The EDPA is committed to driving sustained advocacy efforts to support the exhibitions and events industry. As part of these efforts, we proudly partner with the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) and the Exhibitor Advocate
The Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) is a coalition of leading professional, industry, and labor organizations that comprise the unified advocacy voice of the business events industry. The exhibitions, conferences, and trade shows delivered by ECA's alliance partners and their members attract exhibitors, attendees, and buyers from around the world to conduct business in the United States. This dynamic industry employs 2.6 million Americans and drives $399 billion in spending annually.
Click here to learn more about the ECA
The Exhibitor Advocate amplifies the voice of exhibitors to ensure the enduring success of exhibitions and events by collaborating with all stakeholders to promote and cultivate open communication, consistent standards, and industry best practices.
Legislative Action Day
ECA Advocacy Update
By Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance ● Jun 20, 2025
👋 Welcome to another jam-packed edition of the ECA Advocacy Update.
ECA is expanding its Tariff Resource Center, and we need your help! Beyond trade and tariff policy updates, we are looking to share (anonymized!) resources to help the industry navigate the ongoing uncertainty. If you have contract language, communications assets (sales scripts, customer-facing language, etc.), or anything else to contribute that might be helpful, please email Tommy Goodwin.
1 big thing: Senate advances ECA tax and workforce priorities!
Earlier this week, the U.S. Senate advanced ECA’s top tax reform and future workforce policy priorities!
Why it matters: The Senate’s proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act language would maintain several ECA-supported tax policies while creating two new opportunities to help us attract and train our future workforce.
Tax reform: The Senate bill retains the current tax treatment of business profits, private investments, and association events while expanding a tax credit for solopreneurs within the industry.
Future workforce: The Senate bill also would expand the Pell Grant program to pay for high-quality short-term skilled workforce training and transform 529 college savings plans into career savings plans by paying for certain licenses and certifications.
What’s next: The Senate will try to pass its One Big Beautiful Bill Act legislation by July 4. From there, the House and Senate will work to get a unified bill to President Trump for his signature by the end of July.
Congratulations to everyone who took part in Legislative Action Day, where these priorities were front and center during more than 100 congressional meetings. Your advocacy made a difference!
2. Tariff & international travel updates
In recent days, there have been several notable U.S. tariff and international travel policy developments worth sharing with the industry.
This week, two companies asked the Supreme Court for an expedited review of the constitutionality of these tariffs introduced under the auspices of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act:
10% “baseline” tariff on all trading partners
Paused “Reciprocal” tariffs on specific US trading partners
20% “fentanyl” tariffs on China
25% “fentanyl” tariffs on Canada and Mexico
Over the weekend, Secretary of State Marco Rubio notified 36 countries they must address various vetting and screening concerns within 60 days or risk being added to the list of 19 countries with full or partial U.S. entry restrictions.
By the numbers: Last year, together the 36 countries accounted for 466,374 of the 72,390,321 international visitors to the U.S. in 2024, or 0.64%.
The bottom line: ECA continues to oppose tariffs and country-specific travel restrictions, which harm the competitiveness of the U.S. as the premier destination for international exhibitors, attendees, and events.
3. ECA to join ESCA in Idaho
Later this month, ECA will join the ESCA for its Summer Educational Conference (SEC) in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
The big picture: ECA looks forward to joining ESCA members for two forward-looking sessions:
The 4 “Ts”: How Washington, D.C. is Impacting ESCA Members Today… and Tomorrow, which will provide an advocacy update from Washington, DC, and predictions on what to expect going forward.
Navigating Change: The Future of Trade Shows, which will also feature all 6 Exhibitions Industry Collective association leaders.
To learn more about the ESCA SEC, please click here.
Thank you to Julie Kagy, Rachel Rodean, and Tammy McGlade for including ECA on the agenda!
4. In case you missed it
ECA took part in the IFES World Summit 2025 in Guadalajara, Mexico, with Tommy Goodwin moderating a panel with experiential marketing leaders from the U.S., Germany, and Singapore.
