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Achamber of commerce, orboard of trade, is abusiness network, a local organization ofbusinesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses.Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate for thebusiness community. Local businesses are members, and they elect a board of directors or executive council to set policy for the chamber.
A chamber of commerce may be a voluntary or a mandatory association of business firms belonging to different trades and industries. They serve as spokespeople and representatives of a business community.[1] They differ from country to country.
In some countries, a chamber of commerce is distinguished from aChamber of Trade which represents the interests of tradespeople and artisans rather than industry, for example the FrenchChambre de métiers et de l’artisanat [fr] (CMA), the chamber of trades and artisans.
The first chamber of commerce was theMarseille Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1599 inMarseille, France, as the "Chambre de Commerce".[2][3][4][5] TheRoyal Barcelona Board of Trade was established in 1758.[6]
The world's oldest English-speaking chamber of commerce and oldest chamber of commerce in North America is theHalifax Chamber of Commerce, founded inHalifax, Nova Scotia in 1750.[7][8]
TheGlasgow Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1783.[9] However,Hull Chamber of Commerce is the United Kingdom's oldest, followed by those ofLeeds and ofBelfast inpresent-day Northern Ireland.[10][11][12]
As a non-governmental institution, a chamber of commerce has no direct role in the writing and passage of laws and regulations that affect businesses. It can, however,lobby in an attempt to get laws passed that are favorable to businesses.[13]
TheUnited States Chamber of Commerce has a long history of anti-union lobbying andunion busting in the United States at the local and federal level.[14][15][16]
Membership in an individual chamber can range from a few dozen to well over 800,000, as is the case with theParis Île-de-France Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry.[17] Some chamber organizations in China report even larger membership numbers. Chambers of commerce can range in scope from individual neighborhoods within a city or town up to an international chamber of commerce.[18]
In theUnited States, chambers do not operate in the same manner as theBetter Business Bureau in that, while the BBB has the authority to bind its members under a formal operation doctrine (and, thus, can remove them if complaints arise regarding their services), the local chamber membership is either voluntary or required by law.[19][irrelevant citation] Some chambers are partially funded by local government, others are non-profit, and some are a combination of the two.[20]
Some chambers have joined state, national (such as theUnited States Chamber of Commerce and theBritish Chambers of Commerce) and even international bodies (such asEurochambres, theInternational Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and Worldchambers).[21]
Chambers of commerce in the United States can be considered community, city, regional, state, or nationwide (United States Chamber of Commerce). City Chambers work on the local level to bring the business community together to develop strong local networks, which can result in a business-to-business exchange. In most cases, city Chambers work with their local government, such as their mayor, their city council, and local representatives to develop pro-business initiatives.[22]There are also bilateral chambers of commerce that link the business environments of two countries (e.g.Romanian-American Chamber of Commerce, Moldovan–American Chamber of Commerce).
Community chambers of commerce started[when?] in the UK and later spread to in the US, becoming city chambers of commerce as communities developed and became larger. Community chambers of commerce are smaller and most[quantify] have a limit on numbers of members.[23]
City chambers of commerce have a long history in the US. The Charleston Chamber of Commerce is one of the oldest, dating back to colonial 1773.[24] That same year, Boston's Chamber of Commerce organized a seminal tax protest:The Boston Tea Party.[25]
In 2005 there were 2,800 chambers of commerce in the United States and 102 chambers representing U.S. businesses overseas.[22] According to the Association for Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), there are approximately 3,000 chambers of commerce with at least one staff person and "thousands more established as strictly volunteer entities".[26]
State chambers of commerce are much different from local and regional chambers of commerce, as they work on state and sometimes federal issues impacting the business community. Just as the local chamber is critical to the local business community, state chambers serve a unique function, serving as a third-party voice on important business legislation that impacts the business community and is critical in shaping legislation in their respective state. State Chambers work with their Governor, state representatives, state senators, US congressional leaders, and US Senators. In comparison with state trade associations, which serve as a voice and resource to a particular industry, state chambers are looked to as a respected voice, representing the entire business community to enhance and advocate for a better business environment.
Addressing the national or international need for information is the key service that these chambers of commerce provide. These services are in most cases at no fee or cost to their members; some of them offer personal and/or business services at a very low fee (like memberships to other associations such as the NRA).
Under the compulsory or public law model,enterprises of certain sizes, types, or sectors are obliged to become members of the chamber. This model is common inEuropean Union countries (e.g. France,[27] Germany,Italy, Spain, Austria), as well as Japan and Indonesia. The main tasks of the chambers are foreign trade promotion, vocational training, regional economic development, and general services to their members. The chambers were given responsibilities of public administration in various fields by the state which they exercise in order management. The chambers also have a consultative function; this means the chambers must be consulted whenever a new law related to industry or commerce is proposed.[28]
InGermany, the chambers of commerce and industry (IHK - Industrie- und Handelskammer) and the chambers of skilled crafts (HwK - Handwerkskammer) are public statutory bodies with self-administration under the inspectorate of the state ministry of economy. Enterprises are members by law according to the chamber act (IHK-Gesetz) of 1956. Because of this, such chambers are much bigger than chambers under private law. IHK Munich, the biggest German chamber of commerce, has 350,000 member companies.[29] Germany also has compulsory chambers for "free occupations" such as architects, dentists, engineers, lawyers, notaries, physicians, and pharmacists.
Under the private model, which exists in English-speaking countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, companies are not obligated to become chamber members.[30] However, companies often become members to develop their business contacts and, regarding the local chambers (the most common level of organization), to demonstrate a commitment to the local economy. Though governments are not required to consult chambers on proposed laws, the chambers are often contacted given their local influence and membership numbers.
A multilateral chamber is formed of companies and sometimes individuals from different countries with a common business interest towards or in a specific country. It can further be active in representing the interests of local and foreign investors in that specific country, achieved through promotion and proactivity regarding the general business environment. Multilateral chambers of commerce are independent entities strengthening business relations and interactions between all economic players, and their members may benefit from a broad range of activities that enhance the visibility and reputation of their business.
In many countries, Chambers of Commerce are a source of private-sector information. The information is usually gathered by surveying Chamber members. TheBritish Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey is an example of a Chambers of Commerce survey that is used by official governmental departments as a guide to the performance of the economy.[31]
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