International-related commerce accounts for one-quarter of state’s economy

SACRAMENTO — The California Chamber of Commerce today announced that the California Council for International Trade (CCIT) has joined the CalChamber International Trade Committee to form the California Chamber of Commerce Council for International Trade.

The CalChamber Council for International Trade will boost the ability of California businesses and organizations to advocate sound international business policies by bringing together the two leading trade policy organizations in the state to form a single unified group of business leaders on international issues.

“We are at a historic time to take action on several free trade agreements pending before Congress,” said Allan Zaremberg, CalChamber president and chief executive officer. “The merged CalChamber Council for International Trade will enhance our ongoing work with state and federal administrations and lawmakers to influence international business policies that support California's global success, job creation and sustainability.”

International trade is vital to California’s economy. In fact, exports from California accounted for 12 percent of total U.S. exports in 2006. California trade and exports translate into high-paying jobs for more than one million Californians.

“We are pleased that the CalChamber will help to further CCIT’s mission with greater organizational resources, thereby improving our joint impact on sound and responsible international trade policy,” said Susan Corrales-Diaz, CalChamber Board member, chair of the CalChamber International Trade Committee and president of Systems Integrated. “California business and trade leadership on domestic and global issues remains a key in fostering California competitiveness.

Throughout its long history, CCIT has been a dedicated statewide coalition of California’s leading voices supporting free and open international trade policy. CCIT’s partners include:

• Large and small manufacturers;
• Exporters and importers;
• Providers of financial technological, transportation and entertainment services;
• Educators;
• Non-profit and governmental economic development agencies; and
• Former federal and state trade officials.

For more than half a century, the CCIT has been the only statewide organization solely dedicated to advocating sound U.S. trade policy to open foreign markets for the benefit of West Coast producers of goods and services that need those markets to fuel jobs and economic growth.

California is one of the 10 largest economies in the world with a gross state product of over $1.7 trillion. International related commerce accounts for approximately one-quarter of the state’s economy. Although trade is a nationally determined policy issue, its impact on California is immense. In 2006, California exported to 224 foreign markets.

The state leads the nation in export-related jobs. California's top trading partners are Mexico, Canada, Japan, China and South Korea. According to the California Business, Transportation & Housing Agency, about one in seven jobs in California is related to trade, with every million-dollar increase in trade equaling 11 new jobs.

The CalChamber, in keeping with long-standing policy, enthusiastically supports free trade worldwide, expansion of international trade and investment, fair and equitable market access for California products abroad, and elimination of disincentives that impede the international competitiveness of California business.

The California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) is the largest broad-based business advocate to government in California. Membership represents one-quarter of the private sector jobs in California and includes firms of all sizes and companies from every industry within the state. Leveraging our front-line knowledge of laws and regulations, we provide products and services to help businesses comply with both federal and state law. CalChamber, a not-for-profit organization with roots dating to 1890, promotes international trade and investment in order to stimulate California's economy and create jobs. Please visit our website at www.calchamber.com.

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