America must not turn its back on trade

This week in New Orleans, at Louisiana Trade Week, business leaders from around the nation will come together to discuss the importance of trade to Louisiana and the United States. In fact, because of shipping exports from the Mississippi River, international commerce is responsible for one in every five jobs in our state.

While trade advocates are convening in New Orleans to champion the state’s culture of trade, our leaders in Washington are debating the future of trade policies that directly benefit Louisiana. These include multilateral agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement, a pact between the United States, Mexico and Canada, which is responsible for direct business growth in Louisiana. The leadership is also discussing the importance of Foreign Trade Zones — regions designated by our federal government as critical to supporting trade and the free flow of goods between nations.

While some may take issue with these trade agreements, we believe that international commerce is the foundation of our region’s economy and essential to the long-term well-being of Louisiana. Trade is also the bedrock of many smaller, rural economies in the United States.

For example, consider the American agricultural economy. Today, more than 30 states rely on the Mississippi River to export their grains globally. Nationwide, the U.S. exports some $135 billion in food and agriculture products each year. At a time when Washington is eager to create jobs, particularly in rural America, initiatives to help our nation’s farmers and ranchers grow exports is crucial. In the U.S. 1.1 million jobs are supported by agriculture exports, and for every additional $1 billion in exports another 8,000 jobs are created.

Another critical aspect of our country’s trade policy, also currently being debated on Capitol Hill, is the Farm Bill, which governs the way we grow, export, and consume food. Right now, Congress is working on a new Farm Bill to take effect in 2019.