Senator Baucus Unveils 5 International Trading Partners (China, Germany, Japan, Peru, Canada) Touring Montana Ahead of Jobs Summit

Senator’s 2013 Ambassadors Tour Comes to Montana Next Week with China, Germany, Japan, Peru, Canada

Concludes with Panel Discussion to Kick Off Jobs Summit http://montanajobssummit.com/ in Butte

Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus announced today he will bring five of the world’s most important trading partners to Montana ahead of his 6th Montana Economic Development Summit in Butte. Baucus will lead Ambassadors from China, Germany, Japan, Peru, and Canada on a tour of Montana beginning in Kalispell Friday, September 13th, and making its way through Missoula and Bozeman before arriving in Butte to kick off the Summit with a panel on creating jobs through international trade Monday, September 16th.

Along the way Ambassadors will visit Montana manufacturing, research and agriculture facilities, tour a ranch and meet with dozens of Montana business owners hoping to increase markets for their products overseas.

"Time and time again we’ve proven that when we bring the right buyers to Montana, our products and businesses sell themselves," Baucus said. "The more we can open new markets for Montana products around the world, the more jobs we can support here at home."

Canada

* More than 28,000 jobs in Montana depend on trade with Canada. Montana exported $55 million worth of agricultural products to Canada in 2011, and Canada is the United States’ largest market for beef at $1.1 billion in 2012.

China

* China effectively bans U.S. beef and is not a significant importer of U.S. wheat. Opening China’s market would give Montana ranchers and farmers access to more than 1 billion new customers.

Germany

* The E.U. is Montana’s 3rd largest export partner after Canada and Korea, and Montana exported more than $40 million to Germany in 2011.

Japan

* Japan is Montana’s 6th largest export partner, importing more than $63 million worth of Montana goods in 2011. Japan is the largest purchaser of Montana wheat, accounting for more than 50 percent of Montana’s 116 million exported bushels in 2011, and in 2011, Japan was the world’s third-largest market for American beef. But, Japan’s average agricultural import tariff of 15.7 percent is among the world’s highest for industrialized countries, and Japan still has limits on some American beef. Baucus has long fought to further open Japan’s market for Montana farmers and ranchers.

Peru

* Peru is Montana’s 11th largest export market, totaling $4.4 million in 2010.

This is Baucus’ 6th Ambassadors Tour since 2004. In that time, Baucus’ Ambassadors Tours have brought 20 countries to Montana, including: Japan, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand, Taiwan, Bahrain, Chile, China, South Korea, Panama, Colombia, Morocco, Peru, Vietnam, Ireland, Brazil, Canada, and Germany.

In 2011, Baucus also brought cabinet-level officials from 21 economies to Montana for Asia Pacific Economic Development Cooperation (APEC) http://www.baucus.senate.gov/05062011APECPressBackground.pdf meetings. And Baucus has organized at least eight Trade Missions for Montanans to travel to 11 countries: Mexico, Cuba, Japan, China, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, India, Brazil, Colombia and Canada.

Baucus’ past Ambassadors Tours have yielded big results for Montana jobs including:

* After Baucus brought the Chilean Ambassador to tour a Montana ranch in 2010, Chile fully opened its market to American beef. http://www.baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=411

* During Baucus’ 2011 Ambassadors Tour he announced a $1.5 Million Sale from Montana Manufacturer to a South Korean Company http://www.baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1026 , the purchase of Montana cattle by the Colombian Ambassador http://www.baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1027 , and a $500 thousand contract with the Australian Military for a Montana manufacturer http://www.baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1027 .