Small and medium sellers are the backbone of the US economy, a fact that your eBay Government Relations team constantly reinforces with legislators at all levels – local, state and federal. In addition to large-scale events that we organize – like our annual “Advocacy Days” in Washington DC, Utah and Brussels – we also encourage smaller meetings between legislators and constituents who are eBay sellers.  Whether these meetings take place at a legislator’s office or in-district at the eBay seller’s place of business, these meetings are an important way for small businesses to protect what they’ve built from ill-informed legislation. 

2016 was yet another banner year for these types of visits, which included:

• A ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by eBay Small Business Ambassador Marty Babayov and attended by a host of local and state officials in Michigan.
• A roundtable discussion and regional export plan launch with the Salt Lake County Mayor, World Trade Center Utah, local elected leaders/stakeholders, the Brookings Institution, and eBay seller Mac Griffiths (MDG Sales, LLC), to highlight the importance of online marketplaces in eliminating traditional barriers to cross-border trade.
• A visit from eBay sellers Chris Hansen (C2 Management) and Jeff Bollettino (Metro DC Music) to the office of their House Representative Barbara Comstock to discuss the perils of an Internet sales tax.
• A facility tour hosted by eBay seller Holly Richardson (Aeromarine Products) and attended by eBay Small Business Ambassador Gunay Gulec (Boost Projects), hosting Congressman Scott Peters to discuss, amongst other things, small business cross-border trade.
• A roundtable discussion with US Representative Eric Swalwell - hosted by eWaste Direct owners Angie & Joe Nelson and attended by a variety of local eBay sellers – to discuss the negative impact poorly crafted Internet sales tax will have on small online businesses operating in Rep. Swalwell’s district.

The eBay Government Relations team understands the importance of these meetings and plans to continue enabling these highly valuable interactions in 2017.