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.

Click here to learn more about The Exhibitor Advocate

Legislative Action Day

EECA Advocacy Update

By Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance ● Apr 25, 2025

🌎 Welcome to the latest issue of the ECA Advocacy Update newsletter.

  • With the rapidly evolving nature of tariffs, international travel, and other policy issues impacting the business and professional events industry, and more, ECA encourages you to reach out at any time and share what you are seeing in the market and on the show floor.

  • Also, please visit the ECA Advocacy Network, where you can email your elected officials, join our social influencer program, and find out how you can host policymakers at your events. Now more than ever, these programs are critical to the industry’s advocacy efforts in Washington, DC, and across the United States.

1 big thing: Tariff resources & insights

Have you visited the ECA Tariff Resource Center?

The big picture: Tariff policy remains fluid these days. ECA is curating all the information that you need to know in one place, including:

  • New fees on Chinese vessel operators and owners and Chinese-built ships, which start in October.

  • Tariff exemptions on smartphones and other electronic components.

  • Country-specific reciprocal tariffs, which are paused until July 9.

Why it matters: ECA is committed to providing information and analysis that you can use on these tariff developments and what they mean for the business and professional events industry.

What they're saying: Trade Show News Network recently asked a who’s who of industry leaders how tariffs will impact the industry. Click here to read what these experts had to say:

  • Hervé Sedky, President & CEO, Emerald (and ECA Board Chair)

  • Marsha Flanagan, President & CEO, International Association of Exhibitions and Events

  • Julie Kagy, Executive Director, Exhibition Services & Contractors Association

  • Doug Emslie, Chairman, Cuil Bay Capital

  • Vinnie Polito, CEO, Society of Independent Show Organizers

  • Jeff Quade, President, GES Exhibitions - North America

Take action: Visit the ECA Advocacy Network’s action center today to share your views on the recent tariffs with your elected officials.

2. Tax reform moving on Capitol Hill

Tax reform will accelerate next week as the U.S. House of Representatives begins crafting its “reconciliation” legislation.

  • Reconciliation is a process that allows Congress to enact tax and spending changes while bypassing the Senate’s filibuster.

The bottom line: ECA supports tax reform efforts that are pro-growth, pro-investment, pro-impact, and pro-workforce development.

  • Pro-growth: ECA supports a competitive tax rate for companies and small businesses that ensures that we continue to provide value to our customers, stakeholders, and host communities.

  • Pro-investment: ECA supports maintaining the current tax treatment of private capital that serves as an important source of investment in our industry’s small businesses and future growth.

  • Pro-impact: ECA supports preserving the tax-exempt status of nonprofit associations and their events to continue the critical mission-driven work of these organizations.

  • Pro-workforce development: ECA supports transforming Section 529 college savings plans into career savings plans that help workers secure in-demand, good-paying jobs in our industry.

Go deeper: Learn more about ECA’s 2025 tax reform agenda here.

What’s Next: ECA will continue to be active on Capitol Hill, meeting with lawmakers about the industry’s priorities and supporting the work of the Community Impact Coalition and Tomorrow’s Workforce Coalition.

3. Legislative Action Day coming soon

More than 140 industry advocates have registered for ECA Legislative Action Day, which takes place in Washington, DC, on Thursday, May 29.

  • Once again, #ECALAD will be the largest gathering of the business and professional events industry on Capitol Hill ever.

Why it matters: From tariffs and international travel to tax reform and workforce development, 2025 is a pivotal year for the industry in our nation’s capital. That’s why ECA Legislative Action Day is so important.

Once again, ECA Legislative Action Day will be held alongside 2 great industry events taking place in Washington, DC, that week:

Sign up for free to join us in Washington, DC, on May 29 here.

What’s next: Know before you go messages, prep webinars, and state delegation virtual meetups will begin soon. Register today!

4. In case you missed it

ECA will appear at next week’s Trade Show Executive Fastest 50 Awards & Summit in Orlando, Florida.