TRADE ORGANIZATION

voluntary association of business firms organized on a geographic or industrial basis to promote and develop commercial and industrial opportunities within its sphere of operation, to voice publicly the views of members on matters of common interest, or in some cases to exercise some measure of control over prices, output, and channels of distribution. The oldest and most widespread trade organizations are chambers of commerce, also known as commercial associations, boards of trade, and development associations. Although in most countries their focus is the development of business opportunity and community improvement, in France the chambers of commerce have served as agencies of official administrative control of public commercial institutions. In 1599 the city of Marseille established the first chambre de commerce and empowered it to settle the merchant law and to send consuls, embassies, and commercial missions to certain countries. Modern French chambres have owned and administered sections of the stock exchanges, bonded warehouses, public salesrooms, and port, dock, inland-waterway, and airfield facilities. The first British chamber of commerce, which was a voluntary association of independent firms in industry, commerce, and trade to protect and promote their common local interests, was organized in 1768 in Jersey, Channel Islands. Many new chambers were formed both in Britain and abroad as economic development went forwarde.g., in New York state in 1768, in Calcutta in 1834, and in Paris in 1873. Today, many countries have chambers of commerce in important cities throughout the world in addition to their local domestic ones. The one organization truly international in scope is the International Chamber of Commerce, a world federation of business organizations, business firms, and businessmen founded in 1920. Trade associations organized according to industries or products have been significant in their impact upon prices, sales, output, and technology, although they rarely extend their activities beyond national boundaries. They had their beginning in modern form during the late 19th century in many countries, including the United States, Britain, and Japan, but existed as early as 1821 in France. Most trade associations confine themselves to voicing their members' views on matters of common interest; particularly in the United States, this exercise has included legislative lobbying. In some countries they may also have some control over prices and production levels, but, in those with strong antitrust legislation (e.g., the United States), this type of organization has been short-lived. Separate employers' organizations have been founded in some countries, including Britain, Australia, and India, to deal with labour questions. French industrial federations, on the other hand, represent the interests of the members both as manufacturers and as employers.