For the ninth time since 1986, a caravan of international guests will join me on a road trip through Iowa, August 11-15. Launched as a way to showcase Iowa people, products and places during the depressed farm economy in the mid-1980s, my biennial trade tour of Iowa provides a good opportunity for foreign ambassadors and trade representatives from around the world to get a taste of the "real America."
Each time I’ve planned and organized the trade tour, Iowans have responded with unrivaled enthusiasm and warm hospitality. This year is no different. The 2003 tour will take us through the communities of Urbandale, Ankeny, Mason City, Forest City, Algona, Lakota, Spirit Lake, Arnolds Park, Hull, Sioux Center, Orange City, Le Mars, Sioux City, Aurelia, Storm Lake, Dayton, Ames and Des Moines.
The sincerity and good will conveyed by the overnight host families and host communities leave a lasting impression with our distinguished guests. This underscores the economic and social values that result from trade. The benefits extend beyond the exchange of goods and services. Commercial relationships help break down cultural and geographic barriers, leading to the peaceful exchange of ideas and humanitarian principles.
After 9/11, Americans understand more than ever the dangers bred by hatred, ignorance and intolerance for other cultures. Establishing commercial relationships among people, business to business, will help forge a deeper trust and personal understanding between nations. These partnerships help create economic opportunity and advance peace and security around the world.
During the 2003 trade tour, the delegation will see first-hand Iowa’s diverse pursuits in business and industry, from manufacturing to agricultural processing, food production and biotechnology research. We’ll also visit an Iowa family dairy farm in Northwest Iowa and end the week at the Iowa State Fair. Without exception, the participants on the tour come away with a new and better appreciation for Iowa’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, agricultural abundance, skilled labor pool, work ethic, hospitality, diverse economy, and good food.
Trade Creates Jobs
The U.S. Senate Finance Committee handles matters of international trade. As chairman of the committee, I take seriously the obligation and opportunity the committee has to help break down trade barriers, open new markets for American products and root out anti-competitive trade practices.
Since colonial times, trade has served as the catalyst for economic growth and prosperity in America. Thanks to the opportunities created by international trade and commerce, U.S. businesses, workers and consumers enjoy one of the highest standards of living on Earth.
Just consider:
# In the last 10 years, trade has accounted for the creation of three million new high-paying jobs.
# Exports currently support 12 million American jobs.
# Those jobs pay 13 to 18 percent more than the average national wage.
# The free flow of goods and services offers consumers better choices at better values.
# Exports account for a quarter of domestic economic growth.
# One out of every three acres planted in America is exported.
# More than 750,000 full-time jobs are related to agricultural exports.
# The USDA projects farm exports to reach an all-time high of $56 billion in 2003.
# In 1993, the U.S. exported 228 thousand metric tons of pork, valued at $558 million; 10 years later, the U.S. pork industry has more than tripled its exports, valued at more than $1.5 billion.
# One in five jobs on the assembly line at a farm implement manufacturer in Iowa is export-dependent.
Trade means big business for small business. According to the U.S. Commerce Department, 97 percent of U.S. exporters are small- and medium-sized businesses with fewer than 500 employees. These businesses fuel the U.S. economy, creating three out of every four new jobs.
Interested in Expanding Your Business Abroad?
Businesses in Iowa looking to expand or launch an exporting business ought to check out two on-line resources administered by the federal government. Businesses interested in learning the basics about how to export, obtain financing, or review foreign market research can find useful information at http://www.export.gov/. It consolidates information from 19 federal agencies and streamlines documentation requirements to make it easier for businesses to get through the necessary paperwork, including a NAFTA Certificate of Origin Tool.
At http://BUYUSA.com, businesses may subscribe for $50 per year to promote their company, search for business partners, and receive notification of matching partners. The on-line business matching service connects U.S. exporters with qualified international buyers, distributors and agents.