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The International Stone and Tile Federation (ISTF) has been formed by Robert F. Akers, a partner in the Hudson Economics Group, Ltd. When asked, for this article, why he saw a need for this type of organization he replied…”the industry is relatively small, in this country. However, in other countries it is a major industry. Firms in this field, from all over the world, have difficulty with various governments and regulations when it comes to doing business. This organization’s goal is to make access to proven experts in the various disciplines of law and business accessible to our members. Doing business internationally should not be difficult for our members.”

I then asked Mr. Akers what, specifically, were the nature of problems he was talking about:”…recently, in this country, we saw move by the National Stone Counsel (NSC) to impose a fee (not duty) on imported stone into the United States. Theoretically, this fee was to only be used to help promote Stone. Why, I wondered, didn’t the people selling these products promote their own stone? Why should the Consumer and the Retailer, particularly, be assessed for this promotion? It just didn’t make any sense to me.

As I looked at the project I began to understand. The National Stone Council’s charge is to support the utilization of domestic stone. There’s nothing wrong with that. That is their job. However , in a truly global economy business is best supported when an action is considered in global terms. Our firm’s experience has clearly shown that many of the countries who produce stone and tile products do, in fact, operate in a mode which only looks out for their county’s needs and ignores the rest of the world. That’s okay, that’s what local associations and trade groups are for, by definition. The industry is large enough, globally; that I feel there is a legitimate need for an international federation. I am hoping that the local organizations, around the world, will see this need and support it.”

The ISTF will be having an organizational meeting in October of this year to give people, from around the world, an opportunity to meet with and discuss their particular interests with internationally experienced lawyers, trading consultants and economists, from a variety of countries including the U.S., Europe and Asia to discuss their specific concerns with.

© The International Stone and Tile Federation 2011