The Iranian Trade Association presents:
"Meeting Them in the Field"
A special ITA forum to discuss the latest developments in US-Iranian
trading relations and the practical impact of the March 17, 2000 announcement by Secretary
of State Albright and the April 28, 2000 OFAC Amendment to the Iranian Transactions
Regulations.
May 24, 2000
8:30-11:30 am
Dirksen 106 Committee Room
US Senate, Washington, DC
Event Rap Up
ITA held another successful conference in the nation’s capitol on May 24th. Over 60
guests from corporations, think-tanks,
embassies, federal agencies, and Congressional offices attended “Meeting Them in the
Field”.
Ken Katzman, Congressional Research Service: US Atlantic Council: The first speaker was
Dr. Ken Katzman, from the Congressional Research Service, the exclusive think-tank for the
US Congress. Dr. Katzman discussed his work on the US-Iranian Relations Compendium
published by the US Atlantic Council. Among many key issues, Dr. Katzman pointed out that
the US President has a wide degree of discretion in modifying or lifting the trade
sanctions on Iran at will. For more information about the Compendium, please see www.usac.org.
Bob Schramm, Schramm, Williams & Associates Representing the California Pistachio Commission
The second speaker was Bob Schramm representing the California Pistachio
Commission. Mr. Schramm brought up many
important trade policy concerns in regards to the import of Iranian pistachios into the
US, namely the existence of an ad valorem duty of 283% on raw pistachios and combined
antidumping and countervailing ad valorem duty of 318% on roasted pistachios since 1986.
The current duty for pistachios from other countries is less than one percent. For the
full text of Mr. Schramm’s speech,
see ITA Daily Updates for May 2000.
Paul Vesely, Vice President & Mikel Banilevi, Executive Board
Member, Oriental Rug Importers Association
The next speakers were Mr. Paul Vesley and Mikel Banilevi from the
Oriental Rug Importers Association (ORIA) in New
Jersey. Mr. Banilevi had just completed his first shipment of Iranian carpets into the US.
Mr. Vesley commented on the value
and status of Persian carpets in the world and pointed out that the market will decide the
success of Iranian carpets in the US,
especially in the face of competition from India and Pakistan. For more on ORIA see, www.oria.org.
Sharie A. Brown, Foley &
Lardner
Ms. Sharie Brown, former Senior Counsel to Mobil Corporation, outlined
the top 10 secrets for positioning your business in
Iran. The top 3 steps were 1) Develop a laser clear, long term Iran business objective, 2)
Identify key Iranian agencies or
contracts necessary to achieve your business objective, and 3) Hire a reputable,
appropriate consultant with bonafide,
in-country Iranian contacts and experience to provide insights and make appropriate
contacts, pursuant to certain strict legal
guidelines.
US Senator Gordon Smith
(R-OR)
The keynote speaker was Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR). He expressed his
earnest interest in reaching out to the Iranian
people and supporting the democratic and reform movement in Iran. Senator Smith agreed
with audience comments that
building a trading and economic link with Iran will help develop our mutual interests and
improve Iranian-American relations.
The final speaker for the conference was Mr. Don Weadon, Esq. Mr. Weadon
summarized some critically important customs
regulations that will impact the import of Iranian goods into the US under the March 17th
announcement from Secretary
Albright. The full text of Mr. Weadon’s
memorandum & speech on this topic is under ITA Daily Updates for May
2000.
The conference concluded with an invitation to join ITA in Washington, DC for our next
forum with Senator Pat Roberts.
ITA Representatives with Corporate Members from Conoco,
Exxon-Mobil, Chevron, and Sharie Brown, Esq.
This ITA event was dedicated to the leadership of Mr. Kamran Elahian, an Iranian American
entrepreneur of the millennium. On March 15, 2000 Mr. Elahian sponsored a full page
advertisement in the New York Times inviting
Americans to meet the people of Iran in the field of peace and compromise. ITA was a
proud cosigner of this tremendous initiative in US-Iranian engagement.
