Saudi Arabia to Join WTO on December 11
The WTO General Council approved Saudi Arabia’s accession package on November 11, and a Saudi official signed the protocol of accession the same day. As a result, the kingdom will become the WTO’s 149th member on December 11, allowing it to fully participate in the December 13-18 Hong Kong ministerial meeting. The WTO notes that as part of its accession negotiations, Saudi Arabia agreed to:
• review a fee charged for the authentication of trade documents and bring it into conformity with WTO rules within two years of accession;
• eliminate any non-tariff measures that cannot be justified under WTO rules while maintaining the right to restrict the importation and exportation of a certain number of goods and services in order to protect public morals, the life and health of the population, national security interests, etc.;
• review the list of banned imports at least once a year and remove items whose importation would not compromise the kingdom’s legitimate objectives;
• implement in full from the date of accession the WTO Agreements on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, Technical Barriers to Trade, and the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures;
• reduce, by the end of a ten-year implementation period, average bound tariff levels for agricultural and non-agricultural products to 12.4% and 10.5%, respectively;
• allow foreign insurance companies to open and operate direct branches in Saudi Arabia;
• permit the commercial presence of banks in the form of a locally incorporated joint-stock company or a branch of an international bank;
• allow, within three years from accession, up to 70% foreign equity ownership in the telecommunications sector; and
• phase out restrictions on the distribution of goods inside the country over a three-year transition period.

ITSA's

Holiday

Party

The International Trade Student Association (ITSA) cordially invites you to its
Annual Holiday Banquet: Celebrating ITM's 10th Anniversary
Thursday, December 1st 2005, “A” BUILDING, 8th Floor. - 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Special features
-Mingle with fellow students in spirit of the Holiday Season
-Network with industry guests, alumni and professors while enjoying dinner
-Rumors of an "after party" are circulating
For info and RSVP: Contact Alpana Aggarwal at alps_ag77@yahoo.co.in by November 22, 2005

FIT TO HOLD NAMING CEREMONY FOR THE JAY AND PATTY BAKER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY
FIT will hold a ceremony on Thursday, October 27, at 4 pm to name its School of Business and Technology in honor of Jay and Patty Baker. The event is in recognition of the $10 million gift FIT received in 2001 from retired Kohl's Department Stores' president, Jay Baker, and his wife, Patty.
This gift, which funds scholarships and FIT's capital expansion projects, is the largest single contribution in FIT history. It is also one of the largest gifts from a couple in the history of the 64-campus State University of New York system and the largest to a SUNY community college.
A portion of the gift, $8 million, completed the first phase of the college's capital campaign. Reflecting the Bakers' strong philanthropic belief in improving the lives of students, the remaining $2 million funds an endowment for up to 40 scholarships every year. This, too, is the largest single gift ever made to FIT to support student financial aid. Jay Baker has had a long and distinguished career in retailing. Having learned the trade at his parents' millinery store, Mr. Baker rose to the top of retailing to become president of Kohl's Department Stores in 1986. Under his leadership, until his retirement in December 1999, the company grew into a $5 billion corporation with more than 54,000 employees and 300 stores. The industry now considers Kohl's one of the best-run chains in the country. As part of the naming ceremony, FIT will hold a symposium -- "What Will the Fashion Industry Look Like in 2010?" -- from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in FIT's Katie Murphy Amphitheatre. Panelists will be Paul R. Charron, chairman and CEO, Liz Claiborne, Inc.; Roger N. Farah, president and COO, Polo Ralph Lauren; Burton M. Tansky, chairman and CEO, The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc.; and R. Lawrence Montgomery, chairman and CEO, Kohl's Department Stores.

ITM

Mentors

2005-2006 ITM Mentoring Program                                         Posted: October 9, 2005

An orientation session for ITM majors interested in participating in our mentoring program will be conducted on Monday, October 17, 12:00pm in Room B819. ITM  has recruited about 10 executives with extensive experience in the apparel and related industries to mentor the top ten ITM students.  A mentor is a career coach who can help students develop a career plan. If selected to participate in the program, the student will work one-on-one with his/her mentor from November until April.  The number of students selected is limited to the number of mentors available.  Application forms available here or in the ITM office. Deadline for applications: Friday, October 28, 2005 at 1:00pm. For additional information contact ITM Mentorship Program coordinator, Prof. Melinda Lorenz at melinda_lorenz@fitnyc.edu    Download: Guidelines (PDF)   Application Cover Sheet (Word)

Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) - NY Chapter

In conjunction with the Northeast Ohio Chapter, OWIT-NY invites you to
Lunch and Tour at the UN

● Lunch at the UN Delegates Dining Room - ● Tour of the UN facilities

Wednesday, October 14, 2005  - 11:30 am (sharp) for Lunch (Peruvian Buffet) ● 1:00 pm for Tour
Location: United Nations-Visitor’s entrance - First Avenue (Between 45th & 46th Streets)
(Photo ID required for admittance-Bags may be searched.)
Dress Code: No jeans or sneakers. Men must wear a jacket.
Fee Members/ Non-Members $30.  For security purposes, pre-registration, registration submitted prior to meeting day, is required. Registration must be received by close of business on October 11, 2005. OWIT-NY will pay for the tour.  Application (Word file)

A Day in the Life of a Customs Broker                                      Posted: October 3, 2005

Fall 2005 "Talking Trade @ FIT" Series

ITM conducted the first talk of its Fall 2005  Taking Trade at FIT series on the evening of September 20. Over two hundred students and faculty met at the Katie Murphy Amphitheater to listen to  Robert Chin Quee, Senior Vice President, Barthco International  speaking on his experiences as a custom broker and as Vice President of a trade brokering company. The event was moderated by Nicholas Barratt ('96), an ITM graduate, and currently the Associate Editor and Fulfillment Manager, Foreign Policy Association in New York City.

International

Fashion

Law

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND                                                                      Posted: October 3, 2005

Professor Giacomo Corrado Will Teach on Spring Again

IN443 Market Entry Strategies For International Fashion Firms (CRN: 11392)
ITM is pleased to announce that professor Giacomo Corrado has agreed to teach again his fashion law course "IN443 Market Entry Strategies For International Fashion Firms" next Spring semester . Students interested should register in late October as only one section of the course is being offered. The class will run on Wednesdays, 6:20pm-9:10pm. This course introduces the strategic business considerations faced by international fashion firms as they set up operations in foreign markets. Students learn to assist fashion firms in the international “market entry” process. Due to its last-minute addition, this course will not appear listed in the Spring 2006 semester bulletin. It's CRN number is 11392. For additional information, see Professor Jimenez, room B449.

A group of ITM students and faculty visited on September 14 the NYC headquarters of Cotton Incorporated to learn about its global marketing plans and international activities. This visit was sponsored by Professor Sonja Chapman, member of the U.S. Cotton Board, and Hugh Malone, Vice President of Cotton Inc. This field trip was organized by Professor Christine Pomeranz, Coordinator of the ITM Advisory Board. Students learned about Cotton Inc's importer support program and view a demonstration of the latest research on fabric development. Manhattan's headquarters of Cotton Inc is located in Madison Avenue, behind Saint Patrick's Cathedral. See pictures.

ITM

searches

for a new

full-time

Professor

ITM Searches for a New Full-Time Faculty Member                Posted: October 2, 2005

President Brown announced that three new additional full-time professorial lines are being added to the college's faculty this year. One of these three lines goes to ITM, which had not have a new full-time line added since 2001. Currently, the two full-time professors are Guillermo Jimenez and Patrick Yanez. With over 550 students enrolled in 28 classes, ITM welcomes the addition of a new full-time professor. The department is currently conducting a nation-wide search to fill this vacancy by the end of December.  Qualifications include a Master’s degree required and a minimum of 10 years of executive experience in international finance companies; with expertise in letters of credit, international business transactions, and international marketing in the fashion industries. Candidates must have previous college teaching experience in both hybrid and on-line courses and proven effectiveness in working with undergraduate students in a student-centered and culturally diverse environment. Must be experienced in fundraising, be willing to develop grant proposals to enhance ITM’s curricula, supervise student clubs, alumni networks, advisory boards and serve as the department’s assessment coordinator. See job posting

ITM Gives First Practicum Scholarship                                Posted: September  20, 2005

ITM major Thu Cao Minh, known to many of us as B2, has won the competition for the first Practicum scholarship ever given by the ITM Advisory Board. The next IN492 Practicum is going to Costa Rica on January 2-22. Ms. Minh was selected from a pool of nine outstanding candidates that awed the judges, which included ITM Advisory Board members Nicholas Barratt, Associate Editor of the Foreign Policy Association & FIT alumnus, Denise Bar-Aharon, President of BCI International and FIT alumna, David Uricoli, Senior Director of Ralph Lauren, and Bonnie Mairs, former Executive Director of the International YMCA. Ms. Minh has one of the highest GPA scores among ITM majors; she is fluent in English, German, Vietnamese, French, and Mandarin Chinese; and, spent last summer in China.  The discussion among the judges was especially animated, highlighting how close the competition was. In the end, they reach a consensus on the winner. Each submission was impressive, making the department the real winner in the whole process. As a result, commendation certificates will be given to the remaining candidates. The judges plan to describe their experience at the next advisory board meeting with the view to inducing the board to making a greater contribution to the students' professional development. With everyone's help, we hope to be able to organize more of this to culminate in the exciting celebration of the department's tenth year anniversary.

ITM Welcomes New Dean                                                       Posted: September  15, 2005

FIT's President, Dr. Joyce Brown, has announced the appointment of Professor Alan Kane, leader of the retailing program at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business, as dean of the FIT School of Business and Technology, effective Thursday, September 8, 2005.

Dean Kane joined Columbia University in 1997, after a long, highly successful career in the retail industry. He started its retailing program with a course on leadership which initially drew 35 students. Today, that course---designed for second year MBA candidates--- is one of the most popular in the business school, with approximately 300 registered students. He has built his program, developing courses, recruiting professors and bringing industry executives to campus. He also started a retailing club which today has a membership of over 320 students.

Dean Kane spent 28 years in the retail industry before joining academia. He began his career as an associate buyer at Federated Department Stores and left, eight years later, as divisional merchandise manager of mens and boyswear in its Texas division. Since that time, he quickly assumed senior positions, becoming---for nine years--- president and CEO of Hahnes Department Store in New Jersey, a division of The May Company. He has also held CEO positions at Pergament Home Centers in New York City and Grossman’s Eastern Division, a building materials retailer with 4,000 employees in 120 stores across the Northeast, and a sales volume of $1 billion.

Dean Kane received his MBA from the Harvard Business School and his bachelor degree in economics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is chairman of the board of Bluefly.com and serves on the board of directors of Circuit City Stores, Inc.

Practicum Scholarship Available                                               Posted: August 20, 2005

The ITM Advisory Board (ITM-AB) has made available a $2,850 scholarship for an ITM major interested in participating in next IN492 International Trade Practicum, which will be a field trip to Costa Rica from January 2nd until January 22. The scholarship cover the round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations, breakfast, and some tours. The scholarship recipient is still responsible for paying the three-credit tuition fee. The deadline to submit a scholarship application is September 6. , visit the Practicum's web site. For more information about the International Trade Practicum visit its website.

Talking

Trade

@

FIT

Guest Lecture

Series

Fall  2005

Tuesday, September 20, 2005, 6:30 - 8 p.m.                                            Posted: August 20, 2005
A Day in the Life of a Customs Broker
at the Katie Murphy Amphitheater on Seventh Avenue and 27th Street
Robert Chin Quee, Senior Vice President, Barthco International
will speak about his experience in the profession as an exciting career option for students.

Monday, October 17, 2005, 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Global Branding
at the John E. Reeves Great Hall on Seventh Avenue and 28th Street
John Demsey, Global Brand President, Executive Management, Estee Lauder Companies Inc.
Roger Caracappa, Executive Vice President-Packaging, Estee Lauder Companies Inc.
will speak about the importance of global branding in today?s competitive environment.

Tuesday, November 1, 2005, 3:30 - 5 p.m.
The Growing Significance of Environmental and Social Compliance
at the Katie Murphy Amphitheater on Seventh Avenue and 27th Street
David Uricoli, Senior Director-Compliance, Polo Ralph Lauren,
Shona Quinn, FIT Professor, and
Leslie Hoffman, Executive Director, Earth Pledge
will speak about how companies are creating brand value and reducing risk through social and environmental initiatives.

Pat Yanez Teaches in Thailand                                                  Posted: August 20, 2005

Through an international partnership between FIT and Thailand's Chulalongkorn University, Pat Yanez taught the course Global Fashion Marketing and Sourcing in Bangkok this June. While in Thailand, he volunteered time in the island of Phuket cleaning debris from the last tsunami and participated in several events organized by UNCTAD and ASEAN. Two ITM professors, Sonja Chapman and Guillermo Jimenez,  are also traveling to Thailand this fall to teach courses in this program.

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