National Association of Waterfront Employers joins USA‑IT Coalition to strengthen fight against illegal trade

The National Association of Waterfront Employers (NAWE) announced that it has formally joined the United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade (USA‑IT) coalition, a nationwide partnership dedicated to combating the growing threats associated with illicit trade across U.S. supply chains.

USA‑IT is a public‑ and private‑sector coalition focused on protecting Americans’ economic and physical security from black‑market criminal networks. The coalition works to educate the public about the harms of illegal trade, promote best practices to counter illicit activity, and support effective policy aimed at dismantling the complex, interconnected crimes that make up the illegal‑trade economy.

Illegal trade has become a $2.2 trillion global enterprise, encompassing crimes such as counterfeiting, organized retail theft, cargo theft, human trafficking, weapon and drug smuggling, and cyber‑enabled fraud—many of which directly affect port operations and supply‑chain stakeholders.

“Ports are on the front lines of America’s commerce and security,” said Carl Bentzel, President of NAWE. “Joining USA‑IT strengthens our commitment to safeguarding the integrity of waterfront operations and ensuring our members have the information, partnerships, and tools needed to counter increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.”

“We are thrilled to welcome the National Association of Waterfront Employers into the USA‑IT coalition,” said Alysa Erichs, USA-IT Spokesperson and former Acting Executive Associate Director for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “NAWE plays a critical role at the heart of America’s supply chain, and their leadership strengthens our shared mission to protect U.S. commerce and communities from the harms of illegal trade. By working together, we can expand information‑sharing, deepen cross‑sector collaboration, and better equip frontline partners to confront the increasingly complex criminal networks that threaten our economy and national security.”

NAWE’s partnership with USA‑IT aligns with the coalition’s emphasis on information‑sharing, cross‑sector collaboration, and training—all critical components of addressing illicit trade, which no single industry, company, or government agency can tackle alone.