Global Trade and Foreign Investment Advocacy
FREE & FAIR TRADE:
The Los Angeles region is the nation’s largest metropolitan export market, and one of the largest recipients of foreign direct investment.
International trade and foreign investment are vital to California’s economy. In 2020, California was the second largest state exporter in the United States, with an estimated value of $156 billion, and California leads the nation in attracting foreign direct investment. International trade and investment support hundreds of thousands of jobs in California.
The Global Initiatives Council addresses advocacy issues affecting global trade.
One of the primary objectives of the Global Initiatives Council is the creation of jobs through expanding global trade and investment. It works to foster the development and provide access to international markets by local companies and maximize the region’s diverse resources to increase opportunities in the global economy.
Read more about the Global Initiatives Council, contact Sabrina Wong in the Global Trade & Foreign Investment about joining the Council or check out the Chamber calendar to find out when the next meeting is taking place.
2023 Trade Policy Recommendations
Recognizing the critical role that international trade will have for the region’s post-pandemic economic recovery and job creation and in order to better serve U.S. and California businesses, as well as support and maintain the competitiveness of the region’s ports through increased trade, the Chamber advocates for a number of 2023 U.S. Trade Policy recommendations.
Resources
Video
- NC Extra: The Trade War and Southern California - Brian Peck, policy chair for the Chamber’s Global Initiatives Council, NBC4
Articles & Letters of Support
- L.A. Area Chamber and LACBFFA Support Letter: Extension of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, Dec. 2020
- L.A. Area Chamber Support Letter: Imposition of Additional Tariffs and It’s Negative Impact on Economic Recovery, Sept. 2020
- L.A. Area Chamber Support Letter for Advance Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) Initiative Funding , Application, August 2020
- An advocacy letter from the Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association addressing compliance concerns with Mexico duties. Read the full letter.
- Trade works for California. Tariffs don't. - An Article by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Exclusive: Limit Trump tariffs, businesses tell Congress in letter - An Article by Paul Davidson, USA TODAY. Read our full S. 3013 letter of support.
- A letter urging for continued U.S.-Canada economic partnership. Read the full letter from Canadian Premiers to US Governors here.
Op-Eds
- A Call for Sound Business Decisions in our Trade Negotiations - An Op-ed by Mr. Carlos Valderrama, President of Global Trade & Foreign Investment at the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
- Proof That Global Trade Agreements Can Still Get Done - And Still Work - An Op-ed by Hon. James Villeneuve, Consul General of Canada in Los Angeles
- Post Truth Politics and Open Global Trade - An Op-ed by K.L. Wengrod, Co-Founder/President of FTC Commercial Corp.
- "Will the U.S. Remain the Essential Country in the Asia Pacific?" - An Op-ed by Hon. Leon Grice, Consul General of New Zealand in Los Angeles; Chair of the L.A. Area Chamber’s Diplomatic & Commercial Officers Group
Websites
- California Chamber of Commerce - Trade Statistics
- United States Trade Representative
- Export.gov - United States Free Trade Agreements
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce - International Trade & Investment
- U.S. Department of Commerce - International Trade Administration
- World Trade Organization - Trade Policy Reviews