Washington International Trade Association

All About WITA, the Washington International Trade Association

The Washington International Trade Association (WITA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to providing a neutral forum in the nation's capital for the open and robust discussion of international trade policy and related issues. WITA is widely considered Washington's premier trade forum.

WITA was founded in 1982 by a group of Washington area trade professionals who found a need to stay abreast of developments in trade policy, make and maintain professional contacts, and exchange information and ideas concerning world trade and international business opportunities.

Today, WITA's steadily growing membership is over 1,800 strong, including more than 130 corporate sponsors and group memberships. WITA keeps its members informed through an extensive series of programs and special events (such as our Annual Awards Dinner and Congressional Trade Agenda program) that focus on the latest positions taken by the Administration and Congress on trade policy, rules and regulations governing international trade, views of US trade policy from abroad, current issues in trade, and the latest developments in the ever-changing trade landscape.

WITA is a 501c6 Membership Association. Our EIN# is 52-1462468.

WITA is proud to have the support of our corporate sponsors and WITA's sister organization, the Washington International Trade Foundation (WITF), a 501c3 Education Organization dedicated to supporting WITA's mission of educating the trade community and the general public on trade and related issues. WITF is a separate entity with its own EIN # 52-1907420.

Message from WITA's President, Stephen E. Lamar

To achieve our goals and meet the needs of our membership, WITA is committed to hosting a series of educational programs that address the full range of trade policy issues -- executive branch initiatives, trade legislation, regulatory developments, the operation of existing international trade agreements, the activities of international economic organizations, and pertinent developments in international law. WITA supplements its educational mission by providing networking opportunities through our series of embassy events and informal gatherings, and by providing professional development opportunities through our Career Roundtables and website Career Center. The WITA Annual Awards Dinner is a signature event that offers an opportunity for WITA members to honor those individuals who have made a significant contribution to international trade over the past year, and our newest event--the unique Governors and Ambassadors World Trade Reception--brings together the worlds of state affairs and global affairs.

These ambitious goals cannot be achieved without the active participation of our members. Ideas for all our finest programs were generated by our members, and those events themselves provided wonderful opportunities to network and develop contacts in the professional trade community. Our members use this network to advance their careers, develop friendships, and further their understanding of international trade.

On behalf of the WITA Board of Directors, I urge you to join us at our upcoming events, volunteer to participate in one of the WITA committees, send in suggestions for topics and speakers and contribute your ideas as to how WITA can best meet your needs. We invite you to explore this website for up-to-date information on our programs and coming events, and to contact us with your ideas and recommendations for future activities -- by simply emailing us.

Thank you very much for your enthusiastic participation -- and for making WITA the most important trade policy forum in Washington.

Stephen E. Lamar, President