CalChamber Council for International Trade

“Any nation which leaves all her ports open to the world on equal terms will have commodities cheaper, sell its own production dearer, and be on the whole most prosperous.” – Benjamin Franklin

Overview

The CalChamber Council for International Trade expands California’s voice on trade. The council boosts 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.

The CalChamber Council for International Trade is focused on sound policy. The council works with state and federal administrations and lawmakers to influence international business policies that support California’s global success, job creation and sustainability.

Leadership on these issues is more important than ever. With free trade as an important part of our national agenda, we are at a historic time to take action. California business and trade leadership on domestic and global issues remains a key in fostering California competitiveness.

International Commerce

International trade is vital to California’s economy. For more information, see the International Trade Business Issue page and Legislative Guide.

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.

Background

On October 1, 2007, the California Council for International Trade (CCIT) merged with the California Chamber of Commerce International Trade Committee to create the CalChamber Council for International Trade.

Former Chairs of the CalChamber International Trade Committee include:

James Low, 2026 –
CEO, Rio Tinto Borates
Sima Patel, 2024 – 2025
CEO, Ridgemont Hospitality
Jennifer Haley, 2023
President & CEO, Kern Energy
Stuart Woolf, 2020-2022
President & CEO, Woolf Farming & Processing
Mark Jansen, 2014-2019
President & CEO, Blue Diamond Growers
2020 Chair, California Chamber of Commerce
Susan Corrales-Diaz, 1999-2014
President, Systems Integrated
2017 Chair, California Chamber of Commerce
Walt Payne
President, Blue Diamond Growers
2001 Chairman, California Chamber of Commerce
Roger Baccigaluppi
President, Blue Diamond Growers
1995 Chairman, California Chamber of Commerce
Peter F. Scott
President and CEO, DiGiorgio Corporation
1989 Chairman, California Chamber of Commerce
Tom Paton
President, Blue Shield
1985 Chairman, California Chamber of Commerce

The CalChamber recognizes that throughout its long history, CCIT has been a dedicated statewide coalition of California’s leading voices supporting free and open international trade policy. For more than a half of 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.

Newly Merged Council for International Trade Meets for First Time

Four people in business attire pose together indoors, including a woman in a red jacket. — (December 2007) First meeting of the newly merged California Chamber of Commerce Council for International Trade.

At the first meeting of the newly merged California Chamber of Commerce Council for International Trade are (from left:)

Jack McDougle, U.S. Department of Commerce (who reported on U.S. competitiveness and pending free trade agreements);
Garrett Ashley, California Business, Transportation and Housing Agency (who summarized a pending study on the role of the state in international trade);
Council Chair Susan Corrales-Diaz of Systems Integrated; and
Jerry Levine, president of Mentor International, and chairman emeritus of the former California Council for International Trade (CCIT.)

Levine was recognized for his many years of participation in and support for the CCIT.