Cameron Branston has spent over fifteen years building economic ties between Canada and the UK, working on both sides of the Atlantic to attract investment and help companies engage in transatlantic trade.

Cameron earned his Bachelor’s degree in political science from York University, while also balancing several other commitments like interning for an MPP at Queen’s Park and working in the Office of the President at York.

Not slowing down, he then moved to Edinburgh to complete his Master’s degree in social and political studies. At the same time, he also tutored at the Center for Canadian Studies and interned with the Scottish Parliament.

Upon graduation, he moved back to Toronto to take a position as an Investment Officer with the British High Commission in Toronto. Working with officials at several levels of UK and Canadian government, as well as CEOs and other senior business leaders, his focus was on sustaining and growing FDI (foreign direct investment) in the automotive, life sciences, aerospace and environmental technology sectors. Cameron spent five years in this role, before moving to southern England to take on similar roles with new organizations for another three years.

Building ties between the UK and Alberta

Looking for a new career challenge, in 2011 Cameron started his current role as a Commercial Officer with the High Commission of Canada’s Alberta-UK Office in London, England. While the new role allowed him to draw on many of his existing skills, his Ontario roots meant he needed to do some research to get up to speed on the specific needs of Albertan businesses.

“I thought that promoting international trade from a region in Canada that I was less familiar with could prove to be a great learning experience,” he explains. “I always say that working for Alberta has made me a better Canadian, in that I am now much more aware of the challenges facing Albertan companies doing business abroad and their perspective on global business opportunities.”

He was also initially concerned about his level of knowledge regarding business technology, but his subsequent study and research has since given him an advantage when working with companies.

“I invested my time to better understand business management models and global trade, which allowed me to spot opportunities and therefore add value to companies seeking guidance on trading internationally.”

His everyday work now includes promoting Alberta’s businesses and the province itself as an investment location. He also provides market intelligence, business advice, networking opportunities and introductions to Albertan businesses exporting to the UK or considering doing so. Helping businesses is a particular point of pride, as he can often see the tangible results of his efforts.

“I take great satisfaction in providing advice to companies looking to expand their sales and operations overseas. I know only too well that companies that export tend to fair better in the long term, which in turn is helpful to the Canadian economy.”

Making a big impact at the regional, national and international levels

Working in a smaller office, Cameron has had the opportunity to take on several exciting projects. Some of the most memorable have involved supporting visits from Albertan representatives to the UK and vice-versa, including government ministers.

I’ve enjoyed supporting high-level ministerial visits because they have a huge impact and are a great way to showcase key messages about the business strengths of Alberta.

“I supported an Alberta delegation’s visit to Sheffield and travelled with a reciprocal delegation and the Sheffield Master Cutler (who acts as an ambassador for the steel industry in Sheffield) to Calgary and Edmonton for the Global Petroleum Show. Both missions generated business and interest in each market. The Albertans left quite an impression on those they met in Sheffield.”

Another visit last year, involving several high-level UK politicians, further reinforced the importance of trade, both in a general sense and specifically between the two markets.

“In 2017, our office helped organize a mission for our minister, which included meetings with UK MPs and Lords. Trade with the UK is both topical and important. Our office was keen to ensure that our minister was able to share Alberta’s perspective on the Alberta-UK trade relationship with a wide audience of stakeholders and businesses. I like helping to organize these high level conversations that are geared towards fostering greater trade.”

Cameron is also now engaged in politics on a personal level as well. In 2015, he became a District Councillor in Aylesbury Vale, representing the constituents of several villages in the district, located about two hours northwest of London.

The benefits of enhancing experience with trade training and certification

In 2016, Cameron began augmenting his years of experience with FITTskills training, and earned his FITT Diploma in International Trade in 2018.

The FITTskills courses helped me to harness my everyday knowledge of international trade, putting into context this practical experience with the lessons from the courses.

“My favourite course was International Sales and Marketing. I’m interested in marketing as a concept and it was fascinating to learn about marketing as it relates to international trade. Marketing is critical and any good organization is marketing-led. I like the idea of communicating with customers, using different methods to improve the sales message to new and existing customers.”

Shortly after earning his FITT Diploma, he applied for and successfully earned his CITP (Certified International Trade Professional) designation, which he says will help him explore new opportunities to facilitate trade between Alberta and the UK.

“I felt proud to have earned the CITP®|FIBP® designation. I put a great deal of time and effort into learning the material and preparing for the exams. The CITP®|FIBP® designation is recognized and I wanted companies to be aware that I have both a theoretical and practical understanding of international trade.”

Now better prepared than ever to work with companies and continue to grow international trade, Cameron stands ready to excel in his work and continue to make an impact on both sides of the Atlantic for many years to come.

The post Cameron Branston, CITP|FIBP – Commercial Officer appeared first on Trade Ready.

Since the Brexit movement succeeded in the UK, there have been rumblings that the UK could find a new trading niche with NAFTA. That long-shot idea seems more of a possibility as the UK struggles to strike a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union.

Amid concerns that Britain, the world’s fifth largest economy, could be left without a trade bloc when it’s released from the EU in March 2019, the UK’s administration is reportedly taking a serious look at the ramifications of joining NAFTA.

The UK’s Telegraph reported in mid-October that a UK-NAFTA deal could be in the works. Since then, the idea of a trans-Atlantic trade partnership between the UK and North America has earned both praise and criticism. On one hand, a partnership with NAFTA could ease Britain’s transition away from the EU. On the other hand;

A partnership with NAFTA — its own fate uncertain under the Trump administration — could prove a difficult transition for British companies looking to export to Canada, the United States and Mexico.

The UK and NAFTA: An easy transition?

If there’s one great advantage to the UK finding a post-Brexit home with NAFTA, it would be that the UK would be moving from one large trading bloc to another. While NAFTA reigns as the world’s largest trading bloc, in terms of GDP, the EU isn’t far behind.

The combined GDP of NAFTA member countries are more than $22 trillion, while the combined GDP of the EU member countries is just under $21 trillion. That means the UK, which currently sends half of its imports to EU member countries, could find valuable new trading partners on the other side of the Atlantic.

With NAFTA, British officials also could find trade partners who are eager to form ties with the post-Brexit UK.

While British officials have struggled to advance a new trade deal with the EU — some officials say there’s only a 50% chance a deal will be struck with the EU — politicians in North America have expressed a willingness to accept Britain into the fold.

In the United States, President Donald Trump has long said he would be first to strike a trade deal with the UK after the passing of Brexit. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also expressed his desire to form a free trade deal between Canada and the independent UK.

The difficulties with a UK-NAFTA partnership

Signing Britain on to NAFTA might not prove the quick solution to post-Brexit trade for the UK, however. First and foremost, the future of NAFTA itself is largely uncertain.

Trump campaigned on dissolving the 25-year-old trading bloc as part of his “America First” policies. While he seems to have softened his language on NAFTA — expressing a willingness to rework the deal with Canada and Mexico rather than outright canceling the deal — it remains to be seen what the future will bring for the trade deal. That makes relying on NAFTA as the cornerstone of trading future for the UK could prove perilous.

Joining NAFTA also would bring about serious change for UK-based exporters. While the EU had its own set of strict guidelines, companies would have to adapt to NAFTA standards. That would mean using more products and supplies from NAFTA trading partners and knowing how to fight off potential disputes under NAFTA’s governing policies. It remains to be seen how many UK companies would be willing to adapt and how many would relocate to continue to operate under EU rules.

The future of Britain and NAFTA

The rumors about Britain’s potential joining with NAFTA underscore the uncertainty surrounding trade deals in a post-Brexit world.

With a trade deal between the EU and the UK on the ropes, British officials have declined to comment on a potential joining of NAFTA, other than to say they are exploring all possibilities for free-trade deals.

Meanwhile, those with a stake in international trade are still waiting to see how NAFTA could morph under the Trump administration.

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Nadine Storey, CITP|FIBP has been a Trade Commissioner in the Investment and Fintech sectors at Canada’s High Commission to the UK since 2013.

It wasn’t originally Nadine’s plan to embark on an international trade career. In fact, as a student at McGill University in Montreal, she had briefly considered a business career before steering her career path towards other goals.

“Though I have always been interested in business, some might say I ended up working in international trade despite my best efforts to avoid it! I began my undergraduate degree in commerce, and seemed destined for a career in finance or accounting before I decided that, actually, my true passion was international history. I transferred to the Arts faculty after my freshman year to study 20^th century Cold War history, and four years later I moved to London to complete my Master’s Degree in International History.”

As she wrapped up her Master’s at the London School of Economics, however, the job market started shifting her interests in a different direction.

“I thought I would work in policy for a think tank after graduation, but as a bilingual Canadian living in London, I also applied to work at the High Commission in London. I was hired by the Immigration Department, where I worked for 5 years.”

Her first role there was Programme Assistant, processing Skilled Worker Permanent Resident applications and conducting inspections to identify and proactively reduce the number of fraudulent applications.

She then became an Academic Relations Officer, promoting Canadian studies through research, events and relationships with key stakeholders.

Eventually, her career came full circle back to international business when she accepted her current role as a Trade Commissioner.

“A temporary position in the High Commission’s Trade team opened up which soon lead to a permanent one. Before I knew it, I was spending my days working with UK and Canadian businesses, helping them enter new markets and develop their businesses! So, I guess you could say that international trade was something I just couldn’t resist, even when I thought I had moved away from it.”

Helping the little guys and meeting the big shots

Both in her current role as Trade Commissioner and in her previous roles with the Canadian government in London, Nadine has been able to meet high-profile visitors from all walks of life.

“Working in a diplomatic mission in London representing Canada is a true privilege, and I have been exposed to things I think most Canadians only dream of. That has included meeting various Prime Ministers and Ministers, the Royal Family, Olympians, and Canadian cultural icons.”

Promoting Canada to a UK audience is very rewarding, and I feel deeply honoured to spend my days helping to raise the profile of Canada and Canadians on the global stage.

In her three years as a Trade Commissioner, she has also taken great pride in the work she has done with SMEs in the UK looking to expand into Canada. Nadine finds it particularly rewarding as they face greater obstacles than major companies or corporations to make their export dreams a reality. She values the relationships she has built through these meetings, and the courage required for many of these companies to take the leap into the Canadian market.

“I get to meet with the founders and directors of all sorts of companies, whether they be technology, energy, or agriculture companies, and learn about what drove them to start their businesses. They are so passionate about their companies, and have made great sacrifices for the success of their enterprise.”

“Being quite risk-averse myself, I really admire their entrepreneurial spirit. It is very rewarding to be able to provide assistance to a company who otherwise wouldn’t know where to begin with their expansion plan, and even better if I can help them realize that Canada is the ideal location for their next international office.”

It’s OK to ask for help when you want to go global

After meeting with so many companies, Nadine has gained a new appreciation for the communal effort needed for many SMEs to succeed internationally. As a result, she implores any small business trying to make it in global markets to reach out for help, no matter how well they know their own business and products.

Don’t be afraid to ask for support! It is not enough to understand your product well, since growing and scaling a business internationally with success is a very difficult thing to do.

“You need to rely on the resources available to you (like the Trade Commissioner Service) before you enter a market, so that you ensure you understand your potential in that market, and have a reliable network on the ground.”

“We encourage the companies we work with to seek our support, as well as that of other organizations such as the UK Department of International Trade, to make sure they are well-equipped to do business abroad.”

She also emphasizes the importance of seeking assistance for those who are expanding to a new market for the first time, and especially those who are just starting to explore international market entry options.

Even with many years of domestic experience, each market has its own challenges which need to be considered and planned for to survive in that market.

“Far too often the companies I work with assume they will succeed in North America, for instance, when they have never sold outside of Europe, or even the UK. There are many hurdles in international trade, but if you are prepared to meet them, rather than caught off guard, you will be one step ahead of your competitors!”

Equipping herself to handle any situation in the international trade world

Interested in finding new ways to better help her clients, Nadine seized the opportunity to take FITTskills courses when offered by Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

“I thought this would be a great opportunity to increase my understanding of international trade, and become a more proficient and skilled trade commissioner.”

Balancing the her studies with full-time work was a challenge. Fortunately, she was able to work through the online courses as they fit into her free time during the summer evenings, and her hard work has paid off.

“It was rewarding, as I was able to see the practical application of the topics the course was covering in the work that I do. Whether it was Legal Aspects of International Trade, Global Supply Chain Management, or International Trade Finance, the courses covered real issues that the businesses I work with encounter every day.”

Once Nadine completed the FITTskills program and earned her FITT Diploma in International Trade, she successfully applied for her elite CITP®|FIBP® designation to reflect her international trade knowledge, commitment and enthusiasm.

“I was pleased to have earned the designation and can see that I have joined a group of very like-minded individuals, who are passionate about international trade and helping businesses succeed.”

With her new skills and designation in hand, she now feels that she is ready to take on any situation that comes her way.

As a Trade Commissioner, understanding the basic tenets of international trade that FITT covers is key. I think that having completed the program, coupled with my on the job experience, I will be better equipped to deal with any challenging situations I encounter, and of more use to the companies I work with.

As Canada and the UK continue to build their trade relationship, Nadine will be playing a central part in helping companies in both countries grow and succeed on both sides of the Atlantic.

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Great Britain has stirred up a host of global economic debate as the country prepares to hold a referendum election on June 23 to determine whether or not it will split from the European Union.

Supporters of the so-called “Brexit” say that continental Europe’s economic upheavals are holding back the British economy, while opponents contend that abandoning the EU could discourage investment in the UK market and lead to a recession.

In Canada and the United States, leaders are warning that a Brexit would have a profound economic impact on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.

New trade agreements will be years in the making

For both Canada and the U.S., the UK is a significant trade partner. Britain is Canada’s largest European trade partner and its third largest trade partner overall, behind the U.S. and China. For the United States, Britain is its seventh largest trade partner. Should the Brexit occur, the UK will be out of the EU trading bloc and will have to forge its own trade deals.

The need to hash out new trade agreements presents a long-term issue for the UK that could leave all countries trading with Britain, and companies dealing with trade, facing a period of uncertainty.

North American trade agreements could take some time to hash out. In speaking out against a potential Brexit, U.S. President Barack Obama said that if the UK votes to leave the European Union, the United States will not prioritize establishing a bilateral trade agreement with the UK. As such, Obama warned, it could take five to 10 years for the U.S. and the UK to reach an agreement.

In a news conference in Britain in April Obama said:

I think it’s fair to say that maybe some point down the line there might be a UK-U.S. trade agreement, but it’s not going to happen any time soon because our focus is in negotiating with a big bloc, the European Union, to get a trade agreement done.

“The UK is going to be in the back of the queue.”

A UK-Canadian trade deal could suffer the opposite fate: Britain could be the one putting the establishment of a deal with Canada on the backburner as it works on relations with larger trade partners, including the United States, China and Japan.

Unclear fate for EU trade deals

Both the United States and Canada are in the midst of establishing trade deals with the European Union that could be jeopardized if the EU loses one of its largest and most powerful members.

For the past three years, leaders in the United States and the European Union have been hashing out the details of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

The TTIP has been hailed as an all-encompassing trade deal for the 21^st century, covering nearly all sectors of the economy, including, agricultural goods, textiles, telecommunications, and intellectual property. The deal, between the largest economic bloc and the largest single-market economy, is meant to ease trade by lowering tariffs and regulations.

The TTIP faces opposition on nearly all sides. With the turmoil caused by a Brexit, the TTIP negotiations could be delayed. If the deal is not approved before Obama is out of office at the end of this year, the deal could face increasing delays, warned U.S. Under Secretary of Trade and International Commerce Stefan Selig in a May 16 press conference.

I think it’s clear to both us and our European colleagues that if we miss the opportunity to conclude [TTIP] negotiations this year, it might be months and perhaps even years before we are in the position to constructively re-engage on substantive negotiations, given not only the political calendar here but also in the Atlantic.

In an even longer process, Canadian officials have been working with the EU for seven years on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which, like the TTIP, addresses industries across the board and is meant to make it easier for corporations to do business between Europe and Canada. Should the EU’s largest economy — the UK — exit the union, it may cause Canadian officials to rethink some terms of the deal. And while the hope is that CETA will move forward as early as next year, progress could be put in limbo as the EU copes with the Brexit.

Weathering the uncertainty

Perhaps the most profound economic impact of a potential Brexit will be on the markets, as they deal with the uncertainty of the political situation and how it could impact trade deals, currencies and corporations.

That uncertainty is likely to build, and potentially spook investors building up to the June 23 vote. Currently, it is nearly impossible to tell which way Britain’s referendum vote will go. A May 15 Financial Times poll shows Briton split 46-44% against approving a Brexit.

If the Brexit is defeated, much of that uncertainty will be squashed. If the Brexit referendum is approved, however, the economic repercussions could be profound. International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde and Bank of England Governor Mark Carney have both cautioned that a Brexit could trigger a recession.

Upon approval, the UK would enter into a never before tested EU exit process. During that time, the UK and the EU would have to determine how they would sever existing ties and how they would form new trade agreements and regulations. There also is a concern that if the UK votes in favor of a split with the EU, it could lead the way for other discontent EU countries could follow.

When it comes to the economic and trade repercussions of a break-up between the EU and the UK, only time will tell if the 40-year-old political and economic bloc will break, and how such a break will impact North American and global trade.

The post How a ‘Brexit’ could affect the UK’s trade with North America appeared first on Trade Ready.