LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
It’s June! Warm weather is here, the grass is green, pools are open, and summer is just around the corner. Also on the horizon is something Kansas Citians have been eagerly anticipating for years: the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The tournament itself kicks off on June 11, with Kansas City hosting its first match on June 16, and excitement is already building across the region. To help you get ready for the international energy and connections the tournament will bring, we’ve got an event designed to prepare you for global mingling beyond the matches. Keep reading to learn more!
On May 13, the International Steering Committee hosted World Trade Day at KC Current’s CPKC Stadium. The event featured insightful discussion on the upcoming 2026 USMCA review and its potential impact on North American trade. Speakers included Enrique Perret, Managing Director of the U.S.-Mexico Foundation and President & Founder of the North Capital Forum; Eric Goodman, Business Development, Transload, and Hi-Wide Team Lead at CPKC; and Ludovic Ortuno, Senior Economic Development Managing Director with the Missouri DED Canadian Office. The conversation was moderated by Brian Gordon, Senior Vice President at Commerce Bank. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this timely and engaging discussion!
If you’re in the soccer spirit, we invite you to join the Greater Houston Partnership, World Trade Center Arnhem Nijmegen, and World Trade Center Kansas City for The Soccer Effect: Unlocking Trade & Investment between the US and Netherlands, a virtual discussion on how global sporting events can drive long-term trade, investment, and international partnerships. This program will highlight the strengths of Houston, The Netherlands, and Kansas City in aerospace, bioscience, logistics, and global trade, while exploring opportunities for collaboration leading up to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and beyond. Attendees will also hear firsthand perspectives from companies with Dutch operations and investments in the U.S., followed by an interactive Q&A session. Register for the event here!
Thank you for your support of the WTC-KC. We appreciate your continued engagement, and we look forward to bringing you more updates next month. For any trade-related inquiries, please contact us.
EVENTS
Basecamp Bootcamp
International Trade Council of Greater Kansas City
June 10, 2026
Register Here
Heartland Connect & U.S. China – Ag Roundtable
US Heartland China Association
June 15-17, 2026
Register Here
Kansas City International Dragon Boat Festival
Society for Friendship with China
June 20, 2026
Register Here
The Soccer Effect: Unlocking Trade & Investment between the US and Netherlands
World Trade Center – Kansas City, World Trade Center – Antwerp, Greater Houston Partnership
June 23, 2026
Register Here
Current Connections Networking
International Trade Council of Greater Kansas City
August 1, 2026
Register Here
47th Annual Ethnic Enrichment Festival
The Ethnic Enrichment Commission (EEC) of Kansas City
August 21 – August 23, 2026
Learn More
Mid-America Trade Summit
MU International Trade Center
October 7, 2026
Register Here
DISPATCHES FROM DC
Trump’s 10% Tariff Levy Struck Down by U.S. Court of International Trade
After weeks of legal deliberation, the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that President Donald Trump’s proposed 10% global tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 were unlawful. The ruling marks another major setback for Trump’s tariff agenda following the Supreme Court’s February decision striking down many of his earlier tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (NPR).
The case centered on Trump’s use of Section 122, a rarely used provision of the Trade Act of 1974 that allows the president to impose temporary tariffs of up to 15% for no more than 150 days in response to “large and serious” balance-of-payments deficits. Opponents argued that the statute was intended for short-term international monetary crises, not ongoing trade deficits. In a 2-1 ruling, the court found that the administration failed to demonstrate that the legal conditions required under Section 122 had been met (USA Today).
Although President Trump said the ruling would not deter future trade actions and indicated his administration would explore alternative legal avenues, many importers and businesses viewed the decision as a victory. Florida-based toy company Basic Fun! was among the plaintiffs that challenged the tariffs and welcomed the court’s decision. “This decision is an important win for American companies that rely on global manufacturing to deliver safe and affordable products. Unlawful tariffs make it harder for businesses like ours to compete and grow,” Basic Fun! CEO Jay Foreman said in a statement to the Liberty Justice Center.
WHAT WE'RE LISTENING TO
USMCA Review and Autos with Jennifer Safavian
The Trade Guys
Listen Here
U.S. Trade Trends, Tariffs, and the Shifting Global Supply Chain with Ken Roberts
Simply Trade
Listen Here