President's Letter
Angela Marshall Hofmann

We are off to a great start for the 2005 2006 WIIT year with a dynamic team of board members, officers and committee chairs. A hearty thank you to each of you who participated in our year beginning Retreat as well as those who joined the leadership team! Our members make the difference and look forward to growing an even more dynamic team this year. More . . .

Manufacturing and Services - Detailed
Sharron Cook
Providence has it that I've been sent on a temporary four-month assignment (or what is known in Commerce as a "detail") to the International Trade Administration's (ITA) newest office - the Office of Manufacturing and Services (MAS). As the new Editor of the Women in International Trade's (WIIT) Newsletter, I thought it might be interesting for you to come along with me in this journey to the unknown and experience with me what it is like to work in MAS. So let's go exploring!

American Business Preparing for CAFTA-DR Implementation
Commerce Secretary to lead first Trade Mission to Central America Since U.S. Passage
Mark Siegelman,
Central America Desk Officer,
U.S. Department of Commerce
On August 2, 2005, President Bush signed the implementing legislation for the U.S.-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which the Congress approved in July. CAFTA-DR has also been approved by the legislatures in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Approval is pending in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. Read more . . .

We Can Compete
An Overview of Opportunities for U.S. Manufacturers in China
Heather Tomasetti
A vast opportunity awaits the U.S. manufacturing sector in China, our third largest trading partner in the world, consuming over $170 billion worth of American exports annually. In fact, U.S. exports to China have surged 66% in the last 3 years. In 2004, the Chinese economy grew by 9.5% and the demand for quality American manufactured goods has followed suit. Read more . . .

Office of Health and Consumer Goods and the Pharmaceutical Industry
Shalizeh Nadjmi
The International Trade Administration at the U.S. Department of Commerce provides support and assistance to expand the growth of the U.S. pharmaceutical industry, and allow U.S. companies to compete on a fair and level global playing field. Read more . . .

Highlight on WIIT Programs:

WIIT Charitable Trust - Update
Aside from a recent change in leadership, this has been a relatively quiet summer for the WIIT Charitable Trust. More . . .

WIIT Programs Update
In May, WIIT marked the completion of another successful year for our organization's activities. Throughout the 2004-2005 year, WIIT hosted numerous substantive events with steadily expanding attendance and visibility. More . . .

WIIT Special Events Committee Update
As tradition holds, an Annual Dinner marks the end of a WIIT year, where WIIT honors the Woman of the Year for her professional accomplishments, while the incumbent WIIT President hands her torch to a successor. More . . .

Book Corner: Editor's Pick
First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman

Read the Review by Sharron Cook

 

Newsletter Co-Editors
Sharron Cook and Molly Gamino