San Francisco Announced as Host City for Asia-Pacific Leaders Meeting in Fall 2023 CalChamber, November 21, 2022 |
Overview
California is the fifth largest economy in the world with a gross state product (GSP) of more than $3 trillion. International-related commerce (including exports and imports of goods and services, plus investments) accounts for approximately one-quarter of the state’s economy. Although trade is a nationally determined policy issue, its impact on California is immense. California exports to over 226 foreign markets.
The California Chamber of Commerce supports 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.
Canada Day Lunch Focuses on Investors Helping Build Sustainable Economic Future
The February 22 gathering was presented by the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco in partnership with the CalChamber and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. Global Trade Issues with Touch of Politics Get Attention at CalChamber Forum![]() (June 7, 2022) Common challenges facing the global community were the focus of an enthusiastic audience at the California Chamber of Commerce-hosted in-person International Forum last week. Speaking to the 175 attendees at the June 1 forum were:
CalChamber-Hosted Mexico Advocacy Day Lunch Focuses on Future of Bilateral Relationship![]() On May 3, the California Chamber of Commerce hosted a luncheon for the 13th Annual California Mexico Advocacy Day in conjunction with the Consulate General of Mexico in Sacramento. The luncheon focused on the future of the bilateral relationship between California and Mexico as the bilateral partners emerge from the global COVID-19 pandemic. The California-Mexico relationship has remained strong, as Mexico continued to be California’s No. 1 export market in 2021. CalChamber Hosts Reception for Japanese Ambassador and Delegation![]() On Monday, March 21 the California Chamber of Commerce hosted a reception for the Japanese Ambassador to the United States. Ambassador Koji Tomita was accompanied by a delegation including Hiroshi Kawamura, Consul General of Japan in San Francisco, and representatives from the business community together with California state government officials. The Ambassador was escorted to the CalChamber offices by the Lieutenant Governor of California, Ambassador Eleni Kounalakis, and Dee Dee Myers, Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), following the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on climate change and energy earlier in the day. |
World Trade Month Spotlights Importance of Global Trade to State, U.S. Economies |
CalChamber International Trade Issues and Priorities
There are numerous trade issues that affect the United States and consequently, California. Each region and issue page gives an overview, and links to related organizations and documents. To view the trade issues, please click here.
CalChamber Outlines Trade Priorities for Congress, Federal Officials |
CalChamber Council for International Trade
CalChamber Council for International Trade hosts trade events, forums, and guests.
International Activities
Overview
Looking Out for Business
Through our lobbying team and committees, we monitor state and federal legislative issues, as well as multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations on behalf of Californians doing business abroad.
Making Connections
We work as a clearinghouse of information for international trade. We encourage our members to share their international expertise, while also bridging the gap between government agencies and private companies, here and abroad.
Getting Involved
We give you as many chances as possible to grow your international business. Each year, we sponsor/co-sponsor trade and investment missions, educational programs and conferences, as well as trade and catalog shows.
Trade Missions
CalChamber delegations have participated in the state’s trade and investment missions. Members and CalChamber officials often participate in trade events such as International Expos and the World Economic Forum. Board members and officials have accompanied six California Governors to various worldwide destinations, including Mexico City to discuss the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA.)
Lt. Governor Led Mission to Mexico – October 2019
From October 1-4, 2019 a delegation of California business and state agencies led by Lieutenant Governor Ambassador Eleni Kounalakis traveled to Mexico City for a trade mission to advance business, collaboration and partnership between California and Mexico.
The delegation was made up of 20 private sector leaders from the agriculture, energy, and clean-technology sectors, as well as approximately 20 representatives from an array of state agencies. Visit the blog to learn more.
Gubernatorial Trade Mission to Mexico – July 2014
Visit the blog to learn more about this successful trade and investment mission led by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., organized by the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Foundation for Commerce and Education, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization affiliated with CalChamber.
Along with senior members of his administration and business delegates, Governor Brown traveled to Mexico City, the political capital and financial center of Mexico.
Gubernatorial Trade Mission to China – April 2013
The delegation traveled throughout China and attended the opening of the California Trade and Investment Office in Shanghai, California’s first official permanent presence in China in nearly a decade. With more investment deals from China than any other state, California is positioned to capture China’s growing foreign investment. Trade Mission Blog
Cuba Policy Trip
CalChamber Joins World Affairs Council on Cuba Policy Trip – April 2015
This nation-wide 20-member delegation met with high-ranking government officials, chatted with entrepreneurs in the emerging Cuban private sector, enjoyed the work of professional artists and musicians, heard from renowned historians and convened with diplomats and economists.
Awards
CalChamber’s Susanne Stirling Is Sacramento County Woman of the Year

CalChamber Vice President of International Affairs Susanne Stirling has been named Woman of the Year for Sacramento County by California Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa). The Senator recognized Stirling for her leadership and decades-long commitment to promoting economic development and cooperation between the state and other countries.“In many ways, California’s economy is tied to international markets, and Susanne brings a level of experience and knowledge that is critical as we successfully and safely reopen our state,” Senator Dodd said. “She has been an ambassador for international trade for many years and has continued to serve with distinction as we weathered this historic public health crisis. I’m proud to recognize her for her efforts to help our state’s business community.”
“I am deeply appreciative to Senator Dodd for this recognition,” Susanne Stirling said. “During this challenging time in our world with global-wide trade disruptions, my focus is to assist with the state’s economic recovery on behalf of the CalChamber through our international ties. International trade is a major part of the economic engine that benefits businesses, communities, consumers and our state’s prosperity.”
(CalChamber, March 25, 2021) Top Story

Trade Group Recognizes CalChamber’s Susanne Stirling as ‘Outstanding Woman of the Year in International Trade’
California Chamber of Commerce Vice President of International Affairs Susanne Stirling yesterday was presented with the “Outstanding Woman of the Year in International Trade” award by the Women in International Trade, Los Angeles (WIT-LA).
Stirling received the award during WIT-LA’s Global Trade Awards Gala in Manhattan Beach, which brought together 150 individuals from the international trade world to recognize and celebrate women who serve as role models and who have paved the way for others in expanding their own business. The Gala also promoted international trade by recognizing the impact it has on the growing economy and its importance to the Los Angeles area. (CalChamber, November 8, 2019)
CalChamber Receives President’s Export Award

The California Chamber of Commerce received the prestigious President’s “Excellence for Export Service Award,” the nation’s highest award to honor United States exporters.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Locke said that those honored at the November 2009 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. Alert Article
CalChamber Receives Korean Presidential Citation

On December 6, 2012, the California Chamber of Commerce received the prestigious Presidential Citation from the government of the Republic of Korea for promoting U.S.-Korea trade and commercial relations, and specifically for contributing to the passage of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The CalChamber was an early supporter of the U.S.-Korea FTA, the culmination of a five-year process from negotiations, to passage and implementation.
Recent News
International COVID-19 Information Page, click here.
Diplomacy Matters:
California Leading the Way
NorCal World Trade Center Webinar featuring Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis; Consul General of Mexico in Sacramento, Liliana Ferrer; and Susanne Stirling, VP International Affairs, CalChamber; February 2021
Celebrating International Women’s Day Webinar with Women in International Trade, Los Angeles
Featuring Bella Heule, VP of Business Development, California Closets; Audrey Glover-Dichter, General Counsel, Organization of Women in International Trade; and Susanne Stirling, VP International Affairs, CalChamber; March 2021



News and Publications
Resources
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International Contacts
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Councils
Coalitions
- Alliance for Fair Trade with India
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International Events
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service is accepting applications from U.S. exporters for a regional trade mission to Panama City, Panama from March 19-23, 2023.
“Panama is the economic, financial, and logistics and transport hub for Central America and this trade mission will provide us with an exciting opportunity to expand our growing presence across the region,” said FAS Administrator Daniel Whitley. “This is a perfect time to expand U.S. agricultural and food exports to Central America, where the rising incomes and a growing middle class in Central America are driving demand for consumer-oriented products and more.”
During the mission, FAS staff and regional experts will provide in-depth market briefings while in country. The agency will also arrange targeted business to business meetings for U.S. agribusinesses with potential customers from Panama, a bilateral Free Trade Agreement partner, as well as buyers from countries in the multilateral Central America and Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic.
Combined total agricultural exports to CAFTA-DR countries and Panama totaled a record $7.6 billion in 2021, up 50 percent since 2017. In 2022, agricultural product exports are on track to exceed that figure by nearly 25 percent. Guatemala is the largest country by population in the region while the Dominican Republic is the largest economy and the United States’ largest agricultural product export market in the region. Costa Rica and Panama are both important tourism destinations and are home to thousands of American and international expats, helping to drive demand for high-quality imported food products. Moreover, Panama is a global top-five per capita consumer of U.S. food exports.
The region offers strong capabilities in logistics, distribution, processing, cold chain, and more. Strong opportunities exist for exporters across many industries, including but not limited to:
- consumer and processor-oriented food;
- poultry;
- pork;
- dairy products;
- beer and wine;
- snacks and packaged foods;
- health functional foods, such as gluten and sugar free, keto, and organics.
How to Sell into the MENA Market via the Cross-border Digital Sales Channels
April 13th, 2023 10:00am Pacific/1:00pm Eastern
Cost: $25.00
As consumers across the MENA region have grown accustomed to purchasing online and cross-border, retailers are following suit. In the UAE, consumers are buying more online from outside the region, driving an anticipated 34% growth in cross-border online sales over the next three years.
Join us to learn more about accessing the MENA region through the online sales channel.
The 11th Pan African Global Trade and Investment Conference will collaborate with the Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution to develop and present strategic and sustainable approaches for conflict resolution in fragile and conflict-affected countries.
The conference will promote and support the use of trade, investment, and economic development for conflict resolution programs that. . .
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Promote and facilitate the acquisition of conflict management and resolution skills through a collaborative effort of local and credible NGO’s
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Promote and provide strategies for the inclusion of marginalized groups in trade, investment, and local economic development
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Promote the establishment and operation of peace building strategies and institutions that establish and maintain successful conflict resolution training and behavior modification programs
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Establish regional transformation based upon modern methods of social and economic development
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Develop trade, investment and economic development networks which can immediately be relied on to increase peace and sustainability
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Establish of small business cooperatives that work towards the accomplishment of the regional master plans for trade, investment, and local economic development
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Invitation to conference May 8-9Staff Contact
Susanne Stirling
Vice President, International Affairs