Commercial diplomacy is a unique profession that involves advanced specialized training and a formal qualification. Diplomacy designed to influence foreign government policy and regulatory decisions that affect global trade, intellectual property and investment. In the past commercial diplomacy concerned itself largely with negotiations on tariffs and quotas on imports. In today's more interdependent world, trade negotiations cover a far wider range of government regulations and actions affecting international commerce, including standards in health, safety, environment, and consumer protection; regulations in banking, telecommunications and accounting; competition policy and laws concerning bribery and corruption; agricultural support programs, and industrial subsidies.  Commercial diplomacy encompasses the whole analysis, advocacy, coalition-building and negotiation chain that leads to international agreements on these trade-related issues.

What Commercial Diplomats Must Learn