CONTACT: Rep. David Steffen
(608) 266-5840
Madison- State Representative David Steffen (R-Howard) will be joining a group of Wisconsin legislators in attending an International Trade Legislative Conference in Québec City this week. The Conference, organized by the National Assembly of Québec and the National Conference of State Legislatures, will provide a forum for leaders and experts from the United States, Canada, and Mexico to discuss and learn more of the current negotiations to renew the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Rep. Steffen is the Chair of the Assembly Committee on International Affairs and Commerce and will be serving alongside several of his colleagues to represent Wisconsin’s trade interests regarding ongoing NAFTA negotiations. International trade agreements very directly impact state economies, making it paramount that Wisconsin have a voice in these discussions.
“Wisconsin has an incredibly strong trade relationship with Canada and Mexico. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, roughly half of our state’s exports go to Canada and Mexico and approximately 249,600 Wisconsin jobs are supported by our trade relations with Canada and Mexico. The economic impact of these trade relationships in our state is significant, making it critical that we know and understand the NAFTA negotiations being reviewed, and that Wisconsin’s trade interests are well represented in these discussions,” said Rep. Steffen.
Canada is Wisconsin’s largest trading partner, and Mexico is its third overall. According to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Wisconsin’s relationship with these two countries has continued to grow, with exports to Canada increasing by nearly 14% since 2010 and exports to Mexico increasing by roughly 60% during the same time period. Top Wisconsin export products to these countries include industrial and electrical machinery, paper, vehicle parts, and agricultural products.
“I very much look forward to participating in this conference, which I believe will shed light on the details of ongoing trade negotiations and provide an important opportunity to represent Wisconsin’s international trade interests,” said Rep. Steffen.
