WTDC Newsletter – October 15, 2025
Vessel port fees begin
On October 14, the U.S. and China began imposing fees on vessels manufactured in their counterpart’s country. The Chinese fees are in response to the fees announced by the U.S.
Fees will be collected at the first port of entry of a single voyage or the first five voyages within a year. Some shipping lines have swapped out Chinese-made vessels for U.S. shipping lanes. COSCO is expected to be the carrier most affected, accounting for nearly half of the segment’s $3.2 expected fees in 2026 (Reuters).
US, China roll out tit-for-tat port fees, threatening more turmoil at sea.
China hits back at US ships with additional port fees
US port fees, and $3 billion in costs, loom for owners of Chinese-built ships
Check out today’s WTDC newsletter with articles on Vessel port fees begin and China reciprocates, City National Bank being honored as our Vendor of the Month, #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth, Sean Gazitua was a panelist at FIU Alumni event, and welcome Chris Lantigya to the WTDC Internship Program.
President’s Corner
It was rewarding to get back to work after a week with the Duty Free and Travel Retail industry in Cannes, France. WTDC had the pleasure of welcoming our Vendor of the Month, City National Bank, whose partnership and support continue to make a meaningful impact on our operations and community.
I also had the opportunity to speak at an FIU Alumni event, reconnecting with fellow Panthers and sharing insights on leadership and international trade. It’s always inspiring to see how far FIU graduates go in shaping our industries and communities.
Looking ahead, I’m especially excited about our Bandhwari Scholarship presentation at FIU on October 16th. Supporting students in their educational journey and investing in the next generation of leaders is one of the most fulfilling parts of what we do.
Best Regards,
Sean Gazitua, President & CEO
Send a message to WTDC President and CEO Sean Gazitua
Breast Cancer Awareness
WTDC and our guests from City National Bank donned pink caps in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We honor our friends, family, and colleagues who have been touched by this disease.
Key prevention and screening guidelines from the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade include:
• Routine screening and self-breast exams are essential.
• Women ages 40 to 74 should schedule a mammogram every two years or more.
• Women at higher risk should consider annual mammograms and MRIs. Risk factors include family history, breast density, and genetics.
• Healthy lifestyle choices can help reduce risk.
WTDC proudly joins the effort to raise awareness, encourage early detection, and support all those affected by breast cancer. In further support of Breast Cancer Awareness, WTDC employees will participate in the MIA Runway 5k on October 18, 2025.
DOH-Miami-Dade Recognizes National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
FIU Alumni
On October 8, WTDC President & CEO Sean Gazitua, who also serves as President of the FIU Alumni Board of Directors, was honored to participate as a panelist at Executive Connections: Powered by Banesco USA at Banesco USA headquarters in Doral, FL.
This dynamic leadership event brought together FIU alumni and industry leaders for an evening of meaningful connections, idea sharing, and professional growth.
WTDC is proud to support FIU’s mission of fostering leadership, innovation, and community engagement among its alumni network.
The program featured an engaging panel of distinguished leaders. Pictured below, left to right, are panelist Kenneth C. Hall – Senior Vice President, University Advancement; CEO, FIU Foundation, Sara DuCuennois, Chief Alumni Officer, FIU Alumni, panelist Sean Gazitua ’04 – President & CEO, WTDC; President, FIU Alumni Board of Directors, panel moderator Erbi Blanco-True, MBA ’10 – Community Relations Director, Banesco USA; Director, FIU Alumni Board of Directors, and panelist Nelson Hidalgo ’93 – Chief Corporate Banking Officer, Banesco USA.
FIU Alumni Board of Directors
City National Bank: Vendor of the Month
We’re proud to recognize City National Bank of Florida, a valued WTDC partner, as our Vendor of the Month. Ela, Bernie, Sasha, and Hugo have been amazing banking partners for many years!
Headquartered in Miami, City National has long been a trusted financial institution for Floridians. With over $26 billion in assets, it is among the largest banks based in the state. As a subsidiary of Banco Bci, City National continues to operate as a true community bank, offering local decision-making and personalized service that help Florida businesses thrive.
Special thanks to our partners at City National for joining us at last Friday’s award ceremony:
-Bernard J. Adrover, Senior Vice President, Director of Commercial Banking
-Sasha C. Torres, Assistant Vice President, Senior Client Services Specialist
-Hugo Carreno III, Banking Officer, Commercial Banker Associate
We appreciate your partnership, dedication, and continued support of WTDC’s growth. Here’s to many more years of collaboration and shared success!
City National Bank
Vessel port fees begin
On October 14, the U.S. and China began imposing fees on vessels manufactured in their counterpart’s country. The Chinese fees are in response to the fees announced by the U.S.
Fees will be collected at the first port of entry of a single voyage or the first five voyages within a year. Some shipping lines have swapped out Chinese-made vessels for U.S. shipping lanes. COSCO is expected to be the carrier most affected, accounting for nearly half of the segment’s $3.2 expected fees in 2026 (Reuters).
US, China roll out tit-for-tat port fees, threatening more turmoil at sea.
China hits back at US ships with additional port fees
US port fees, and $3 billion in costs, loom for owners of Chinese-built ships
Internship Program
Welcome to the team Chris! Chris Lantigua is completing a Technology Internship at WTDC this fall, focusing on systems and automation. He is pursuing his Master of Science in Data Science & AI at Florida International University and is on track to graduate in Spring 2027. Chris earned his BS in Computer Science at FIU.
WTDC Internships
Foreign Trade Zone Consulting
WTDC provides Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) consulting services designed to help businesses maximize cash flow by not paying duties upfront or deferring duties altogether on exports.
With over 20 successful FTZ consultations under our belt, our team recently completed CBP Activations for FTZs in Florida and Kentucky, guiding companies through the complex regulatory, operational, and compliance steps. Whether you’re seeking to defer, reduce, or even eliminate customs duties, WTDC FTZ Consulting provides the strategic insight and hands-on support needed to make your FTZ activation seamless and profitable.
WTDC FTZ Consulting
WTDC is a Foreign Trade Zone and Logistics company in Miami, Florida, USA.
We have been family owned and operated by the Gazitua family since our founding in 1977, a third generation family business, and specialize in the Duty Free and Travel Retail sector. WTDC is a licensed Customs Broker, NVOCC, IAC, and is IATA approved.
WTDC.com