(Columbia, S.C.) — The Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina will hold a public forum, International Strategy in an Era of Trade Uncertainty, on Thursday, April 18, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Hosted by the Folks Center for International Business at the Darla Moore School of Business and co-sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the forum will focus on recent shifts in the global trading sphere and the subsequent impact on U.S. trade policy and practices.
Lead panelist John Murphy, senior vice president for international policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, will speak about current trends in international trade and investment. He will be joined by Wendy Cutler, vice president and managing director of the Asia Society Policy Institute and former Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative; Jim Barber, chief operating officer, UPS; and George Jurch III, general counsel, global expert teams (digitalization, OE relations, product liability/product integrity) and the Americas region, for Continental.
“We have convened leading experts who are advocating for U.S. firms’ global business interests,” says Gerry McDermott, professor of international business at the Darla Moore School of Business, who will be serving as moderator during the discussion. “These panelists are among the most experienced in transnational business strategy, investment and policy and will provide business leaders with the insights they need to navigate this new environment.”
McDermott says South Carolina was chosen as the location for this forum because of the importance of international business and trade in the state. South Carolina has one of the highest per capita incomes of foreign direct investment and one of the highest export rates in the United States, making international trade and investment a primary driver of state economic growth for the last 25 years.
Ted Pitts, president and CEO of the South Carolina Chamber, agrees, “The state of South Carolina is as closely tied to the global economy as any state in the U.S. Being a leader in foreign direct investment and in exports has created an abundance of opportunities for workers and driven our economy.”
Beyond current international trade and investment trends, the panel will discuss market fragmentation and cross-country collaboration and its impacts on international business strategy and growth.
According to McDermott, it’s crucial that firms and investors consider how market fragmentation and trade disputes will affect growth, technology flows and cross-national alliances if these companies are to remain competitive in this rapidly changing landscape.
John Murphy, senior vice president for international policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, says that
“The benefits of international trade are clear — trade supports 39 million American jobs, including half a million jobs in the Palmetto State alone. To keep our economy growing, we must continue to reach beyond our borders and sell our products and services to the 95 percent of the world’s population that lives outside the United States.”
The International Strategy in an Era of Trade Uncertainty forum is free and is open to USC students, faculty, staff and the public. Advance registration is required.
Financial support for this event is made possible by The Rachel and Jim Hodges Fund and the Sonoco Department for International Business.
ABOUT THE DARLA MOORE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
The Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina is among the highest-ranked business schools in the world for international business education and research. Founded in 1919, the school has a history of innovative educational leadership, blending academic preparation with real-world experience through internships, consulting projects, study abroad programs and entrepreneurial opportunities. The Moore School offers undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as distinctive executive education programs. In 1998, the school was named for South Carolina native and New York financier Darla Moore, making the University of South Carolina the first major university to name its business school after a woman. Learn more at sc.edu/moore.
ABOUT THE FOLKS CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
The Folks Center for International Business links the nation’s leading educators and researchers in international business with multinational enterprises and their executives from around the world to advance understanding and develop the skills required for global marketplace success in a rapidly changing world.
ABOUT THE SOUTH CAROLINA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce has been helping make South Carolina the best state in the nation to live, work and do business since 1940. Its mission is to strategically create and advance a thriving, free-market environment where South Carolina businesses can prosper. Learn more at www.scchamber.net.
ABOUT THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than three million businesses of all sizes, sectors and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations. Learn more at www.uschamber.com.