FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 22, 2001

Contact:
Eric Thomas
Emily Kelley
The Fratelli Group
202/822-9491

William Reinsch Appointed New NFTC President

Washington, D.C. – The Board of Directors of the National Foreign Trade Council today approved the appointment of William A. Reinsch as the new president of the NFTC, beginning April 2, 2001.  Mr. Reinsch most recently served at the U.S. Department of Commerce as Under Secretary for Export Administration.

“We have found the right person for the job, and are very happy to welcome Bill Reinsch to the NFTC,” said NFTC Board Chairman Richard J. Swift, Chairman, President and CEO of Foster Wheeler Corporation.  “As Under Secretary and head of the Bureau of Export Administration, Bill Reinsch dealt with some of the toughest trade issues of the day.  His extensive experience will serve our members well.”

The NFTC, founded in 1914, is the only business association dedicated solely to trade policy, export finance, international tax, and human resource issues.  The organization represents over 500 companies through its offices in New York and Washington, D.C.  As president, Reinsch will oversee NFTC’s efforts in favor of open markets, in support of Ex-Im Bank and OPIC, and as head of the USA Engage and Foreign Sales Corporation (FSC) coalitions, among many other international trade and tax issues of concern to U.S. business.

“With the U.S. economy in a downturn, the importance of international trade to U.S. business is ever more apparent – and the importance of the NFTC’s work ever more important,” said Reinsch.  “I look forward to the opportunities ahead, and to taking on the many challenges that face us.”

Prior to beginning his service at the Department of Commerce in 1993, Reinsch served as an aide to Senator John D. Rockefeller and as Chief Legislative Assistant to Senator John Heinz.  Prior to his work in the Senate, he served on the staff of Representative Richard Ottinger and Representative Gilbert Gude.

Mr. Reinsch will replace former General Electric Company executive Frank Kittredge, NFTC’s president for the past 12 years, who is retiring.

USA*ENGAGE is a coalition of 670 small and large businesses, agriculture groups and trade associations working to seek alternatives to the proliferation of unilateral U.S. foreign policy sanctions and to promote the benefits of U.S. engagement abroad.

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