The motto 'commerce and honest friendship with all' was chosen, taken from Thomas Jefferson's inaugural Presidential speech. The Arms of the Company were designed by the late Sir Colin Cole, the then Garter King of Arms.

On June 5th, 1993, the Mayor and Aldermen of the Corporation of London agreed the petition of the Guild to be constituted a Company of the City of London without grant of livery with the new name 'Company of World Traders'. On 9th November 1999, the Company's petition for the grant of livery status was granted by the Court of Aldermen, to take effect from 1st January 2000.

The Master's Badge of Office depicts the Company's coat of arms mounted on a piece of rock crystal, donated by the World Trade Centre of Rio de Janeiro, carved with an outline of five continents.