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APCO Center for Trade, Investment and Market Access

The Global Trade and Investment Landscape is Shifting…

Businesses now face a deeply uncertain outlook as the long-held consensus on globalization and trade erodes. The return of U.S. President Donald Trump has rapidly altered trade relationships among major global trading powers, creating a volatile environment that requires multinational businesses to operate with agility, judgment and connectivity across borders.

In capitals worldwide:

Tariffs are becoming standard tools to protect and promote domestic industries, address trade imbalances and gain leverage in negotiations

Barriers to market access are being used to protect national champions, strengthen economic sovereignty and enhance trade positions

National security is being broadly interpreted to counter perceived economic threats and secure sensitive technologies

Navigating these dynamics and planning for the future is more challenging than ever.

… and APCO is here to help you navigate it.

Anticipate and Navigate the Global Trade Landscape

We help clients stay ahead of policy developments and navigate the complexities of trade policy at multilateral, national and local levels. This enables leaders to stay informed, prepared and equipped to communicate effectively with key stakeholders.

Build Strategic Resilience

Our team knows what works and where the pitfalls and vulnerabilities lie. We help clients build strategies to protect their assets, engage with decision-makers in Washington, D.C., Mexico City, Beijing, Brussels and other capitals and fortify their value chains against tariffs, sanctions and other restrictive tools. It’s essential to shape the narrative, avoid traps and maneuver with precision to retain credibility.

Form Coalitions, Partnerships and Alliances

There is strength—and safety—in numbers. We support clients in building and optimizing industry alliances and engaging influencers and third parties to adopt and amplify messaging. Connecting with the right allies in multiple capitals ensures advocacy reflects global interests. We create cross-industry alliances to push for action on issues that transcend sectors.

Advocate for Competitive Advantage

We are our clients’ advocate. At the tactical level, we assist with regulatory processes, submit exclusion requests to relevant authorities, and work with in-house trade and compliance teams to fully understand the implications of policies on core business interests. At the strategic level, we advise and work seamlessly with C-suite executives to anticipate and mitigate risks, leveraging synergies across geographies.

Our Experience

APCO operates at the intersection of policy, politics and business. From finding opportunities amid increasing geopolitical risk to individual market advocacy, APCO empowers clients to assess, understand and respond effectively to all forms of policy, political, reputational and geopolitical risks.

We advise companies in critical and emerging sectors such as technology, health, shipping, energy, automation and manufacturing with strategic advice and sharp advocacy communications.

Our Center for Trade, Investment, and Market Access, consisting of former senior government officials, policy experts, and international trade specialists, is uniquely positioned to help clients tackle immediate challenges and develop long-term strategies for resilience and success in a volatile global landscape.

Our Team

The Center is led by Felicia Pullam, who joins APCO in a newly created senior director role. She previously served as the executive director of Trade Relations with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and as a deputy assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Commerce, where she also helped lead U.S. government efforts to encourage foreign direct investment in the United States. Earlier in her career, she worked with global companies, small businesses and international organizations on their trade, investment and engagement strategies in Asia and the United States.