The highly discussed recent Conservative conference in Washington also captured the Slovak public space with the historic first-ever speech by the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic at this event. Opinions on the event and its significance vary. Many consider it a far-right happening, which has its reasons. Others expect significant changes and view it as the key networking event of the year. Naturally, many attendees use the opportunity for personal PR. Everyone likes to ride the wave of success defined by President Donald Trump’s second electoral victory following last year’s unsuccessful assassination attempt on him.
The leitmotif hanging in the air is the slogan “Make America Great Again!” CPAC – Conservative Political Action Conference – has a long history of more than 50 years, with Ronald Reagan delivering the inaugural speech at its first edition in 1974. For over half a century, this conference has been the flagship event for Republicans in America, and in recent years it has expanded with franchises to countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, South Korea, Japan, and Hungary.
This year’s conference, however, featured several significant moments, and it is no coincidence that Prime Minister Robert Fico and other prominent political leaders, including Italy’s current Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, participated. Besides high-ranking Americans from all over the USA, the conference brought together a broad international presence, including Members of the European Parliament from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. I represented the Slovak Exporters’ Council and also noticed a few Slovaks attending privately.
During the same period, although not at the conference, Slovak European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič was also in Washington. So, whereas Slovak representation might have been almost nonexistent in past years, this year several Slovaks from different positions and roles gathered in Washington. However, there was a common denominator: Donald Trump and his assertive foreign-trade policy, which currently troubles the entire world. Tariffs or trade barriers aim primarily—and almost exclusively—to protect the American domestic market.
People can think whatever they want about the CPAC conference. The fact remains that the new American establishment’s elite gathered there, and if we want to be involved, take a stance, start communicating, gain firsthand information, and sense the reality that we usually only read about in overseas news, CPAC was one of the best opportunities. I fully seized it, and with my colleagues, we did not just sit in the audience for four days but took part in several business meetings on the sidelines of the conference, whether in hotel lobbies (hence the term lobbying), or directly in offices of various companies or institutions in the city, or in places where politicians and businessmen meet. Yes, politics and business go hand in hand in America; the relationship between the private and public sector is legalized—there is no reason to hide it. Today, there is nothing worse than sending online links via media or social networks to the world’s strongest economy; it is necessary to roll up your sleeves and get to work, directly on the ground—that is, in the USA.
The Slovak industry has long been monotonous, dependent on foreign investments mainly in the automotive sector. Therefore, trade barriers with such an important trading partner for the EU as the United States will dramatically impact the Slovak economy. That is why I say, no more car factories—we have enough. Diversification is necessary, both sectoral and territorial. The Slovak Exporters’ Council will continue striving to open doors for Slovak companies to the most competitive market in the world, aiming to increase our mutual trade with the USA and also to change its monotonous structure. Only in this way will we better face future crises and, most importantly, our exporters will be more efficient and successful.
Author: Lukáš Parízek, Chairman of Council of Slovak Exporters
