Chamber Executive Director of Programs Katie Fitzpatrick represented the Chamber at the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP) Business Ambassadors’ Programme at the British Embassy in Washington D.C. from March 16 to 18.
TTIP, a free trade deal between Europe and the United States, is the largest bilateral free trade agreement in history, with the potential of adding $125 billion to the U.S. economy and creating 740,000 jobs.
Top business leaders from across the country were invited to attend the program to gain a better understanding of the trade deal and to identify how the business community can get involved. The program included meetings with the British Embassy, the EU Delegation, U.S. administration, key business organizations and thought leaders on trade policy, including:
- Douglas Petersen, International Trade Counsel, Senate Finance Committee
- Adeline Hinderer, EU Delegation Trade Team
- Tim Wedding, U.S. Trade Representative
“It was a pleasure to welcome top leaders in business to the British Embassy here in Washington,” British Ambassador Kim Darroch said. “We discussed the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which is a top priority for the UK Government and an opportunity to benefit every state in the U.S. An ambitious TTIP could create 740,000 new American jobs and boost the US economy by over a billion dollars. Together, the UK and U.S. can set the global standards for free trade.”
The Chamber continues to work to position Chicagoland as a hub for international investment and offer resources to help our members successfully do business globally.