Erik Autor, an experienced authority on international trade, customs and transportation issues, has been has been appointed president of The National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones. NAFTZ Chairman Jose Quiñonez, FTZ manager for the City of El Paso, Texas, announced the appointment.

"Erik Autor has an impressive understanding of the issues important to NAFTZ and significant experience as a senior trade association executive," said Chairman Quiñonez. "He has the knowledge, leadership skills and enthusiasm necessary to guide NAFTZ into the future, and we are very pleased to welcome him to our team."

Autor joins NAFTZ after fifteen years as vice president and international trade counsel at the National Retail Federation and three years as an international business consultant. He succeeds Daniel Griswold, who served as NAFTZ president for four years.

"I am very excited to work with NAFTZ's Board of Directors, membership, and expert staff," said Autor. "In a period of significant economic and political uncertainty, we must work diligently to ensure the foreign-trade zones program retains its ability to support U.S. economic competitiveness, a strong manufacturing base, and global supply and value chains."

Autor began his career as a law clerk at the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York after receiving his undergraduate and graduate degrees from UCLA and the London School of Economics, and joint law degrees from Duke University. He then joined the international trade group at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom inWashington, DC, and served six years as international trade counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance before joining the National Retail Federation.

About the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones

The National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ) is the collective voice of the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Program. The NAFTZ is the program's principal educator and the leader in demonstrating the program's value and role in the changing environment of international trade. NAFTZ is instrumental in supporting economic development objectives and the global competitiveness of its public and private members by providing a forum for disseminating relevant information and advocacy support on international trade issues. For more information, visit NAFTZ's website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.