View source for Chamber of commerce

{{short description|Organization for the promotion of business interests}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
[[File:65 Liberty Street 9484.JPG|thumb|The former headquarters of [[Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York]], the oldest chamber of commerce in the [[United States]], established in 1768 in [[British America]] during the [[Colonial history of the United States|colonial era]]]]
[[File: Dublin Chamber of Commerce.jpg|thumb|The [[Dublin Chamber of Commerce]], founded in 1783]]
[[File: Men of Toledo, those whom you meet in the business and professional walks of the commercial key to the lakes, 1895 - DPLA - 0982b029e0346aa8023b31f67cbd8047 (page 20) (cropped).jpg|thumb|An 1894 illustration of the Toledo Chamber of Commerce in [[Toledo, Ohio]]]]
A '''chamber of commerce''', or '''board of trade''', is a [[business network]], a local organization of [[business]]es whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. [[Business owner]]s in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate for the [[business sector|business 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.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Olorunshola |first1=Damilola Temitope |last2=Odeyemi |first2=Temitayo Isaac |date=2022-01-01 |title=Virtue or vice? Public policies and Nigerian entrepreneurial venture performance |url=https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-07-2021-0279 |journal=Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development |pages=100–119 |volume= 30|issue=1 |doi=10.1108/JSBED-07-2021-0279 |s2cid=249721896 |issn=1462-6004|url-access=subscription }}</ref> They differ from country to country.

In some countries, a chamber of commerce is distinguished from a '''Chamber of Trade''' which represents the interests of tradespeople and artisans rather than industry, for example the French {{ill|Chambre de métiers et de l’artisanat|fr|Chambre de métiers et de l’artisanat}} (CMA), the chamber of trades and artisans.

==History==
The first chamber of commerce was the [[Chamber of Commerce and Industry Aix Marseille Provence|Marseille Chamber of Commerce]], founded in 1599 in [[Marseille]], France, as the "Chambre de Commerce".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.cci.fr/web/organisation-du-reseau/histoire|title= 1599 Création à Marseille de la première Chambre de Commerce.|access-date= 2011-04-18|archive-date= 21 November 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111121145730/http://www.cci.fr/web/organisation-du-reseau/histoire|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://marseille.tv/tourisme/histoire-de-marseille/|title= Le port de Marseille, qui possède la plus ancienne Chambre de Commerce de France (fondée en 1599), acquiert une notoriété Mondiale|access-date= 18 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marseilleinternationale.com/?q=1559 |title=Marseille, la Chambre, la plus vieille de France, crée en 1559 par Henri IV |access-date=18 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401025738/http://www.marseilleinternationale.com/?q=1559 |archive-date=1 April 2012 }}</ref><ref>[[André-Pierre Nouvion]], ''Origine et histoire des juridictions consulaires et des Chambres de Commerce et d'Industrie Françaises'', 2002</ref> The [[Royal Barcelona Board of Trade]] was established in 1758.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The history of the Catalan universities |url=http://recercaiuniversitats.gencat.cat/en/01_departament_recerca_i_universitats/recerca_i_universitats_de_catalunya/universitats/historia_de_les_universitats_catalanes/index.html |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Ministry of Research and Universities |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The world's oldest English-speaking chamber of commerce and oldest chamber of commerce in North America is the [[Halifax Chamber of Commerce]], founded in [[Halifax, Nova Scotia]] in 1750.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://chamber.ca/about/history/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Canadian Chamber of Commerce |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-26 |title=A chamber refresher is good for everyone |url=https://www.charlottecountychamber.org/2020/10/26/a-chamber-refresher-is-good-for-everyone/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[Glasgow]] Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1783.<ref>[http://www.glasgowchamberonline.org/page.asp?id=2] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605111039/http://www.glasgowchamberonline.org/page.asp?id=2|date=5 June 2009}}</ref> However, [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] Chamber of Commerce is the United Kingdom's oldest, followed by those of [[Leeds]] and of [[Belfast]] in [[Northern Ireland|present-day Northern Ireland]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Hull Humber-chamber |url=http://www.hull-humber-chamber.co.uk/the-chamber/about-the-chamber.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203065711/http://www.hull-humber-chamber.co.uk/the-chamber/about-the-chamber.aspx |archive-date=3 December 2013 |access-date=28 November 2013 |publisher=hull-humber-chamber.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Department of Geography, Cambridge » History of Chambers of Commerce |url=https://www.geog.cam.ac.uk/research/projects/chambersofcommerce/members/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=www.geog.cam.ac.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=History of LCCI {{!}} About - LCCI |url=https://www.londonchamber.co.uk/about/about/history-of-lcci/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=www.londonchamber.co.uk}}</ref>

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, [[lobbying|lobby]] in an attempt to get laws passed that are favorable to businesses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ackley |first=Kate |date=2023-01-23 |title=US Chamber of Commerce dips to second place in K Street spending |url=https://rollcall.com/2023/01/23/u-s-chamber-dips-to-second-place-in-k-street-spending/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Roll Call |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[United States Chamber of Commerce]] has a long history of anti-union lobbying and [[union busting]] in the United States at the local and federal level.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://jacobin.com/2021/06/union-busting-aba-law-firms-persuader-rule | title=Union Busters Operate in Secret — and Want to Keep It That Way }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://lda.senate.gov/filings/public/filing/search/?registrant=&registrant_country=&registrant_ppb_country=&client=&client_state=&client_country=&client_ppb_country=&lobbyist=&lobbyist_covered_position=&lobbyist_conviction_disclosure=&lobbyist_conviction_date_range_from=&lobbyist_conviction_date_range_to=&report_period=&report_year=&report_dt_posted_from=&report_dt_posted_to=&report_amount_reported_min=&report_amount_reported_max=&report_issue_area_description=persuader+rule&affiliated_organization=&affiliated_organization_country=&foreign_entity=&foreign_entity_country=&foreign_entity_ppb_country=&foreign_entity_ownership_percentage_min=&foreign_entity_ownership_percentage_max=&search=search | title=Search Registrations & Quarterly Activity Reports &#124; Lobbying Disclosure }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uschamber.com/issues/letters/2007/070620efca.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205075315/http://www.uschamber.com/issues/letters/2007/070620efca.htm |archive-date=2008-12-05  | title=U.S. Chamber of Commerce - June 20 - Letter Opposing the "Employee Free Choice Act" }}</ref>

==Characteristics==
Membership in an individual chamber can range from a few dozen to well over 800,000, as is the case with the [[Paris Île-de-France Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cci-paris-idf.fr/cci-region/contenus/expertise-services-local-action-paris-ile-de-france-regional-commerce-and-industry-your-side|title=Expertise, services, local action: the Paris Île-de-France Regional Commerce and Industry is by your side|access-date=20 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150901041859/http://www.cci-paris-idf.fr/cci-region/contenus/expertise-services-local-action-paris-ile-de-france-regional-commerce-and-industry-your-side|archive-date=1 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cipe.org/programs/ba/pdf/BA_VF_04-20-2007.pdf |title=Victor Fedotov, Organization and Legal Models of Chambers |access-date=21 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106134935/http://www.cipe.org/programs/ba/pdf/BA_VF_04-20-2007.pdf |archive-date=6 January 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In the [[United States]], chambers do not operate in the same manner as the [[Better 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=chamber of commerce definition · LSData |url=https://www.lsd.law/define/chamber-of-commerce |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=www.lsd.law}}</ref>{{Irrelevant citation|reason=The citation defines the chamber of commerce but does not indicate that local chamber membership is voluntary or required by law.|date=July 2025}} Some chambers are partially funded by local government, others are non-profit, and some are a combination of the two.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Jamie |date=2021-06-04 |title=What Is a Chamber of Commerce? |url=https://www.uschamber.com/co/start/strategy/what-is-a-chamber-of-commerce |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=www.uschamber.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Some chambers have joined state, national (such as the [[United States Chamber of Commerce]] and the [[British Chambers of Commerce]]) and even international bodies (such as [[Eurochambres]], the [[International Chamber of Commerce]] (ICC), and Worldchambers).<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Chambers Congress |url=https://iccwbo.org/world-chambers-federation/chamber-services/world-chambers-congress/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ICC - International Chamber of Commerce |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Chamber models==
===Community, city and regional chambers===
[[File:Puolalankatu 1.jpg|thumb|The Turku City Chamber of Commerce (next to a local restaurant) along the Puolalankatu street in [[Turku]], Finland]]
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.<ref name="Weir2007_121"/>
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===
Community chambers of commerce started{{when?|date=October 2017}} 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|date=October 2017}} have a limit on numbers of members.<ref>
{{cite web
|url= http://www.todayschamber.com/community-chambers-of-commerce
|title= Community Chambers of Commerce
|access-date= 1 October 2014
}}
</ref>

===City chambers===
[[File:Marlborough Regional Chamber Of Commerce Exterior.jpg|thumb|alt=The Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce in Marlborough, Massachusetts|The Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce in [[Marlborough, Massachusetts]]]]
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.<ref>{{cite web|last1=United States Chamber of Commerce|title=U.S. Chamber of Commerce: The Early Years|url=https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/uscc_HistoryBook.pdf|website=U.S. Chamber of Commerce|access-date=24 March 2016}}</ref> That same year, Boston's Chamber of Commerce organized a seminal tax protest: [[Boston Tea Party|The Boston Tea Party]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=United States Chamber of Commerce|title=U.S. Chamber of Commerce: The Early Years|url=https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/uscc_HistoryBook.pdf|website=U.S. Chamber of Commerce|access-date=24 March 2016}}</ref>

In 2005 there were 2,800 chambers of commerce in the United States and 102 chambers representing U.S. businesses overseas.<ref name="Weir2007_121">{{cite book|author=Robert E. Weir|title=Class in America: A-G|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y7n2tJVd3YsC&pg=PA121|access-date=8 February 2012|year=2007|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-33720-8|pages=121–}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acce.org/whatisachamber/ |title=What is a Chamber? |access-date=22 October 2013 |archive-date=23 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023062940/http://www.acce.org/whatisachamber/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===State chambers===
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.

===National and international chambers===
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).

===Compulsory or public-law chambers===
Under the compulsory or public law model, [[Business|enterprises]] of certain sizes, types, or sectors are obliged to become members of the chamber. This model is common in [[European Union]] countries (e.g. France,<ref>[[André-Pierre Nouvion]], ''Chambres de commerce et d'industrie'' - Encyclopédie juridique [[Dalloz]] - Répertoire de droit commercial, 2005</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cipe.org/programs/training/pdf/Chamber_Primer.pdf |title=Markus Pilgrim and Ralf Meier, Chamber Primer |access-date=21 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107031727/http://www.cipe.org/programs/training/pdf/Chamber_Primer.pdf |archive-date=7 January 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref>

In [[Germany]], 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=IHK München|url=http://www.muenchen.ihk.de|access-date=31 August 2010}}</ref> Germany also has compulsory chambers for "free occupations" such as architects, dentists, engineers, lawyers, notaries, physicians, and pharmacists.

===Continental/private law chambers===
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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ACCE {{!}} Chambers of Commerce |url=https://secure.acce.org/pages/chambers/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=secure.acce.org}}</ref> 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.

===Multilateral chambers===
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.

==Surveys==
In many countries, Chambers of Commerce are a source of private-sector information. The information is usually gathered by surveying Chamber members. The [[British 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.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20140607224146/http://www.economicsurvey.org.uk/ British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey]}}.  BCC.  2014.  Retrieved on 16 June 2014.</ref>

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[British Chambers of Commerce]]
* {{lang|it|[[Camera di Commercio, Industria, Agricoltura e Artigianato]]}} (Italy)
* [[Chamber of Commerce and Factories]] (Suriname)
* [[European Federation of Bilateral Chambers of Commerce]]
* [[Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry]]
* [[Finnish-Russian Chamber of Commerce FRCC]]
* [[International Chamber of Commerce]]
* [[National Negro Business League]]
* [[Non-governmental organization]]
* [[Trade group]]
* [[Trade union]]
* {{in title}}
* {{in title|Chamber of Commerce and Industry}}
* {{Lookfrom}}
* {{Lookfrom|Chamber of Commerce and Industry}}
{{div col end}}

==Further reading==
* Herring, E. Pendleton (1931). "Chambres de Commerce: Their Legal Status and Political Significance". ''American Political Science Review''. '''25''' (3): 689–699.

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Chambers of commerce}}
<!-- As every chamber of commerce in the world cannot be listed, please limit this list to reliable resources on all chambers -->
*[https://iccwbo.org/chamber-services/world-chambers-federation/ International Chamber of Commerce / World Chambers Federation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220144943/https://iccwbo.org/chamber-services/world-chambers-federation/ |date=20 December 2021 }}

{{Business organizations}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chamber Of Commerce}}
[[Category:Chambers of commerce| ]]
[[Category:1590s introductions]]
[[Category:1599 beginnings]]