Date
May 6–7, 2026
The 2026 Zions Bank Crossroads of the World International Trade Summit, in partnership with World Trade Center Utah, brought together leaders from business, government, diplomacy, manufacturing, finance, technology, and energy to discuss the forces shaping today's global economy.
Across two days of conversations, speakers explored how trade, artificial intelligence, energy, supply chains, and global events are increasingly influencing the same business decisions.
Featured speakers included Ian Bremmer, Reed Hastings, Robert Lighthizer, Mary Ng, Jesús Seade, Peter Huntsman, Walter Russell Mead, Bret Stephens, Jeremy Utley, Gordon Bowen, and other leaders from business, government, diplomacy, and industry.
“The things that create the greatest benefit probably create the greatest angst as they arrive.”
Trade in practice
While headlines often focus on trade policy, business leaders focus on how those policies affect decisions on the ground.
Leaders from Stadler, Wavetronix, Nu Skin Enterprises, and Campbell Companies discussed how tariffs, sourcing decisions, market access, and global competition increasingly shape strategy and operations. Export finance and international growth experts from the U.S. Commercial Service, EXIM Bank, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and Zions Bank examined the practical tools companies use to expand internationally and manage risk.
The summit also featured a timely discussion between former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, former Canadian Minister of International Trade Mary Ng, and Mexico Ambassador to China Jesús Seade as the United States, Canada, and Mexico prepare for the upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Competing in a changing economy
Conversations throughout the summit highlighted the growing connection between technology, manufacturing, energy, and competitiveness.
Consistently, discussions about technology and growth returned to the same underlying question: does the infrastructure exist to support them?
Gov. Spencer Cox discussed what it takes for Utah to compete globally, while leaders from Torus, Ionic Mineral Technologies, Hi Tech Solutions, and rPlus Energies explored the infrastructure, energy, and resource requirements necessary to support future growth.
Harris Simmons reflected on economic cycles, market volatility, and the importance of maintaining perspective through periods of uncertainty. Robert Spendlove presented new trade data from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, highlighting Utah's export performance, growing technology supply chains, and opportunities tied to critical minerals and advanced manufacturing. Peter Huntsman focused on the long-term investments required to support future growth, emphasizing the connections between energy, manufacturing, and economic competitiveness.
Innovation, leadership, and growth
Artificial intelligence, organizational adaptability, and innovation emerged as recurring themes throughout the summit.
Stanford educator Jeremy Utley challenged attendees to think differently about AI and organizational learning, while Netflix Co-Founder Reed Hastings discussed leadership, culture, and the importance of adapting to changing markets.
Gordon Bowen, founder and global chairman of mcgarrybowen, explored how brands build relevance across cultures and markets, sharing lessons from a career spent helping companies connect with customers around the world.
Global perspectives
The summit also featured perspectives from some of the world's leading voices in business, diplomacy, journalism, and national security.
Ian Bremmer, Walter Russell Mead, Bret Stephens, and retired Brig. Gen. Eric Strong explored how conflict, demographics, trade, national security, and shifting alliances are reshaping the environment businesses operate in. Their conversations reinforced a common theme throughout the summit: understanding global developments is becoming an increasingly important part of understanding business.
Wavetronix
Springville-based Wavetronix received the 2026 Zions Bank Global Pacesetter Award — a distinction given to a Utah company demonstrating international success.
With its roots firmly planted in Utah, the company’s radar technology is helping to make roads safer and keep traffic running smoothly all over the world.
Utah on the world stage
The summit also highlighted Utah’s growing role in international trade, investment, manufacturing, and innovation.
New data from the Gardner Policy Institute showed Utah exported $18.2 billion in goods to 201 countries and imported $21.9 billion from 154 countries. International trade supported more than 70,000 jobs, contributed nearly $8 billion to Utah's GDP, and accounted for 3% of the state's economic output.
The 2026 Crossroads Trade Summit reinforced Utah’s role as a place where business leaders come together to better understand the forces shaping trade, technology, investment, and growth in an increasingly connected world.
Featured speakers
Lucy Knight Andre, Stadler Signalling North, Stadler US
Gordon Bowen, mcgarrybowen
Ian Bremmer, Eurasia Group and GZERO Media
Nate Callister, Zions Bank
Paul Campbell, Campbell Companies
Governor Spencer J. Cox, State of Utah
Shelby Daiek, U.S. Commercial Service
Paul Duncan, EXIM Bank
Ambassador Jeff Flake, World Trade Center Utah
Theresa Foxley, rPlus Energies
Jonathan Freedman, World Trade Center Utah
Mark Garfield, Zions Bancorporation
Natalie Gochnour, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
Reed Hastings, Netflix, Powder Mountain Ski Resort
Chris Hayter, Hi Tech Solutions
Brad Herbert, Zions Bank
Peter Huntsman, Huntsman Corporation
Michael Jensen, Wavetronix
Kristiane Koontz, Zions Bank
Robert Lighthizer, former U.S. Trade Representative
Walter Russell Mead, The Wall Street Journal; Hudson Institute
Ryan Napierski, Nu Skin Enterprises
Arthur Newell, Zions Bank
The Honourable Mary Ng, Milken Institute, former Canadian Minister of International Trade
Dan Pische, U.S. Small Business Administration
Ambassador Jesús Seade, former USMCA Chief Negotiator
Harris Simmons, Zions Bancorporation
Robert Spendlove, Zions Bank
Bret Stephens, The New York Times
Brigadier General (Ret.) Eric Strong, U.S. Army
Jeremy Utley, Author and Podcaster
Nate Walkingshaw, Torus
Peter Zeihan, Author and Geopolitical Strategist
Andre Zeitoun, Ionic MT
