National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones Names Daniel Griswold as President

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ) today announced that Daniel Griswold, a nationally recognized advocate for open trade and economic expansion, has been appointed NAFTZ President, effective January 9.

A graduate of the London School of Economics and author of the popular 2009 book Mad about Trade: Why Main Street America Should Embrace Globalization, Griswold has for many years been a prolific and enthusiastic free-trade advocate and author from his position as Director of the Center for Trade Policy Studies at the Cato Institute in Washington.

"We are extremely pleased that Dan Griswold is taking the NAFTZ helm at this pivotal time in the history of the American economy," said Lewis Leibowitz, Chairman of the NAFTZ Board of Directors. "We believe that Dan is the best possible person to lead NAFTZ to a new level of effective advocacy in Washington and around the country.  Dan is a terrific communicator who will also increase understanding of foreign trade zones as a flexible tool for America's business success in the global economy."

"I am honored and excited by this opportunity to lead such an important and vital organization in the advancement of America's global trade interests," said Dan Griswold.  "I look forward to working to fulfill my life-long commitment to expanding America's engagement in the world economy while also helping American companies and organizations who are transforming that vision into reality every day."

Dan Griswold joined Cato's trade policy program as associate director in 1997 and was named its director in 2004.  The center was formally dedicated to the late Herbert A. Stiefel in 2011.  Mr. Griswold has authored numerous studies on such topics as bilateral and regional trade agreements, China trade, the WTO, the trade deficit, antidumping, foreign investment and the cost of protectionism. He has frequently testified before House and Senate committees on subjects including the trade deficit, small business exporting and trade and manufacturing. Mr. Griswold is a frequent presenter to organizations such as District Export Councils, World Trade Centers, World Affairs Councils and other trade and professional associations. He has also authored articles for The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Barron's Weekly, National Review, and many other publications; and has appeared on numerous broadcasts including the PBS NewsHour, C-SPAN's Washington Journal, CNBC, Fox News, and CNN.

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Journalism at the University of Wisconsin, Dan Griswold served as assistant editor of a family-owned weekly newspaper and as a congressional press secretary before becoming editorial page editor at the Colorado Springs Gazette in 1983. He left Colorado in 1995 to study at the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he was awarded a Diploma in Economics and a Master of Science in The Politics of the World Economy.

Mr. Griswold succeeds Dr. Willard M. Berry, who served as NAFTZ president from 2004 until his retirement in November 2011.

NAFTZ is a 650-member organization comprised of public entities, corporations and service providers focused on promoting the use of the US Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) program. FTZs play an important role in facilitating international trade and increasing the global competitiveness of U.S.-based companies by maintaining the cost competitiveness of U.S.-based operations with their foreign-based competitors. Over 2,500 U.S. companies and 330,000 American workers participate in the FTZ economy.

Under FTZ procedures, foreign and domestic merchandise may be admitted into zones for operations such as storage, exhibition, assembly, manufacture and processing, without being subject to formal CBP entry procedures, the payment of duties or the payment of federal excise taxes. When merchandise is removed from a foreign-trade zone, duties may be eliminated if the goods are then exported from the United States. If the merchandise is formally entered into U.S. commerce, duties and excise taxes are due at the time of transfer from the foreign-trade zone. Zone status provides companies with an opportunity to reduce certain operating costs associated with a U.S. location that are avoided when operating from a foreign site.

Further information on NAFTZ and a downloadable, high-resolution photo of Mr. Griswold are available at www.naftz.org.

For More Information Contact:
Brian Hannigan 202-835-0740, ext. 221
Claire Lerner 202-331-1950

SOURCE National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones