Featured Trade Event: World Trade Week 2007

What we call World Trade Week has its roots in local promotional efforts. National recognition for this event came in 1933, with a proclamation by President Franklin D. Roosevelt that designated the third week of May as “National Foreign Trade Week.” In the intervening 72 years, the annual event has been renamed World Trade Week and has expanded its scope to include many activities throughout the country in recognition of exporters and the importance of international trade to the U.S. economy.

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This year, World Trade Week will be observed May 21-25. New York and Los Angeles are two centers of celebration. In New York, World Trade Week activities are organized by the the event’s steering committee and partners, which include chambers of commerce; local, state, and federal government agencies; libraries; educational institutions; foreign consulates; and international trade organizations, such as the New York District Export Council. The International Trade Awards Breakfast kicks off the week with U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney as keynote and awards presenter. A calendar of events is available on the Internet at www.worldtradeweeknyc.org.

In Los Angeles, World Trade Week events have been held since 1927, when the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce first organized events in honor of world trade. This year, more than 30 events are planned for Southern California. A complete list is available on the Internet at www.worldtradeweek.com.

Many U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs) will also be holding events in celebration of World Trade Week. For more information, contact your local USEAC or visit www.export.gov.