Overview
California is one of the 10 largest economies in the world, with a gross state product of more than $1.8 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.
CalChamber International Affairs
and Resources
Goals
Work to support negotiations, legislation, and regulations allowing California companies to compete more effectively in foreign markets and to attract more business to California.
Major Victories
- The CalChamber has supported a number of U.S. free trade agreements that create a seamless business environment with our trading partners, bringing measurable business benefits in all sectors.
- The CalChamber strengthened ties with our trading partners by joining Governor Schwarzenegger on a series of successful trade missions to our largest export markets. The missions included events marketing California agriculture, encouraging tourism, discussing intellectual property rights and promoting business investment in the state.
Position
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 CalChamber supports:
- Reducing the federal budget deficit by controlling federal spending.
- Efforts to achieve and maintain a stable and competitive relationship between the U.S. dollar and the currencies of major trading partners.
- Actions designed to eliminate barriers that impede U.S. and California commerce domestically and abroad by aggressively negotiating fair and equitable market access for California agriculture, manufactured products and services by aggressively negotiating to reduce trade barriers.
- Educating California's citizens, legislators and businesses about the benefit of trade to the state's economy.
- Legislation that allows California companies to compete more effectively in foreign markets, as well as to attract foreign business to California.
The CalChamber opposes:
- Protectionist-oriented legislation that leads to higher prices and limited choices for consumers.
- State and local legislation that imposes sanctions on businesses engaged in international trade and/or conflict with federal international policies.
Issue Summaries
International Trade
The California Chamber of Commerce,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. International Trade 
Trade Promotion Authority
Position: The CalChamber supports the extension of trade promotion authority so that the President of the United States may negotiate new multilateral, sectoral and regional trade agreements, ensuring that the United States may continue to gain access to world markets, resulting in an improved economy and additional employment of Americans. Trade Promotion Authority
Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
Position: New multilateral, sectoral and regional trade agreements ensure that the United States may continue to gain access to world markets, resulting in an improved economy and additional employment of Americans. Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement
Position: The U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement is a critical element of the U.S. strategy to liberalize trade through multilateral, regional and bilateral initiatives. Bilateral and regional agreements will complement the possible goal of creating a trade agreement encompassing the Americas. This FTA will increase momentum toward lowering trade barriers and set a positive example for other small economies in the Western Hemisphere.
U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement
U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement
Position: The U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement will send a strong signal that the United States intends to remain heavily engaged in the region for a long time to come in business, economics, security and international politics. The FTA will strengthen a more than 50-year-old alliance between the United States and South Korea while reinforcing the economic and political reforms South Korea has made over the last decade. U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement
U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement
Position: The U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement is a critical element of the U.S. strategy to liberalize trade through multilateral, regional and bilateral initiatives.
U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement
World Trade Organization
Position: The WTO is having a tremendous impact on how California producers of goods and services compete in overseas markets, as well as domestically, and is creating jobs and economic growth through expanded international trade and investment. The WTO gives businesses improved access to foreign markets and better rules to ensure that competition with foreign businesses is conducted fairly. World Trade Organization
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