ITC's Free Trade Agreement Seminar Teaches How to Complete a NAFTA Certificate of Origin

May 11, 2010 - PRLog -- The Global Market Series-NAFTA/FTA Certification, an award winning seven part series presented by industry experts and certified by North America’s SuperCorridor Coalition, will be available by webinar/seminar and will feature James Foley, Director - Operations of the Turner Center for Entrepreneurship & Illinois SBDC International Trade Center.

He will be speaking May 14th and give a step by step method to learn how to correctly complete the NAFTA certificate of origin and avoid the most common mistakes. Attendees can participate in person or via webinar.  

At the International Trade Center and NAFTA Opportunity Center at Bradley University, Mr. Foley coordinates a program of counseling and training in international business planning, marketing, logistics and export finance. The centers are a joint venture between the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs and Bradley University with a mission to promote international trade and assist companies with trade-related expansion and training.

Mr. Foley is a frequent speaker on issues of international trade and teaches International Business courses at Bradley University's Foster College of Business Administration. He was recently the President of NASBITE, the North American Small Business International Trade Educators and now serves as the Director for International Trade Certification. He also serves as chair of the Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC) International Section Executive Committee.

In 1997 he was awarded the Illinois Small Business Development Association ITC Director of the Year Award and in 2001 he received the Governor's Export Award from Illinois Governor George Ryan. He authored The Global Entrepreneur, Dearborn Publishing, discussing techniques to expand international trade for small to midsize companies. Numerous colleges and universities have adopted the text for both undergraduate and MBA international business courses.

Prior to joining the trade center in 1994, Mr. Foley lived and worked in Europe for seven years. His overseas business experience includes positions in marketing, sales, and corporate management in the computer industry. Mr. Foley received his MBA from the London Business School at the University of London. Before London, Jim worked in Los Angeles in the software industry, and also lived in Mexico City where he earned a Spanish proficiency certificate.

The International Trade Center's, award winning Global Market Series will be available by webinar/seminar the only time this spring. The course will not be offered again until December 2010.  The NAFTA and Free Trade Agreement Certification, presented by industry experts and certified by NASCO-North America's SuperCorridor Coalition can be attended online or in person. Now attendees can participate from anywhere in the world!

This seminar covers the main steps in the process of utilizing NAFTA and other Free Trade Agreements. Compliance regulation is strongly emphasized.  Topics include: how to determine if claiming NAFTA status is right for your product, how to classify your product to claim the advantages of NAFTA and other FTAs, the specific NAFTA requirements when shipping to Mexico and Canada, the benefits, details and requirements of the other eleven FTAs and pending FTAs and how to complete a NAFTA Certificate of Origin.

The complete NAFTA/FTA Session Series are May 12, 13, 14, 2010  
Times: May 12, 13, 14th ,8am-noon & May 14th, 12:30-1:30 pm. CST
Location: by Webinar or in person at Bill J. Priest Institute, 1402 Corinth St., Dallas, TX 75215

Seminars can be taken individually or as a complete series for certification

Contact: 214-747-1300 or Elyse Eriksson, Director of Training, eeriksson@dcccd.edu

Registration: www.iexportimport.com

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The International SBDC, Dallas, TX, provides counseling and training on international trade issues, importing and exporting. Services include: free one-on-one counseling, free online counseling, low cost training and market research. The ITC is a proud member of the North Texas Small Business Development Center Network.