Business News
BABC Annual Conference 2018
A bright future for our relationship with the US
By John Lamb
President Trump knows that the UK is one of the best allies and future relationships “will be very, very bright”, the US Ambassador said at the gala dinner at Birmingham Town Hall that was part of the BABC’s three-day conference. Ambassador Robert “Woody” Johnson said the new steel and aluminium tariffs were “only one per cent” and added: “The President knows the UK is one of his best allies and I am sure these things will get sorted through.” Referring to the five per cent
growth the US is enjoying, Ambassador Johnson said he had “never seen a change so rapid” with “enthusiasm good, investment good and everyone doing extremely well. “And the man at the top is a
Chamberlink reporting team:
Jessica Brookes, Dan Harrison and John Lamb Pictures: Marc Kirsten and Jas Sansi
business guy. We want to trade with you in the US and we will do everything we can to help. “I do not downplay that Brexit
will be a challenge – there is a lot to figure out. You can say it’s too
Dialogue: Ambassador Johnson (left) with GBCC chief executive Paul Faulkner
complicated but as an American I say you simplify it. “There is a lot of capability and willingness and no matter what the challenges, we will get something done. I know Birmingham was named the city of 1,000 trades and that President Franklin used to visit it to find out what was going on.” The ambassador praised the
HydraForce Hydraulics company after visiting their Birmingham
Conference kicks off with call to action
UK and US companies must work together to face up to the challenges being brought by trade tariffs and other threats, the head of the BABC said at the conference opening event at Birmingham Cathedral. Steve Allen, head of office, Mills
and Reeve and global chair of the BABC, said: “This includes how we move forward against the background of the uncertain terrain of trade tariffs, the challenges that will be brought and how we work together to face other potential threats – or opportunities – such as those presented by digital trade, cyber relations, design-driven innovation and more.” Mr Allen said the city was
“powered by youth, ambition and an unrelenting sense of innovation and purpose”. He told 300 delegates from the
UK, US and Canada: “We are proud of our diverse and multi-cultural city, a city that is breaking through from being a national centre of industry to a global city known for revolutionising a range of sectors from advances in manufacturing to gaming and creative to energy and tech and healthcare.”
6 CHAMBERLINK July/August 2018 Outlining developments in the
city, Mr Allen said: “We are creating places for the future – look to any corner of the city and there are cranes in the sky, with large-scale projects such as the £700m mixed-use Paradise development now coming to fruition and a true indicator of investor confidence.” He added: “Birmingham’s
growing economic productivity and prowess is unmatched in the UK – we are now a global city at the forefront of creative arts recognised by both the New York Times and the Boston Globe as one of the most exciting cities to visit in Europe.” Earlier, legal and financial
professionals from the UK and US discussed a number of key transatlantic topics as part of the BABC conference. The event at Browne Jacobson’s
offices in Victoria House included a series of talks which focused on wide issues, including data protection, immigration and international trade treaties all focusing on the Trump administration and Brexit.
Cathedral guests: Paul Faulkner (chief executive, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce), Bishop of Birmingham David Urquhart, Samantha Oxborough (student singer at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire who entertained guests), Mandy Haque (BABC Midlands vice-president and head of operational service delivery at Birmingham Airport), Steve Allen (BABC global chair), Julian Beer (BABC Midlands president and deputy vice-chancellor of Birmingham City University)
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