Trade, Investment, & Policy Thought Leadership
By Caroline Willems, BABCPHL Coordinator and Junior at Temple University, Fox School of Business
The British American Business Council of Greater Philadelphia (BABCPHL) provides our members with the most current and useful information regarding US/UK trade, investment and policy matters. We are able to provide this information because of our dedicated parent organization, BritishAmerican Business (BAB). The BABCPHL is one of 22 chapters throughout the world based in major cities. One advantage of being a part of this group is UK/US trade and investment information we can share with our members. This keeps our regional members up to date with the latest data regarding US/UK business.
Every month, BAB releases a Trade & Investment Update. Each update contains different subjects about what is currently happening in the UK and often includes sections on US/UK import/export, news, and upcoming events. In addition to policy updates, BAB releases current information about Brexit. In fact, BAB maintains an updated timeline with more than 20 articles and news sources. The data includes fact sheets, press releases from government officials, and roundtable events to keep members up-to-date on what’s occurring during the year throughout the globe. BAB releases their largest publication, the BritishAmerican Business Policy Agenda each spring.
BAB produces their yearly Policy Agenda as a benchmark for transatlantic economic relations. On Thursday March 1, they released the 2018 Policy Update. This 2018 edition focuses on Strength and Opportunity in a Time of Change. The Policy Agenda includes topics regarding trade and investment, Brexit, tax, and data/cybersecurity. The Agenda can be requested in hardcopy, however for immediate access you can find it by clicking here.
BAB has their own in-house resources and analysts, however, they also consult outside sources as well to help provide accurate and widespread information. Recently, BAB consulted the United States Trade Representative to deliver Doing Business in the US and UK. The document was developed after the third meeting with the US/UK Trade and Investment Working Group Meeting, which is a “formal exchange between Governments meant to explore the future US/UK trade and investment relationship post-Brexit – and is meant to discuss ways to deepen trade and investment.” The resource gives advice to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) about how to succeed in US/UK trade. BAB partnered with the UK Embassy in Washington to deliver Across the Pond – a relatively new, two-part success-story series. Released in July 2018, part one discusses American trade and investment success stories in the UK. Part two, recently released in February 2018, discusses British trade and investment success stories in the US. Across the Pond spread rapidly on Instagram and Twitter using the #AcrossThePond tagline.
The BABCPHL relies on the dedication and efforts put forth by the parent organization. The Policy Agenda as well as the other research helps inform our members and guide event topics. Sharing the useful information with our members ensures their continued success in the transatlantic marketplace. All trade and investment, Brexit, policy updates, and the Policy Agenda are housed on our BABCPHL website under Trade, Investment & Policy News. Click here to access valuable information.