June 17, 2009

UPS Chief Executive Scott Davis told attendees of the Detroit Economic Club's National Summit that global trade can pull the economy out of recession, but the fundamentals would need to change.

Specifically, Davis cited three imperatives for laying the groundwork: rebuilding transportation infrastructure, deploying technology to speed commerce, and creating a fair, rational system of trade.

"Trade is a major force for good, for growth and for jobs," Davis said, and as many as 57 million Americans work for companies engaged in global trade.

At the same time, Davis cautioned against rising protectionism. "We must argue that protectionism is the worst response at the worst time. We can't let political expediency cloud global reality," he said.