AAEI’s advocacy work traces back more than a century to 1921, when the organization, then known as the National Council of American Importers and Traders, held its first annual conference in New York City, with U.S. President Warren G. Harding delivering the keynote address. What began as an effort to help U.S. companies overcome market access challenges and expand into international markets has since evolved into one of the trade community’s most influential and enduring advocacy organizations.

As global trade grew more complex, so did AAEI’s role.  AAEI built a reputation as a trusted advocate, representing the interests of manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and trade service providers before Congress, executive agencies, and international bodies including the World Trade Organization and the World Customs Organization.

Today, that century-long legacy continues. As the trade landscape confronts new challenges around tariffs, forced labor enforcement, AI, customs modernization, and more, AAEI remains committed to its founding mission, standing alongside its members to shape the policies and regulations that define the future of global trade