Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt signed an agreement on March 26 with China’s Investment Promotion Agency and the Trade Development Bureau, on behalf of that nation’s Ministry of Commerce, that could make St. Louis a new transportation hub for trade with China and increase exports between Missouri and China. The memorandum of understanding document was signed following a series of meetings with Chinese officials led by Gov. Blunt and U.S. Senators Kit Bond (R-Mo.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). The governor and senators last week led a bipartisan delegation of government, business, and civic leaders from the St. Louis area on a trade mission to China.
“Missouri workers are the most productive employees in the world, and I am pleased to promote our state’s workforce around the globe,” Gov. Blunt said. “This agreement is a result of our meetings with the Vice Minister of Commerce and promises to foster a long and beneficial relationship between Missouri and China that will open new markets for Missouri-made products, generate more opportunities for Missouri workers, and showcase the countless benefits of doing business in and with our state.”
“The creation of a Sino-American import-export hub in St. Louis will mean hundreds of new jobs for Missourians and just makes economic, commercial, cultural, political and strategic sense,” U.S. Sen. Kit Bond said. “By improving trade between our countries, we can create jobs here at home for Missourians and a more sustainable and long-term relationship that benefits the U.S. and our strategic interests.”
“This is an important milestone toward leveling the playing field for trade with China,” U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill said. “I’m happy to be working in a bipartisan way to enhance the opportunity to export manufactured goods and agricultural products from Missouri, which will help our economy and create jobs here at home.”
The memorandum of understanding agreement outlines ways to strengthen the relationship between China and Missouri through new initiatives in trade and economic development. Calling St. Louis “the traditional center of the United States,” it says St. Louis “can serve as an important center for expanding two-way exchanges and investment between China, Missouri, and the Midwest.” It also says, “Lambert St. Louis International Airport can become a potential center for Chinese airfreight and passenger flights.”
The memorandum of understanding further states that a delegation of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce will visit Missouri to review and assess the opportunities for expanding trade and investment promotion activities in agriculture, high-tech equipment and other manufactured goods, financial services, manufacturing, parts assembly, and real estate. It calls for continuing efforts to “foster a long-term, friendly and cooperative relationship and to develop a healthy partnership between China, Missouri, and the Midwest region of the United States.”
Joining Gov. Blunt and U.S. Senators Bond and McCaskill on the trade mission and for the meetings that resulted in the signing of the memorandum of understanding include: U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.); St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay; St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley; and former Mo. Gov. Bob Holden, who serves as the Vice Chairman of the Midwest U.S.-China Association and was invited by Gov. Blunt. Business leaders include Richard C. D. Fleming, president and CEO of the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association (RCGA); David L. Steward, chairman and CEO of World Wide Technology; and executives with Pfizer, Peabody Energy, Unigroup, McEagle Properties, the World Trade Center St. Louis, and Lambert St. Louis International Airport.
“This is an outstanding agreement for the whole St. Louis area,” St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay said. “Our goal is to create good paying jobs in St. Louis. China’s interest is in developing the St. Louis area as a major point of access for trade in the United States. We believe we have taken an important step toward the goals of both sides.”
The RCGA’s Fleming commented, “We have shown the Chinese that the St. Louis area’s role and position in the United States–embodied in our region’s brand, ‘Perfectly Centered. Remarkably Connected’–make us a natural hub as they seek to expand their trade with the U.S., especially our exports. The St. Louis area is at the center of a 20-state global market that accounts for 43 percent of the U.S. population, 40 percent of its Gross Domestic Product, and 40 percent of U.S. agriculture. This market–equal in area to India and in production to Japan and Mexico combined–is not well-served by the two coasts. Our geographical location and superb transportation assets make us a natural.”
St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley said, “We are extremely pleased with the details of the memorandum of understanding and I know our entire Missouri delegation believes that it signals a very encouraging trend with our friends here in China.”
The trip was a follow-up to the visit to St. Louis last February of Zhou Wenzhong, China’s Ambassador to the United States. That visit, the first by a Chinese ambassador to St. Louis in memory, resulted from an invitation by the two senators and was hosted by the RCGA. During his two days in Missouri, Mr. Zhou received briefings on the area’s transportation assets and from executives at such companies and organizations as Monsanto, Pfizer, Bunge North America, Washington University, Webster University, the University of Missouri, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the Danforth Plant Science Center, and others.
Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Katie Smith also led a feed-related mission in mid-March to Vietnam to assist Missouri companies and suppliers in developing sales to Vietnam’s feed industry. More information can be found in our coverage of that trip.
