WORLD TRADE CENTER BUFFALO NIAGARA ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF CANADA-U.S. TRADE COUNCIL
BUFFALO, NY (Dec. 11) – World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara (WTCBN) president Craig Turner announced this week the official launch of the WTCBN Canada-U.S. Trade Council, one of a series of International Trade Councils designed to serve companies doing business in specific markets around the world. Turner announced the new Trade Council at last week’s series of panel discussions on the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
“World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara is the only member of the World Trade Centers Association whose covered territory straddles the CanAm border, so we’re not a U.S. organization, and we’re not a Canadian organization – we’re both,” said Turner. “While our other Trade Councils – we’ve rolled out China and Mexico so far, with more to come – focus on companies in our bi-national region doing business in specific markets, the Canada-U.S. Trade Council will cover the trading relationship between the world’s two most prolific trading partners, and Buffalo Niagara’s role in it.”
The Canada-U.S. Trade Council is the third of the Councils announced by WTCBN, following last October’s launch of the inaugural group, the China Trade Council, followed by last month’s kick-off of the Mexico Trade Council. Turner said that the organization will announce one new council each month for the next several months, based on markets where presence by companies in the bi-national Buffalo Niagara region is already strong.
“With the new North American trade agreement signed and being moved forward, it’s a great time to be emphasizing the important relationship across our border here in the Buffalo Niagara region,” said Lauren Schellinger, vice president for WTCBN Board member company M&T Bank, who will serve as chair of the WTCBN Canada-U.S. Trade Council. “I’m pleased to have the opportunity to be a part of that effort, and looking forward to working with WTCBN members engaged in the cross-border space.”
Turner noted that a key component of the Canada-U.S. Trade Council will be close monitoring of the USMCA as it follows its path toward ratification. He says his hopes are that engagement through the Trade Council will help to create a strong, cross-border dialogue among member companies to help inform both Canadian and U.S. representatives of the merits of the agreement.
The WTCBN Trade Councils are designed to provide support, information, education and sharing of best practices for WNY and Southern Ontario companies doing business in targeted global markets, where the region has a critical mass of companies trading. The Councils are open to WTCBN members, and comprised of both mature companies working in the respective markets, as well as new companies engaging in a new market. Participating in a Council is intended to enhance companies’ international efforts, and create competitive advantage through access to knowledge and expertise. Trade Council activities will include opportunities for peer-to-peer expertise, on-going content specific to each market, and an individualized media library.
“Our Trade Councils stress the importance of relationships, and the World Trade Centers Association is very strong across both the U.S. and Canada,” Turner said. “Through the Canada-U.S. Trade Council, we will continue to make those relationships available to companies in our region in the effort to create more opportunities for best practices, insight and new business.”
World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara is celebrating its 30th year in 2018. Its mission is to assist companies in Western New York and Southern Ontario to find success beyond their domestic markets. WTCBN is part of the World Trade Centers Association. More information on the WTCBN International Trade Councils is available at www.wtcbn.com.
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