• A trade association may be composed of members of a single industry (e.g., the Chemical Manufacturers Association) or members having a common interest or purpose (e.g., the Consumer Mortgage Coalition). Among the joint actions that a trade association often takes are collecting industry data, advertising, marketing, and engaging in public relations and government relations.
trade association
An association of business organizations having similar concerns and engaged in similar fields, formed for mutual protection, the interchange of ideas and statistics, and the establishment and maintenance of industry standards.