CEIR report: negative impact of US trade tariffs on the country's exhibition industry

The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) released results at the CEIR Predict Conference from a brief survey fielded this August, assessing US trade show executive perceptions about US trade tariff policies and whether these policies have had an impact on US-based trade shows that have taken place in 2018 through July 2019.

Though China is the biggest target for trade tariffs, so are other US trade partners including the European Union, Canada, Mexico, and other Asian countries.

CEIR CEO Cathy Breden, CMP, CAE noted, “Why is this issue of concern to our industry? US trade shows are a gateway to doing business in our country.”

Government data tracking economic activity is slow to precisely quantify the impact such policies are having on the economy and trade itself. In the absence of this information, CEIR launched a short survey to gauge what impact, if any, these trade tariffs are having on US-based trade shows.

The results show tariffs are having an impact for over half of surveyed organizers that have produced US shows in 2018 through July of this year. Where impacts have been sustained, they are largely negative. In 2018, US business-to-business (B2B) trade shows contributed $97 billion to US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from direct and indirect spending.

CEIR Vice President of Research Nancy Drapeau, PRC said, “Very careful attention was paid to designing a survey that objectively gauged trade show executive sentiment about the impact of these trade tariffs on the U.S. trade show industry. And as well, to determine if impacts have been felt at US trade shows that have taken place during the period that the trade war has been in play — in 2018 through July 2019. Unfortunately, 56% of executives that have held a US-based B2B trade show in 2018 through July 2019 have encountered impacts, more so on the exhibitor side, 49%, with 36% reporting impact on attendee audiences. And where there has been impact it is largely negatively. Overall, on average, these organizers have sustained a gross revenue loss of 7.7%.”

The text/image source: official website CEIR