Date and Time
Feb. 12
8:30–10 a.m. MST
Location
Abravanell Hall
Former Gov. Gary Locke joined our Global Advisory Board meeting to offer a grounded and timely perspective on the evolving global trade environment. As former governor of Washington — one of the most trade-reliant states in the nation — and later U.S. secretary of commerce and U.S. ambassador to China, Locke has navigated major economic shifts from the inside.
He emphasized that diversification is not a political reaction — it is risk management. Whether the disruption is geopolitical tension, a pandemic, or a natural disaster, overreliance on a single sourcing market creates vulnerability. Resilience, he noted, requires discipline.
Locke also underscored that uncertainty is no longer episodic. Businesses are learning to operate while policy evolves rather than wait for clarity. At the same time, global influence extends well beyond tariffs. China’s infrastructure investments around the world reflect a deliberate strategy to expand long-term influence, particularly as U.S. foreign engagement has narrowed.
A particularly important point centered on understanding. Locke observed that many shaping U.S.-China policy have never visited China. Language, culture, and firsthand exposure do not guarantee agreement, but they reduce blind spots and the risk of miscalculation.
On technology, he framed export controls on advanced AI and semiconductor technologies as rooted in national security concerns, while cautioning that overly broad restrictions could accelerate the development of alternative global standards.
The throughline was steady leadership: invest in talent, diversify intelligently, and think long term. For Utah companies, global competitiveness will depend on exactly that discipline — alongside the quality of life and workforce strength that continue to distinguish our state.
Thank you to Derrick Porter for moderating the discussion, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera for hosting us at Abravanel Hall, and Dorsey & Whitney for coordinating the visit. Special thanks to Troy Keller for helping bring this conversation to Utah.
Learn more about Gov. Locke’s outlook on trade in his exclusive interview with the Deseret News.