Grassroots Outreach
The U.S.-Korea Business Council conducts and supports trade education and grassroots-level outreach initiatives across the United States to promote awareness of the importance of trade with Korea for the U.S. economy, and to provide information to U.S. companies and state and local officials on potential trade and investment opportunities with Korea.
Together with the U.S. Chamber's TradeRoots Program, the Council launched a U.S.-Korea FTA Grassroots Campaign in 2008 to educate local business leaders and government officials in major U.S. cities and key Congressional districts on the benefits of the U.S.-Korea FTA for their local economies. These forums include members of Congress, ambassadors, governors, administration officials, business and community leaders, and industry experts, and highlight local business resources and success stories of doing business in Korea.
For more information on the Council's grassroots outreach activities or the U.S.-Korea FTA Grassroots Campaign, please contact the Council at uskbc@uschamber.com.
2008 ACTIVITIES
January 18: The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, U.S.-Korea Business Council, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted a breakfast program on U.S.-Korea FTA with U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow and U.S.-Korea Business Council President Myron Brilliant (Honolulu, Hawaii).
January 22: The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce hosted U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow for a program on the U.S.-Korea FTA (San Francisco, California).
March 4: The Korean American Association of Greater Atlanta hosted a luncheon event with Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Japan, Korea and APEC Affairs, Wendy Cutler, to discuss the economic and strategic benefits of the U.S.-Korea FTA. (Atlanta, Georgia)
March 28: The U.S.-Korea Business Council, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Trade Roots division and the Kentucky World Trade Center hosted a forum on the U.S.-Korea FTA (Lexington, Kentucky).
May 20: The Coalition and its members, including members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, went to and met with members and staffers from nearly all of the 535 congressional offices on Capitol Hill to show support for all of the pending free trade agreements. These activities concluded with a World Trade Week reception at the U.S. Chamber sponsored by the U.S.-Korea Business Council and others (Washington, DC).
January 22: The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce hosted U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow for a program on the U.S.-Korea FTA (San Francisco, California).
March 4: The Korean American Association of Greater Atlanta hosted a luncheon event with Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Japan, Korea and APEC Affairs, Wendy Cutler, to discuss the economic and strategic benefits of the U.S.-Korea FTA. (Atlanta, Georgia)
March 28: The U.S.-Korea Business Council, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Trade Roots division and the Kentucky World Trade Center hosted a forum on the U.S.-Korea FTA (Lexington, Kentucky).
May 20: The Coalition and its members, including members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, went to and met with members and staffers from nearly all of the 535 congressional offices on Capitol Hill to show support for all of the pending free trade agreements. These activities concluded with a World Trade Week reception at the U.S. Chamber sponsored by the U.S.-Korea Business Council and others (Washington, DC).
August 20: The Council, in conjunction with U.S. Chamber TradeRoots and the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, organized a U.S.-Korea FTA Grassroots program with Korean Ambassador Lee Tae-sik, including an educational forum on the U.S.-Korea FTA and meetings with Alabama Governor Bob Riley and other state and local officials and business leaders (Montgomery, Alabama).
September 10: The U.S.-Korea FTA Business Coalition, the Latin America Trade Coalition, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce held a rally on Capitol Hill in support of the pending trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and Korea. The rally featured the Ambassadors from all three countries, the Colombian Trade Minister, U.S. Secertary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner, and several Members of Congress. After the rally, members of both coalitions met with members and staffers from almost 300 congressional offices on Capitol Hill to show support for all of the pending free trade agreements (Washington, DC).
2007 ACTIVITIES
August 17: Greater Atlanta Partnership, U.S. Chamber Trade Roots, and others hosted a luncheon forum with Korean Ambassador Lee Tae-sik (Atlanta, Georgia).
August 23: Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Chamber Trade Roots, U.S.-Korea Business Council, and others hosted a breakfast forum with Korean Ambassador Lee Tae-sik (Los Angeles, California).
August 24: The Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Chamber Trade Roots and others hosted a luncheon forum with Korean Ambassador Lee Tae-sik (Seattle, Washington).
August 28: California Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Chamber Trade Roots, U.S.-Korea Business Council, and others hosted a luncheon forum with Korean Ambassador Lee Tae-sik (Sacramento, California).
August 30: San Diego World Trade Center hosted a forum on KORUS FTA (San Diego, California).
October 11: U.S.-Korea Business Council and Greater Des Moines Partnership Educational Program hosted a program on the U.S.-Korea FTA (Des Moines, Iowa).
October 23: The U.S.-Korea Business Council and Korea Economic Institute hosted a luncheon discussion with Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Kwon O-kyu (Washington, DC).
November 6: U.S.-Korea Business Council, U.S. Chamber, Korea Economic Institute, Fed Ex, and Memphis Regional Chamber held an educational program on U.S.-Korea FTA with Korean Ambassador Lee Tae-sik and Assistant USTR Wendy Cutler (Memphis, Tennessee).
August 23: Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Chamber Trade Roots, U.S.-Korea Business Council, and others hosted a breakfast forum with Korean Ambassador Lee Tae-sik (Los Angeles, California).
August 24: The Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Chamber Trade Roots and others hosted a luncheon forum with Korean Ambassador Lee Tae-sik (Seattle, Washington).
August 28: California Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Chamber Trade Roots, U.S.-Korea Business Council, and others hosted a luncheon forum with Korean Ambassador Lee Tae-sik (Sacramento, California).
August 30: San Diego World Trade Center hosted a forum on KORUS FTA (San Diego, California).
October 11: U.S.-Korea Business Council and Greater Des Moines Partnership Educational Program hosted a program on the U.S.-Korea FTA (Des Moines, Iowa).
October 23: The U.S.-Korea Business Council and Korea Economic Institute hosted a luncheon discussion with Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Kwon O-kyu (Washington, DC).
November 6: U.S.-Korea Business Council, U.S. Chamber, Korea Economic Institute, Fed Ex, and Memphis Regional Chamber held an educational program on U.S.-Korea FTA with Korean Ambassador Lee Tae-sik and Assistant USTR Wendy Cutler (Memphis, Tennessee).
November 7: U.S.-Korea Business Council, U.S. Chamber, and Korea Economic Institute held an educational pogram on U.S.-Korea FTA with Korean Ambassador Lee Tae-sik (organized with Mississippi Economic Council, Mississippi Development Authority, and Mississippi World Trade Center; Jackson, Mississippi).
November 8: The Chicago World Trade Center held an educational program on U.S.-Korea FTA, including Coalition member company and association representatives (Chicago, Illinois).
December 5: The Massachusetts Association of International Business, together with the U.S.-Korea Business Council and U.S. Chamber of Commerce, hosted a breakfast forum with Korean Ambassador Lee Tae-sik (Boston, Massachusetts).
2006 ACTIVITIES
March 29: The Alabama World Trade Association hosted the "Alabama and Korea" trade education forum, with support from the U.S.-Korea Business Council (Montgomery, Alabama).
October 17: Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Chamber Trade Roots hosted the Illinois International Trade Leadership Forum on the U.S.-Korea FTA negotiations and other trade agreements (Decatur, Illinois)
October 17: Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Chamber Trade Roots hosted the Illinois International Trade Leadership Forum on the U.S.-Korea FTA negotiations and other trade agreements (Decatur, Illinois)