GLASGOW BUSINESS DECEMBER 2016
CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S BLOG
Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive
chiefexecutive@glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
Free trade more important than ever in a year of momentous events
You won’t be surprised to know that Glasgow Chamber of Commerce is a consistent supporter of free trade, not least since the formation of the Chamber in 1783 came only seven years after Adam Smith – through his academic work at Glasgow University and then 10 years of writing in Kirkcaldy – published ‘The Wealth of Nations’. I am reflecting more profoundly on the
arguments in support of free trade following the historic events of 2016 – Brexit and the election of President Trump. The week after the British people decided
that the UK should leave the European Union, a delegation from the Chamber was in Milan signing a deal with the British Chambers in Italy to promote trading links between Glasgow business and companies in cities across Northern Italy. Now, it so happens that a week after the American people decided to elect Donald Trump as their President, we led a group of Glasgow companies to do business in New York. We did so on the back of another deal, signed with Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. Out of opting to leave the European Union
comes a vigorous debate about the importance of having access to the European single market and the relative costs opponents perceive in having to accept the free movement of people as an entry ticket to that market.
Out of the Trump presidency decision comes
a broadly mercantilist proposal to reject free trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Trans Pacific Partnership as damaging to jobs in the United States – even if they deliver cheaper goods to American consumers. It would appear that there is a job for us
to do in the Chamber to refine our messages in support of free trade. Globalisation has undoubtedly pulled millions of people in emerging economies out of abject poverty and is generating a growing professional and technical class in those countries, like China and India, who are potential customers for Western goods and services.
But it is equally obvious that the
economic benefits are not so clear to voters in the developed economies. That is perhaps not surprising. Lower costs for goods and services are not as easily spotted as the stagnation of incomes for so many families over many years, the loss of jobs and industry in many communities and the growing inequalities in rewards between those with the skills to
exploit globalisation and those who do not. So I would argue that we have a task on our hands. The Chamber has a long track record of arguing against barriers to free trade in whatever form they come and we will continue to do that. We may have to be more vocal and more thoughtful in making the case for free trade. And we will redouble our efforts to expand our network of connections with Chambers overseas and the overseas membership of our President’s Club. But we will also do more
to understand how the Chamber can help to improve the effectiveness of actions which help those in our city who have experienced the downside of global trade. We
have traditionally done that through championing the economic development
plans for the city and supporting initiatives, both local and national, which aim to spread the benefits of a growing economy to as many of Glasgow’s citizens as possible. Read more at:
www.glasgowchamberofcommerce. com/blog/2016/november/10/free-trade-more- important-than-ever-in-a-year-of-momentous- events
Glasgow Business . 5
www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
Designs unveiled for Burrell Collection’s £66m revamp p7
HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS Anne Marie Hughes ~ 0141 204 8325
annemarie.hughes@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
CHIEF EXECUTIVE Stuart Patrick ~ 0141 204 8317
stuart.patrick@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE Richard Muir ~ 0141 204 8326
richard.muir@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
SENIOR DIRECTOR Alison McRae ~ 0141 204 8339
alison.mcrae@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
HEAD OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT Elaine Rodger ~ 0141 204 8332
elaine.rodger@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Susan McKay ~ 0141 204 8347
susan.mckay@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
BUSINESS SERVICE MANAGER Cathie McKay ~ 0141 204 8317
cathie.mckay@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
FINANCE MANAGER Audrey Hamilton ~ 0141 204 8334 audrey.hamilton@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
HEAD OF EVENTS Alan Busby ~ 0141 204 8323 alan.busby@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION Catherine Bryson ~ 0141 204 8390
cathy.bryson@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
PROGRAMME DIRECTOR DEVELOPING THE YOUNG WORKFORCE Leona Seaton ~ 0141 204 8338
leona.seaton@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
INDUSTRY AND EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP MANAGER DEVELOPING THE YOUNG WORKFORCE Shona MacPherson ~ 0141 204 8364
shona.macpherson@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE DEVELOPING THE YOUNG WORKFORCE Jennifer Hood ~ 0141 204 8333 jennifer.hood@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT DEVELOPING THE YOUNG WORKFORCE Nicola McGowan ~ 0141 204 8363
nicola.mcgowan@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
SENIOR PROJECTS MANAGER Rebecca Ricketts ~ 0141 204 8358 rebecca.ricketts@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
PROJECTS MANAGER Cheryl McCulloch ~ 0141 204 8339
cheryl.mcculloch@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
EVENTS AND DIGITAL CONTENT EXECUTIVE Ross Flockhart ~ 0141 204 8319 ross.flockhart@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
MEMBERSHIP EXECUTIVE Diana Peralta ~ 0141 204 8331
diana.peralta@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT Danielle Grant ~ 0141 204 8349
danielle.grant@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
FINANCE ASSISTANT Liz Mason ~ 0141 204 8329
liz.mason@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
CERTIFICATION EXECUTIVE Yasmin Akram ~ 0141 204 8330 yasmin.akram@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
CERTIFICATION EXECUTIVE Lorraine Galbraith ~ 0141 204 8365
lorraine.galbraith@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
CERTIFICATION EXECUTIVE Katie Anderson ~ 0141 204 8381
katie.anderson@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
CERTIFICATION ASSISTANT Michael Fernie ~ 0141 204 8378 michael.fernie@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
RECEPTIONISTS Dawn Chalmers (Mon-Wed) and Sandra Barrie (Thu-Fri) ~ 0141 204 2121
dawn.chalmers@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com sandra.barrie@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com reception@glasgowchamber
ofcommerce.com
30 George Square, Glasgow G2 1EQ Tel: 0141 204 2121
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WRITER Kenny Kemp ~ 0774 708 7957
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The views contained within Glasgow Business do not necessarily reflect those of Glasgow Chamber. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material contained in this publication, the publishers and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce can accept no responsibility for the claims made by contributors in either advertising or editorial content
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