Consultant (International Trade Policy / Central, South America)

Celia Feldpausch currently counsels the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) on domestic and foreign dairy trade, import and export regulations and regulatory requirements.  She also serves as a liaison between IDFA and Latin American dairy companies and associations.

Previously, Ms. Feldpausch served as Associate Director for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where she directed the daily activities of the Brazil-U.S. Business Council, (U.S. Section-sister organization to the National Confederation of Industries in Brazil).  As Associate Director, Ms. Feldpausch managed the organization’s information services, the trade policy task forces and development of policy recommendations to U.S. and Brazilian governments.  In addition, she represented top U.S. investors in Brazil in the areas of trade, services, electronic commerce, standards, and communications and counseled members both in Brazil and U.S. on customs, trade policy and agreements and international business transactions.

Prior to the U.S. Chamber, Ms. Feldpausch served as Assistant Director for International Trade for the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA).  At IDFA, Ms. Feldpausch advised members on global trade, regulatory and customs issues.  She also served as a dairy industry representative before U.S. and foreign governments.  Additional responsibilities included negotiations of the World Trade Organization, Free Trade Area of the Americas and other major trade agreements.  She was responsible for developing and increasing the organization’s international membership worldwide with a focus on Central and South America.  

Before joining IDFA, Ms. Feldpausch was an International Trade Advisor for Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.  In this capacity, Ms. Feldpausch counseled major U.S. and foreign corporations on customs and trade matters, including market entry, international sourcing, tariffs, documentation, taxes, labeling regulations, investment regulations and import barriers.  As the company’s point person on U.S.-Brazil trade issues, she worked closely with Brazilian government agencies, namely Customs, Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade (SECEX, DECEX), Ministry of External Relations, among others.  Her main focus was on the apparel, automotive, electronics, and telecommunications industries. Other projects included the preparation of a yearly Customs Guide for the Western Hemisphere, country sourcing matrix for 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries (including their labor laws), trade agreement research (WTO, Mercosur, FTAA and Andean Community), and programs and regulations of free trade zones in 20 countries in Latin America and Caribbean.

Ms. Feldpausch is a licensed U.S. Customs Broker and holds a Masters Degree in International Trade from George Mason University, a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from Berea College, and an Associates Degree in Communications/Journalism from Brevard College.

Ms. Feldpausch has native aptitude in Portuguese and is conversant in Spanish.  She lives with her husband and two sons in Alexandria, Virginia.