December 12, 2025 Building the Infrastructure for Permanent Global Growth

As trade volatility grows, World Trade Centers offer U.S. metros a stable, global hub for business growth and investment.

By Martin Schiffman, Managing Director, World Trade Center Chicago

Across the country, cities are searching for ways to stay competitive in an increasingly unpredictable economic environment. Specifically in the trade economy, shifting tariffs, new export controls, and evolving supply chains have made it clear that short-term trade missions or isolated programs are no longer enough for a city’s trade industry to thrive. What’s needed are lasting, globally connected platforms that help local companies grow beyond their borders.

That’s the value of the World Trade Center (WTC) model — a business network spanning nearly 100 countries and territories, linking businesses, governments and investors under the united mission to expand global trade. Each WTC business serves as a regional hub for trade services, business matchmaking, and international engagement.

A Model Built for Volatility

Trade uncertainty is here to stay. As U.S. courts revisit the legality of tariffs and countries adjust to new geopolitical alignments, businesses of every size must adapt quickly. Large corporations often have the resources to absorb these shocks. Smaller firms — especially manufacturers, exporters, and suppliers — do not.

A WTC license through World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) provides the permanent infrastructural hub that these smaller and midsized businesses need: a global network for sourcing, exporting, and investment attraction; professional service support to navigate regula tory shifts; and a neutral venue that connects public and private interests to ensure the continued flow of international trade.

Chicago as a Case Study

Chicago, one of the world’s great logistics and innovation hubs, already holds a WTC license but has yet to activate it due to the fragmented nature of the city’s economic development ecosystem. The timing could not be more critical for a city like the Windy City to activate this tool specifically to aid the community’s small businesses in their efforts to grow beyond their own borders. While peer cities such as Kansas City, Philadelphia, and Toronto have leveraged their WTC businesses to drive trade-led growth, Chicago risks being left behind.

A functioning WTC Chicago would give the region’s small and mid-sized businesses year-round access to international partners and trade best practices, while amplifying existing state and local economic development programs. The goal isn’t to construct another landmark tower — it’s to establish a coordinated ecosystem for global business expansion.

Some may argue the city already conducts trade missions and diplomatic outreach. But these efforts—while well-intentioned—are sporadic, costly, and rarely deliver lasting results. A WTC business, by contrast, is a standing hub that is activated all year through the support of staff support and events. It would allow Chicago to showcase its most innovative products and services to international buyers every day, not just once or twice a year.

Imagine WTC Chicago as the international front door for Illinois’ SMEs and MWBEs. Picture a permanent showcase of local products, accessible to investors and trade partners worldwide. This isn’t about constructing a tower; it’s about creating a hub of services and partnerships that strengthen—not duplicate— existing business support systems.

Why It Matters for Cities Everywhere

Small and mid-sized businesses in Chicago and beyond are often the least equipped to navigate abrupt economic policy changes, currency fluctuations, or new compliance requirements. Larger corporations can absorb shocks, hire legal teams, and shift sourcing strategies quickly. Smaller companies cannot. A WTC business provides exactly the infrastructure they need: permanent trade services, year-round connections to 300+ WTC businesses, and neutral ground for forging strategies above the partisan fray.

Cities that invest in this kind of permanent economic and trade infrastructure will be better equipped to weather policy swings, supply chain shocks, and geopolitical uncertainty. Chicago’s next step can serve as a model for others: activating its WTC license not just for its own gain, but as proof that when cities commit to global engagement, they build economic resilience from the ground up.

Time to Lead

Global trade is not optional. The S&P 500 derives 40% of revenues from international sales; small-cap companies average 20%; and the U.S. attracts 38% of global cross-border investment. Having a functioning WTC business is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.

It’s time for Chicago and cities like it to stop treating trade as the domain of multinationals and recognize it as the most powerful tool we have to create jobs, grow GDP, and expand opportunity across every neighborhood.

About the Author:
Martin Schiffman is the Managing Director of World Trade Center Chicago and President of Schiffman Consulting Corp. He specializes in urban economic development, having planned and developed over $1 billion in urban reclamation and value-added projects.

Since 1989, Mr. Schiffman has studied global markets and cities across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia in connection with the World Trade Centers Association, providing insight into how World Trade Centers can drive local economic growth through trade and investment. In addition to his current role as a license holder for the inactive World Trade Center Chicago, Martin also helped establish and remains actively involved in leading the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia.

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