General Motors Extends, Expands Agreement With Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services to Provide Single-Source Trade and Tariff Solutions

    DETROIT--Sept. 17, 2002--Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services, Inc. (STTAS), a leading provider of global customs compliance, tariff and trade consulting services, announced today that it was awarded a long-term contract extension from General Motors Corporation (GM).
    According to the agreement, STTAS is the `single-source solution' for GM's North American tariff and trade systems development, maintenance and professional services. Financial terms were not disclosed.
    "GM's overall mission is to manufacture and sell the best motor vehicles in the world. In order to support these efforts, GM seeks out world-class support services," stated Kevin Smith, GM's director of North American Customs Administration. "STTAS has proven time and time again that it measures up to the task of assisting us to accomplish our objectives. These objectives include continuous improvement. By working together since 1997, our processes and the resulting output are dramatically better today. The expansion and extension of our agreement comes as a result of STTAS' efficient and effective performance of the work."
    During the last five years, GM has outsourced to STTAS the operational requirements of all pre entry and post entry North American activities. Services provided include tariff classification, value reconciliation, determination of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) eligibility, document acquisition for all content reporting requirements including those of NAFTA and the American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA), 9802 program, and drawback. Under the expanded contract, STTAS will be the single source solution for a comprehensive package of Customs professional services that include both the professional and infrastructure support necessary for GM's North American Customs operations.
    Robert Schaffer, president of STTAS, added, "GM and STTAS have teamed to lead the industry in tariff and trade compliance. This contract extension and expansion of services evidences the commitment of both GM and STTAS to not only maintain the status quo, but to consistently improve upon all aspects of our collective efforts."

    About GM

    General Motors , the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide, and has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. GM employs approximately 355,000 people around the world. More information on GM can be found at http://www.gm.com.

    About STTAS

    Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services, Inc., is the premier provider of tariff, trade and customs compliance managed services as well as a leader in global customs modernization services. The STTAS formula for successfully serving its extensive Client base is a combination of unparalleled expertise in the intricacies of international trade and customs rules coupled with an unwavering dedication to the development of highly innovative, cost-effective trade and customs solutions. The award of the multi-year, $1.3 billion U.S. Customs Automation (ACE) contract to the eCustoms Partnership, that includes STTAS, ensures that the firm will continue to play a pivotal role in the evolution of global customs and trade policy.
    The STTAS team consists of hundreds of customs and trade professionals possessing years of government and corporate experience, including four former Deputy Commissioners of U.S. Customs, a former Assistant Commissioner of Customs, former U.S. Customs Regulatory Auditors, former U.S. Customs National Import Specialists, economists, trade advisors, licensed customs brokers and foreign-trade zone specialists. The STTAS Detroit office, a leader in complete customs data management, compliance oversight and managed services, has the distinction of ISO 9002 designation within its quality systems. STTAS is an affiliate of the law firm of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A. (ST&R).
    For more information, visit http://www.strtrade.com