Ambassador of the Month Archive

Commentary: California Trade Mission to Mexico Sows Seeds for Mutual Benefits

Friday, November 29, 2019

The recent California trade mission to Mexico made enormous strides to build positive relations with our neighbors to the south. And that was no accidente, given the importance California places on its cultural, economic and environmental relationship with Mexico. A formal delegation of California government and business leaders visited Mexico earlier this month to reaffirm our mutual friendship, to build on the accomplishments and good intentions of those who have preceded us, and to once again reaffirm that California is truly a place where all dreams are welcome. The results of the visit exceeded expectations: strengthened relations and bold commitments for future direction an...

No Deal on USMCA, but Democrats Point to Progress

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Democratic lawmakers left the capital for the Thanksgiving break without a final agreement on President Trump’s revised North American trade deal, prolonging a difficult negotiation with the administration on one of the president’s trade priorities. But top House Democrats insisted that they were closing in on a deal on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that would satisfy their remaining concerns. Talks will continue over the break, and a vote to ratify the deal could come in the following weeks, they said. “We’re going to stay right at this for the next week,” said Representative Richard E. Neal of Massachusetts, the chairman of th...

Money Wise with The Money Guys KOCI Radio Hosts Interview Bryan Starr on Irvine’s Economic Strength

Wednesday, November 06, 2019

Greater Irvine Chamber President and CEO Bryan Starr discusses Irvine’s economic strength with KOCI radio hosts Andrea Graham, an LPL Financial consultant; and LPL Financial registered principals William O’Connor, founder and president, Applied Financial Planning; and Sean Walker. Starr discussed the importance of the passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and its impact on Orange County, which makes up nearly 10% of California’s population. He explained that Mexico is the largest recipient of Orange County exports, which are concentrated in high-tech sectors, including electronic components, computers, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment. Starr also addressed Irvine’s impressive status, refuting misinformation on businesses migrating ou...

OCO Global Founder and CEO Mark O’Connell to Deliver OC World Trade Week Keynote Address

Tuesday, November 05, 2019

Mark O’Connell, founder and CEO of OCO Global, will answer the question, “Is Globalization Dead or Still Working Undercover?” during his keynote address at the Greater Irvine Chamber’s sixth annual Orange County World Trade Week (OCWTW) Breakfast and Forum on Wednesday, May 13, 7– 11 a.m., at the Irvine Marriott, 18000 Von Karman Ave. O’Connell’s work in international trade and investment spans more than 20 years, initially in the private sector for a Saudi investment fund, before moving on to Enterprise Ireland, the Irish government export agency. He spent six years in the management consulting division at PricewaterhouseCoopers specializing in trad...

CalChamber, Business Leaders Join Lt. Governor in Trade Delegation to Mexico

Monday, October 21, 2019

Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis led a California government and business delegation, Oct. 1–4, to Mexico City to collaborate and sign new agreements with Mexico on a number of key issues, including renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, clean technology, trade, and commerce. The mission was the first international delegation of the Newsom administration. Participants included about 20 state agency representatives and 20 private sector leaders, including two members of the California Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors—Stuart Woolf of Woolf Farming and Processing, and Jennifer Haley of Kern Oil & Refining Co. The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) helped organize an...

USMCA Is Good for California’s Economy and Good for Trucking

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Southern California receives many blessings by virtue of its latitude. Sunny weather and beautiful beaches make this corner of the country one of America’s natural treasures. But its location on the map has an even greater significance than its panoramic beauty, making it a pivotal part in our nation’s economic engine. As a key border state and home to our largest port, Southern California is a vital gateway of global commerce essential to the prosperity of the United States. That is why it is essential for California’s Congressional delegation to be a leading voice in support of the United States-Mexico-Canada trad...

Where the US-Japan Trade Deal Falls Short of Trans-Pacific Pact Abandoned by Trump

Monday, October 07, 2019

U.S. President Donald Trump has called his new trade deal with Japan a “phenomenal” victory for U.S. farmers. But don’t expect America’s Land O’Lakes butter to knock New Zealand’s Anchor or France’s President brands off store shelves in Japan, the world’s third largest economy. Butter is one of several U.S. dairy products that will not get improved access to Japan’s 127 million consumers under the limited bilateral trade deal signed by Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sept. 25. The deal’s full text has not been released and remains classified, but congressional aides, trade experts and industry groups briefed on i...

Bryan Starr, US Chamber of Commerce Urge Congressional Passage of USMCA

Wednesday, October 02, 2019

As a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100 (CCC100), Bryan Starr, president and CEO of the Greater Irvine Chamber, has taken an active and consequential role in advocating for the congressional passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). During a September visit to Washington, D.C., Starr and other chamber executives from across the nation convened to discuss how the new North American trade agreement will bolster American businesses, local economies, and the national economy; and detrimental effects should it not pass ratification. “Irvine is the economic center and economic powerhouse of Orange County. Our companies—whether global organizations o...

Hong Kong Delegation Visits Irvine

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

The Greater Irvine Chamber, in collaboration with UCI Beall Applied Innovation and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), hosted a delegation of executives from 25 company executives from Hong Kong for roundtable discussions at the Cove @ UCI Beall Applied Innovation, on Sept. 19. The Chamber’s Irvine Ready! team of experts responded to the call to meet with these companies and welcome them to Irvine. “We are fortunate to partner with these organizations to showcase the strength of our innovation ecosystem and introduce the scope of resources and talent available in Irvine/Orange County. This was an opportunity to encourage their consideration o...

Port of Long Beach Follows LA’s Lead, Will Launch Incentive Program as US-China Trade War, Other Issues Throw Industry in Tumult

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

The Port of Long Beach will soon launch an incentive program for oceanic carriers — about a year after its Los Angeles neighbor started its own — in an attempt to stabilize cargo traffic, which has declined each month this year amid the ongoing trade dispute. The incentives will begin Oct. 1, the start of Long Beach’s fiscal year. The two incentive programs, taken together, are a response to seismic tumult in the industry, officials for those ports said last week. The China-U.S. trade war, which began last summer, has continually deepened: President Donald Trump has levied or announced tariffs on $550 billio...

Two New Task Forces for the Greater Irvine Chamber’s Economic Vitality Council Support International Trade and Business Expansion

Wednesday, September 04, 2019

The Greater Irvine Chamber’s Economic Vitality Council (EVC) has formed two new task forces to support the Chamber’s capacity to influence Irvine’s competitiveness in a global economy, attract new businesses, improve business retention, and expand and grow businesses. The Growing Irvine Exporters Task Force has been formed to identify local companies that are not exporting but that would benefit from exporting to grow their business. The task force will focus on developing a set of criteria to evaluate a company’s viability to export. It will then connect interested companies to such export assets as U.S. Commercial Service, Export Assistance Center, U.S...

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