National Export Initiative
 May Create New Compliance Challenges

Although most U.S. exporters may not need specific licenses to take part in the President’s
 National Export Initiative (NEI), determining if that is the case can be very expensive.

“But it’s worth the diligence if you are not certain,” said Dan Gardner, chief executive officer of Ocean World Lines
(OWL), a global, single-source NVOCC (non-vessel operating common
carrier) and subsidiary of Pacer International.

In an interview with SCMR, he said that a few new “bombshells” may be introduced by regulatory agencies before the initiative gets fully underway.

“This is a particular concern for shippers of ‘dual use’ products,” he said. “A technical piece of equipment might have both a industrial and military application. If that’s the case, it’s important that the shipper knows how to properly apply for a license.”

OWL announced that
it will host a Global Trade Symposium in Miami, Jan. 18-20, to
discuss the prospects for U.S. import/export trade in 2012.

The
 Symposium also will encourage goals of the NEI, a program launched in January of 2010 by President Obama, to
double exports by the end of 2014 as a means of boosting sales for
 American companies and creating new jobs.



The Symposium will feature a variety of presentations and panel
discussions by a distinguished group of senior logistics
professionals, including ocean carrier executives from Maersk Lines,
Cosco, OOCL and Evergreen; large exporters; government officials;
journalists; and academics.

Topics will include outlooks for specific
trade lanes, import/export case studies, technology applications and
other issues of concern to importers and exporters of all sizes.




“We believe deeply that exporting can create jobs and stimulate the
economy, and we want to make a contribution,” Gardner said.
“A lot of work has been done by the Small Business Administration,
Department of Commerce, and Ex-Im Bank, but the government cannot go
it alone. Helping to grow international trade is the right thing to 
do and it offers an exit from the financial crisis, which is why we
are organizing this event.”