(November 6, 2009) The California Chamber of Commerce yesterday received the prestigious President’s “Excellence for Export Service Award,” the nation’s highest award to honor United States exporters.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke presented the award to CalChamber Vice President of International Affairs Susanne Stirling during a ceremony at the National District Export Council Conference in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke

Secretary Locke said that those honored at the ceremony have “shown the foresight and ability to grow and prosper through a strong export strategy. Exporting U.S. manufactured goods and services plays an important role in rebuilding the American economy and creating jobs at home. With 95 percent of the world’s consumers living outside our borders, there is great potential to boost economic growth and create new jobs in America through exporting.”

The award was created by President John F. Kennedy via executive order in 1961 to recognize persons, firms or organizations that contribute significantly to expanding U.S. exports. Creation of the award acknowledges that employment levels throughout the country, the strength of the national economy and the nation’s capacity to carry out its international responsibilities can be increased substantially by establishing foreign markets for U.S. products. In addition, the award recognizes the importance of promoting and expanding the export trade of the U.S.

CalChamber International Activities

For the last three decades, the CalChamber has been the only statewide business organization continually devoted to promoting international trade and exports. It is one of the most solid international trade policy and export promotion-oriented chambers of commerce in the country.

Through its Council for International Trade, the CalChamber serves as California’s voice on trade, with influence reaching well beyond its membership of 15,000, including 400 affiliated local chambers of commerce and 200 trade associations. The council boosts the ability of California businesses and organizations to advocate sound international business policies via a unified group of business leaders speaking out on international issues that support California’s global success, job creation and sustainability.

In addition, the CalChamber created the California Coalition for Free Trade, a broad-based group of companies and business organizations, to secure a national free trade agenda.

The CalChamber, with organizational roots dating to 1890, 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 also offers a variety of services to help businesses comply with complex laws and regulations, as well as compete in the international marketplace:

• trade policy engagement;
• an extensive international website at www.calchamber.com/international.The site outlines CalChamber activities to assist members with general export and import needs, as well as covering trade legislation/issues, answers to frequently asked questions, web links to additional international trade organizations, and trade statistics. The web section enhances visitors’ international knowledge through sections focusing on country trade portals, profiles in trade, trade forums and trade mission;
• a weekly e-trade newsletter, which also is available on the website; and
• an Exporting Guide for California Businesses, a reference tool to help companies and entrepreneurs understand the complexities of export regulations and guidelines when preparing to ship goods internationally.

Exports Fuel GDP

World gross domestic product (GDP) and world merchandise exports not only move in tandem, but export growth exceeds GDP growth, according to the World Trade Organization’s recent Annual Compilation of International Trade Statistics.

In 2008, the U.S. exported more than $1.3 trillion and remained a top exporter on the world scene. California is one of the top export states; exports exceeded $144 billion in goods, more than 11 percent of total U.S. exports in 2008. California is one of the 10 largest economies in the world with a gross state product of more than $1.7 trillion. International-related commerce accounts for approximately one-quarter of the state’s economy.