucus, which held its first official meeting in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 23, to elevate the program's contributions to domestic investment, manufacturing, employment and exports.

This week's conference also marked a leadership milestone for the association, with Patty Cannon assuming the role of chair of the NAFTZ Board of Directors. Cannon serves as director of special projects and U.S. FTZ No. 99 grantee administrator within the Delaware Department of State, bringing a state-level economic development and zone-administration perspective to the association's national advocacy and education.

"I am truly honored to step into the role of chair and deeply grateful for the trust and support of my fellow NAFTZ members and the NAFTZ staff," said Cannon. "I look forward to working collaboratively as we continue to move forward with grace, communicate with respect, and demonstrate to our federal partners and regulators our unwavering commitment to meeting the compliance requirements of the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zone Act. Compliance is at the core of who we are – it is part of our organizational DNA."

Cannon is joined on NAFTZ's 2026-27 Board of Directors by newly elected Vice Chair Leigh Ryan, senior vice president of World Trade Center Savannah; Treasurer Robert Balli, manager of customs duty savings optimization at Phillips 66; and Secretary Miguel A. Zamora II, executive vice president of the Louisville Riverport Authority and administrator of U.S. FTZ No. 29. Newly elected directors include Dallas Hobgood of Kontoor Brands, Sarah Messeih of KPMG LLP, Courtney Stiers of Kroll, David Sikkink of Hawaii U.S. FTZ No. 9 and Justin Ryan of JAXPORT.

As global trade conditions continue to evolve, NAFTZ will maintain its focus on education, collaboration and federal engagement to ensure the U.S. FTZ Program remains well understood by policymakers and accessible to businesses seeking to strengthen their competitive position.

For more information about NAFTZ, its advocacy priorities and the federal program, visit www.naftz.org.

About the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ)

The National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ) is the collective voice of the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones community. Representing public- and private-sector members across the U.S., NAFTZ is dedicated to advancing the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones program through advocacy, education and collaboration. The association works to promote policies that strengthen U.S. competitiveness, encourage domestic investment and job creation, and support secure and efficient international trade operations. For more information, visit www.naftz.org.

SOURCE National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones