Announcing IFTA: International Fair Trade Alliance
CHICAGO, Dec. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Aluminum extruders from around the world have formed an alliance designed to promote and defend fair trade practices. The International Fair Trade Alliance (IFTA) is a non-profit organization created to bring together aluminum extrusion manufacturers and suppliers from across the globe for the purpose of promoting free and fair trade. The Alliance, which began forming earlier this summer, is comprised of aluminum extruders from North and South America, Australia and New Zealand, the Gulf States, and Israel.
Jason Weber, Director - International Market Intelligence for Sapa Extrusion North America, and newly elected Chairman of IFTA said, "IFTA believes that a network of market-based aluminum extrusion companies and associations can work together to support, teach, and advocate fair trade practices at a national and international level."
Board members include representatives from extrusion companies and trade associations who will represent their country or region on matters related to fair trade. The newly formed Board of Directors includes:
IFTA Chairman
International
Jason Weber, Director – International Market Intelligence; Sapa Extrusion North America
IFTA Board Members
U.S./Canada
Duncan Crowdis, Past Chairman; Aluminum Extruders Council
Colombia
Michael Gil Gómez, Chief Financial & Strategy Officer; Alumina S.A.
Australia/New Zealand
Lewis Saragossi; Australian Aluminum Extrusion Association
Gulf States
Mahmoud Daylami, Secretary General; Gulf Aluminum Council
Ecuador
Jochen Münch, Director Comercial Corporativo; Corporación Ecuatoriana de Aluminio Cedal S.A.
Israel
Roy Shenkar, Business Development Manager; Klil Industries
Canada
Mike Flynn, President; Apel Extrusions
IFTA Executive Director
Jeff Henderson, President & CEO; The Sanford Organization
The members of IFTA are convinced that non-market based economies are committed to undermining the principles of free enterprise through a variety of illegal and unfair trade practices that must be confronted by individual countries and at the World Trade Organization. Lewis Saragossi, Chairman and Managing Director of G. James Glass & Aluminum and representing the Australian Aluminum Extrusion Association on IFTA's Board said, "We are all seeing illegal and unfair trade tactics from China being exported to other countries. It is time for our industry to come together as a global community to share data and field intelligence so each of our marketplaces can efficiently and quickly confront these threats."
To date, the International Fair Trade Alliance has recruited new members by invitation and operated on voluntarily donated funds. Extruders and extrusion trade associations are invited to contact IFTA to inquire how to get involved. Jochen Münch, Commercial Director of Ecuadorian extruder Corporación Ecuatoriana de Aluminio Cedal S.A. said, "What we are seeing is the proliferation of Chinese aluminum extrusions throughout South America. As duties, have been imposed by countries like Australia, Canada, and the United States, Chinese extruders are moving into new markets. So, even if you do not feel the threat today, just give it some time and you will."
The International Fair Trade Alliance will be managed by The Sanford Organization (TSO), a fully accredited association management company located in suburban Chicago, Illinois. The Sanford Organization manages trade associations, professional societies, and trade shows and is headed by Jeff Henderson. TSO provides administrative oversight for several organizations, including the Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) and the Aluminum Anodizers Council, which allows TSO to provide efficient collaboration on common issues such as Fair Trade.
About IFTA
The International Fair Trade Alliance is a non-profit organization created to bring together aluminum extrusion manufacturers and suppliers from across the globe for the purpose of promoting free and fair trade. The Alliance is guided by a Board of Directors comprised of representatives from aluminum extrusion manufacturers and trade organizations. IFTA's mission is to promote the progress and development of the industry in areas of Free and Fair Trade, cooperate with Government officials and Government agencies on matters affecting the industry, and foster greater and freer networking among global aluminum extrusion industry professionals.
For more information about IFTA please visit the website at IFTAonline.trade; contact IFTA at info@iftaonline.trade or +1.847.416.7280.
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