Washington, DC (June 11, 2014) – Venable partner Ashley Craig served on a senior-level task force of industry leaders and national security experts that has issued its final recommendations to close security gaps in global trade by better leveraging market incentives. Mr. Craig collaborated with fellow Venable International Trade attorneys Carrie Kroll, Elizabeth Lowe and Amanda Blunt on the Stimson Center task force. Targeted at U.S. government and industry stakeholders, the proposals of the “Partners in Prevention Task Force” – an initiative of the nonprofit, non-partisan Stimson Center – were unveiled May 29 at an event featuring keynote remarks by senior White House counterterrorism advisor Rand Beers. Former Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary for Science and Technology, Jay Cohen (RADM, USN, Ret), served as task force chair.
The group’s recommendations follow an 18-month Stimson Center collaboration with hundreds of industry partners spanning high-tech manufacturers and service providers, transport and logistics firms, and insurance providers. Topics addressed include the Export Control Reform Initiative; the increasing importance of third-party logistics services in global trade; security at U.S. port facilities; and implementation of the International Trade Data System.
Craig commented, “Venable was honored to work alongside Admiral Cohen and fellow Task Force members on this important undertaking – we are mindful of the interwoven economic realities of trade facilitation and supply chain security. We remain hopeful that this effort will be considered closely by the Administration, with follow-up action in the near term.” He noted further, “Our work would not have been complete but for the concentrated efforts of my Venable colleagues, Carrie Kroll, Liz Lowe and Amanda Blunt.”
“Ashley was a critical member of the task force,” said Brian Finlay, Stimson’s managing director. Mr. Craig, who also co-chairs Venable’s International Trade Group, was buttressed by several of his colleagues at the firm, each providing a combination of legal and commercial perspectives to the Stimson project. Finlay commented, “The Venable contingent of subject matter experts offered a wealth of expertise on both the regulatory and competitive dynamics of the issues we examined. In fact, Venable brought a larger team of first-rate international trade experts to this effort. In particular, we’d like to thank Carrie Kroll, Elizabeth Lowe and Amanda Blunt individually for their outstanding support – they demonstrate a command presence on core legal concerns, as well as unique insight into operational issues, both existing and proposed. The final report would not have taken shape without their contributions. It was a genuine pleasure work with all of them.”
The task force report can be accessed here. Video of the May 29 event can be seen here.
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The Stimson Center is a nonprofit, nonpartisan institution devoted to enhancing international peace and security through a unique combination of rigorous analysis and outreach. The Center’s Managing Across Boundaries Initiative develops innovative government responses at the national, regional and international levels and identifies pragmatic public-private partnerships to mitigate these threats. Read more about the Stimson Center at www.stimson.org.