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.
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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 ● Aug 29, 2025
Smart Brevity® count: 3 mins...861 words
👋 Welcome back to this post-summer recess edition of the ECA Advocacy Update newsletter!
“Deal or No Deal” was the name of the game this August in Washington, D.C., as U.S. trading partners scrambled to secure deals before new reciprocal tariff rates kicked in. Visit the ECA Tariff Resource Center for the latest on U.S. deals with the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
As always, please visit the ECA Advocacy Network to add your voice to the policy debates heating back up in our nation’s capital. ECA has four programs to make sure your voice is heard: the Email Action Center, the Social Influencer Program, the Op-Ed Program, and the Show Floor Program (more on that program in item #2 below! 👇).
1 big thing: Travel challenges continue
This fall, the business and professional events industry will continue to face international travel-related headwinds.
The bottom line: Changes in U.S. visa policies will continue to impact the industry’s ability to welcome all international exhibitors and attendees to U.S. business events.
Interview policy: Effective September 2, many visa interview waivers expire, which means more in-person interviews and potentially longer wait times at U.S. embassies and consulates for business visas (which, in many cases, can still be renewed without an interview).
Visa integrity fee: Coming soon (exact date TBD), all visa applicants must pay a new $250 fee, which will make visas more costly for international travelers seeking to come to the U.S. for conferences, trade shows, exhibitions, and meetings.
Yes, but: The widely reported visa bond pilot program is unlikely to have a material impact on the industry.
By the numbers: This pilot program, which currently applies to travelers from Malawi and Zambia, is only anticipated to affect 2,000 visa applicants between now and August 5, 2026.
Our thought bubble: ECA continues to support efforts to reduce visa wait times while modernizing the visa processing system.
At this time, 52 U.S. embassies and consulates have visitor visa interview wait times longer than 3 months.
2. On the show floor in Las Vegas
Earlier this month in Las Vegas, Stephanie Selesnick from International Trade Information, Inc. arranged a tour of Informa’s Black Hat USA expo for Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s staff.
Why it matters: Bringing policymakers and their staff to the show floor educates them about the important issues that impact the industry while letting them see firsthand how our industry operates and the impact we have on economic growth, job creation, and supporting small businesses.
Conversation in Las Vegas focused on how local events were being impacted by tariffs and declining international travel.
What they’re saying: “The Senator’s staff were amazed at how many people (voters) it takes to build a show,” said Stephanie Selesnick. “Taking them behind the scenes during move-in demonstrated that it takes a village to build an expo. We’re so grateful to Black Hat and Freeman for coordinating the backstage tour.”
Go deeper: The ECA Show Floor Program will work with you to help bring policymakers to the business events you and your organization are part of.
Thank you to Stephanie Selesnick, Informa’s Tom Amaral, and Freeman’s Steve LoPorto and Gia Carunchio for hosting a great tour!
3. Busy fall ahead in Washington, D.C.
Get ready for a busy fall in Washington, D.C., with potentially big implications for the industry.
The big picture: 2 big questions will be front and center and making headlines in the weeks ahead:
Will there be a government shutdown?
Government funding runs out on September 30, and with 60 votes in the Senate required to pass appropriations bills or a continuing resolution, a potential government shutdown is looming. How would that impact the industry?
Travel delays: TSA agents and air traffic controllers go unpaid. During the 2018-2019 shutdown, “sick outs” led to long security lines and cancelled flights.
Event support: Government programs that bring international buyers to U.S. events would be paused.
Visa processing: Visitor visas would still be processed, but a long shutdown could suspend all non-emergency services at U.S. embassies and consulates.
Are President Trump’s tariffs constitutional?
An appeals court will soon rule on VOS Selections, Inc. v. Trump, which challenges the constitutionality of many of the Trump Administration’s tariffs. Whatever the ruling, this case will be appealed to the Supreme Court. What’s at stake?
Since January 20, the U.S. has collected $804 billion in reciprocal tariffs on goods imported into the U.S.
If the Supreme Court rules that the baseline, reciprocal, and fentanyl tariffs are unconstitutional, future tariff policymaking would follow traditional processes and allow for greater lead times.
What’s next: ECA will continue its advocacy on these important issues and keep the community updated with the latest news.
4. In case you missed it
A Maryland court declared part of the state’s digital advertising tax to be unconstitutional. ECA and its Ad Tax Coalition partners continue to support full repeal of all state digital advertising taxes.
Trade Show Executive chronicled how business and professional events industry leaders are navigating ongoing tariff uncertainty.
SISO’s Summer Leadership Conference featured a Washington, D.C., update from ECA’s Tommy Goodwin. Read all about it in this event recap from Maddy Ryley.