State of American Business 2025: All Business Is Local
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Suzanne P. Clark, President and CEO of U.S. Chamber of Commerce, emphasized that local businesses are the foundation of America's economic growth during her keynote address on January 16, 2025; Clark highlighted the importance of local economies, stating that all business is local, impacting communities directly; She delivered her speech from Dallas, Texas, a region noted for its economic vibrancy; Clark called for immediate pro-growth priorities from Congress, including rolling back excessive regulations, preserving 2017 tax provisions, and participating in the global economy; She warned that overregulation could cost the economy $1.4 trillion and urged against broad tariffs that could worsen the cost-of-living crisis; Clark concluded by advocating for growth across all American communities, regardless of their political or geographical differences.
#EconomicGrowth #LocalBusiness #UsChamberOfCommerce #SuzannePClark #Regulation #TaxPolicy #GlobalEconomy #Dallas #CommunityDevelopment #2025
https://www.uschamber.com/economy/state-of-american-business-2025-all-business-is-local
How the U.S. Can Help Ukraine Rebuild and Grow Its Economy
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Over two years have passed since Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2024 U.S.-Ukraine Partnership Forum to explore economic recovery. Penny Pritzker, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery, emphasized the importance of securing Ukraine's economic future. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal highlighted the nation's ongoing resilience and recovery efforts. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo expressed the Biden Administration's support for Ukraine. The U.S. International Development Financial Corporation (DFC) has invested around $1.25 billion into agribusiness, small businesses, and energy in Ukraine.
#Ukraine #EconomicRecovery #UsChamberOfCommerce
https://www.uschamber.com/international/how-the-u-s-can-help-ukraine-rebuild-and-grow-its-economy
Americans Need Transparency Over Plans to Confiscate IP
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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce challenges the Biden Administration's stonewalling of FOIA requests on 'march-in rights' to find out how the plan to confiscate IP of businesses was made. The Biden Administration's march-in plans threaten the American innovation ecosystem. The public must understand who made this decision, how it was made, and what pressures were placed on career bureaucrats to reach this determination. The prospective use of march-in rights would allow the government to override the intellectual property rights of American businesses and seize innovators' patents. President Biden has characterized the plans as 'good for competition,' 'good for the economy,' and 'good for ... millions of Americans.' The Working Group in charge of the plans is already finalizing the framework for execution. It is vital that the American people get insight into how those plans were made to ensure the ability of Americans to innovate.
#Transparency #IntellectualProperty #BidenAdministration #MarchinRights #Foia
EXIM Bank’s Environmental Critics Miss the Mark
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The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) supports qualified energy projects, including natural gas, to advance U.S. interests abroad. Critics attacking EXIM for its support of natural gas projects are misguided. EXIM's congressional charter prohibits discrimination against specific energy sources. Natural gas plays a critical role in reducing emissions and enhancing global energy security. EXIM's support for natural gas projects enables other countries to replicate the U.S. experience in reducing emissions. EXIM's support is consistent with the UAE Consensus, which recognizes the role of transitional fuels in the energy transition. EXIM's support also helps U.S. businesses compete against Chinese state-backed financing and provides developing countries with access to affordable, reliable energy. EXIM's support for natural gas projects includes environmental provisions to reduce GHG emissions. Overall, EXIM Bank is fulfilling its mission and benefiting the environment.
#EximBank #EnvironmentalCritics #NaturalGas #RenewableEnergy #EmissionsReduction #GlobalEnergySecurity #UsJobs #UsEconomy #UsExporters #China'sBeltAndRoadInitiative
https://www.uschamber.com/energy/exim-banks-environmental-critics-miss-the-mark
Setting the Record Straight on Foreign Trade Barriers
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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce criticizes the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) decision to narrow the aperture of its annual National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report on Foreign Trade Barriers. USTR claims to respect the sovereign right of foreign governments to regulate for legitimate public policy reasons, but many of the barriers listed in the report are violations of commitments made in trade agreements with the United States. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce argues that USTR has a responsibility to enforce these commitments, as they have the force of law. The report also highlights the removal of past criticisms of the EU's Digital Markets Act, Korea's lack of transparency in competition policy, and foreign local content requirements. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce emphasizes that enforcement of trade agreements is a priority and calls for appropriate enforcement action to address violations.
#ForeignTradeBarriers #UsChamberOfCommerce #Ustr #TradeAgreements
How Business Builds Bridges Between the U.S. and Africa
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The United States and Africa have a multifaceted relationship focused on expanding partnerships and shared prosperity. The African diaspora, which makes up 14.4% of Americans, provides a source of strength in building bridges through business. Only 1% of U.S. companies export, and when they do, they tend to export to markets closest to them. The U.S.-Africa Business Center aims to encourage more U.S. companies, particularly diaspora-led ventures, to play a role in increasing commercial flows with Africa. The President's Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement (PAC-ADE) was established to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Africa. The U.S. Chamber partnered with PAC-ADE to convene entrepreneurs in Atlanta to discuss African business opportunities. Africa is home to 11 of the 20 fastest-growing countries in 2024 and offers enormous potential for trade and investment. However, Africa accounted for less than 2% of U.S. total trade in goods in 2022. Diaspora business leaders, such as GB Agboola and Naana Frimpong, play a crucial role in guiding the Chamber's Africa priorities. The Chamber's Advance with Africa initiative aims to support small business leaders across the U.S. in seeking new markets and partners for growth.
#UsafricaBusinessCenter #AfricanDiaspora #Trade #Investment #SmallBusinesses
https://www.uschamber.com/international/how-business-builds-bridges-between-the-u-s-and-africa
Business Priorities for the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference
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The World Trade Organization (WTO) will hold its 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) from February 26-29 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The agenda will focus on a small number of hot-button issues. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has identified three priorities for MC13. First, they advocate for not ending the two-decade-old moratorium on duties on electronic transmissions, as it would strangle growth. Second, they reject the expansion of the waiver of commitments under the WTO's TRIPS Agreement related to COVID-19 vaccines. Third, they urge progress in fixing the WTO's dispute settlement system and concluding an agreement to curb fisheries subsidies. The Chamber emphasizes the importance of the global rules-based trading system embodied by the WTO for the U.S. business and agriculture communities.
#Wto #Trade #Business #Agriculture #GlobalRules-basedTradingSystem