The CRT was launched in 1986 by senior business leaders from Europe, North America and Japan to address global issues of common concern initially the tensions arising from tradeflow imbalances. The stature and influence of the CRT have grown progressively through the formulation of principles to guide ethical business practice, and consideration of the factors affecting employment and competitiveness.

A range of world-wide trends emphasizes the growing importance of the CRT as the millennium approaches. The market economy and free trade are spreading at the expense of the command economy and protectionism; globalization of business continues unabated. Tensions arise through the continuing gulf between rich and poor, between the industrialized and the developing economies.

International institutions transcend the framework of national governments, laws and regulations. Backed by increasingly sophisticated communication technologies, public scrutiny intensifies and expectations of business practice and performance become more rigorous and intrusive.

In this setting the shared conviction of those participating in the CRT is that business in serving a global society has a crucial role in identifying and promoting sustainable and equitable solutions to the key global issues affecting the physical, social and economic environments.

The mission of the CRT is to promote principled business leadership and responsible corporate practice in support of successful and sustainable business activity and the common good of the world-wide communities served.

In pursuing this mission the CRT participants stand for business excellence; they advocate business leadership by example and the building of understanding and trust; and they share these core beliefs:

• The primary responsibility of the corporation is to conduct its operations proficiently, i.e., to be technologically innovative, competitive and financially sound. 
• Corporations must be increasingly responsive to issues affecting the physical, social and economic environments not only because of their impact on business performance but also out of a pro-active sense of responsibility to all constituencies served. 
• Corporations need to consider the balance between the short-term interests of shareholders and the longer-term interests of the enterprise and its stakeholders. 
• Meeting traditional objectives and performance criteria is not sufficient. Voluntary standards that exceed the requirements of prevailing law and regulations are necessary to the development of sustainable practices. Society's "license or franchise to operate" has to be earned. 
• Corporations should lead by example through business practices that are ethical and transparent, and that reflect a commitment to human dignity, political and economic freedoms, and preservation of the planet. 
• Corporations cannot act alone but should seek to address key global issues through cooperative efforts with governments, other institutions and local communities. 

The role of the CRT is to bring together business leaders for impartial, informed and off-
the-record consideration, analysis, and debate of key global issues within the framework of its core beliefs.

In undertaking this role the CRT aims to:

• Bring a point of view to all issues that is based on factual accuracy, non-ideological perspective and objectivity. 
• Achieve consensus on particular issues where possible, and establish priorities. 
• Act as an advocate on these with other businesses, governments and other institutions. 
• Affect policies and events, and act as a catalyst for pragmatic and constructive action and change. 
• Provide access to decision-makers and construct working partnerships. 

The key global issues for business that the CRT presently regards as the priorities to be addressed in its program of work include:

• The Employment Dilemma 
• Sustainable Practices and Values 
• Trust, Honesty and Transparency 
• Collaboration and Partnerships for Action. 

For the first ten years the CRT has been comprised of committed leaders from international companies including: Bank of America, Canon, Chase Manhattan, Honda, Honeywell, Matsushita, Medtronic, Philips, Prudential, Robert Bosch, Royal Dutch Petroleum, Sumitomo Electric, 3M, Timken, Toshiba, as well as top executives from mid-sized companies.

Now it aims to expand and widen top-level participation to involve the growing number of companies from all sectors which recognize the critical role of business in a global society, and which could benefit from the CRT's perspectives in their own strategies.

Originally posted in different form by Lawren Bale 06-07-97
Revised and reposted by Ingrid Shafer 22 April 1999