Succeeding in the global economy: A high-level workshop on the role of the global marketplace in the Midwest economy

Friday, March 16, 2012    
8:00 am - 1:00 pm

The National Foreign Trade Council Foundation and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs are hosting a private, high-level workshop about Succeeding in the Global Economy. The purpose of this event is to highlight the role of global markets in the success of American companies and workers, and determine how the United States can better compete for the global demand, investment, and talent that will ensure that America remains the world’s innovation leader in the 21st Century.

Francisco J. Sánchez, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, U.S. Department of Commerce, will provide a breakfast keynote address, followed by two panel discussions with senior business leaders on both the role of global trade, investment flows, and innovation in the American economy, as well as an examination of where value is created along global supply chains.

This workshop is part of a national series of workshops hosted by the NFTC Foundation at innovation and manufacturing centers around the nation, and part of The Chicago Council’s ongoing endeavor to provide business critical insights into the global economy. 

8:00am

Breakfast and registration                                                                                  

8:20am

Introductory Remarks                      

  • William A. Reinsch, President, National Foreign Trade Council
  • Niamh King, Vice President, Programs, Chicago Council on Global Affairs

8:30-9:30am

Keynote Breakfast                                                                                             

How the United States can encourage job growth and remain the world’s innovation leader

The Honorable Francisco Sanchez

Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade Administration

Introduction by Jane L. Warner, Executive Vice President of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) and Member of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Manufacturing Council.

Undersecretary Sanchez will keynote a discussion about ways federal public policies can help the United States better compete for the global demand, investment, and talent that will ensure that America remains the world’s innovation leader in the 21st Century.

9:45-11:15am

Discussion: Where value is created along global supply chains 

The United States and other countries continue to rely on an increasingly-outdated scorecard that does not capture the trade of services or electronic commerce or the innovation contained in products that can be best-described as “Made in the world.”  Economic experts and companies will discuss the emergence of modern global supply chains and efforts to provide more accurate information to contribute to a better public understanding about the role of American workers and companies in the global economy.

Featuring:

  • Robert Koopman, Chief Economist, U.S. International Trade Commission
  • Ed Marcheselli, Chief Marketing Officer, ShopperTrak
  • Scott Miller, Director, Global Trade Policy, Procter & Gamble
  • Moderated by William A. Reinsch, President, National Foreign Trade Council

11:30am-1:00pm

Luncheon discussion                                                                                           

The role of foreign trade, investment flows and innovation in the American economy

Trade has become a difficult political issue over the past several years, but the reality is that the U.S. economy relies extensively on foreign commerce, investment and entrepreneurs.   Foreign investments in the U.S. economy create millions of U.S. jobs; global competition has encouraged lower prices and higher quality for everything from flat-panel televisions to automobiles; U.S. manufacturers rely on foreign-made inputs for many American-made products; and a host of American start-ups such as eBay and Google were founded by foreign-born individuals.  Experts and company representatives will lead a discussion about the role of global markets in the success of American companies and workers.

Featuring:

  • Emilia Istrate, Senior Research Analyst, Metropolitan Policy Program, The Brookings Institution
  • Michael Lynch, Vice President of Government Affairs, Illinois Tool Works
  • Robert Wolcott, Executive Director of the Kellogg Innovation Network, Northwestern University
  • Moderated by Ed Gresser, Director, ProgressiveEconomy

1:00pm

Adjourn