The ChamberPost

Advocating Trade For Indiana

by Brad Peck

Some quick facts from TradeRoots on the benefits of trade for Indiana then straight to the video goodness from an Indiana business owner, Dr. Toby Malichi, who was in the building (for Trade Month) and on Capital Hill yesterday talking trade.

"The last two years have been all-time records for inbound investments, proving our state can compete with any place in the world." - Governor Mitch Daniels

• Indiana exported nearly $26 billion in manufactured goods to the world in 2007.
• 84% of the nearly 5,500 Indiana companies that exported goods in 2006 were small and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 500 employees.
• In 2007, there were 550,000 Indianans employed in the manufacturing sector.
• There are 139,900 Indiana workers employed by foreign companies.
• In 2006, Indiana's agricultural exports were estimated at $2 billion and the state's reliance on agricultural exports was 35%.
• Under NAFTA, the volume of U.S. corn exports to Mexico has risen over 42% since 1994.
• Agricultural exports support nearly 24,200 jobs both on and off the farm in food processing, storage, and transportation.

Fair Trade and Job Creation, a True Story

by Sandy Westlund-Deenihan and Jason Speer

We flew in from Schaumburg, Illinois for today’s "Rally on the Hill for Trade".  We came today to tell the story of how our 93 year-old company expanded into the international arena. Being a small company we felt compelled to tell of our success exporting and the job growth it has created. With the weakening dollar, and our export plan, we have seen a 17% increase in international sales since 2003.

After meeting with Senator Menendez's staff, we headed over to meet with Congressman Roskam’s staff.  They were very supportive of exporting and our efforts. From there we headed to Senator Durbin’s office. He listened to our story and was appreciative of our information.  He explained his concerns on the multi-layers of immigration intertwined with the multi-layers of Free Trade Agreements.  Finally we met with a staff from Senator Lautenberg.  She was very welcoming and the Senator is making efforts to bring innovation to New Jersey.

Overall we were pleased with the time each office took to meet with us. Everyone was grateful to hear a real world story, and not just facts and figures.  I want to thank the U.S. Chamber for putting this together, and all the staff who took the time to meet with us!

I hope more companies will speak out on these issues, as it does make a difference!  We need to erase the myths about "fair trade and job loss" and tell the true story of "fair trade and job creation", as we have experienced.

Sandy Westlund-Deenihan is President and Jason Speer Vice President of Quality Float Works, Inc.

Trade - The Sensible Solution

by Joseph Gentry

GTC Technology Inc. is a strong supporter of free trade in all of its forms.  Trade is the only sensible way to maintain inter-country relationships in the global economy. Anyone who has travelled abroad or done business internationally will easily understand that trade barriers only hurt ourselves, and do not solve any problems.  The message for those who hope to accomplish some sort of jobs protection or social agenda by manipulating trade flows, is that they are only fooling themselves.

Our company has directly benefitted from trade openness. We have established our world headquarters in Houston, TX, but more than 90% of our business is export-oriented to over 20 different countries. GTC’s business activity helps the U.S. balance-of-trade deficit and creates many professional jobs in the engineering and technology field.

Recently, our company has been awarded a job to replace a German competitor's technology in a Korean petrochemical plant. Our scope of work may be broadened to include more tangible goods and services.  Passage of the U.S./Korea free trade agreement will enhance our position against the European competitors in garnering additional work.

Joseph Gentry is Director, Technology - GTC Technology Inc.

From the Great State of Maryland

By Matt Truong

The meeting today with the U.S. Chamber was very productive.  I, along with other small companies from Maryland, was able to meet with Senator Cardin and one of the executive staff members for Senator Mikulski.  We shared our concerns about fair and balanced trade, particularly with Columbia and Korea. I felt that our voice was heard; however, I believe our Senators and Representatives need constant information from the U.S. Chamber and others before voting on of these issues.

Matt Truong is President of the Government Division, Intelligentz Corporation

World Trade Day

by Tom Donohue

The Chamber has been celebrating Trade Month and the entire country is recognizing the benefits of trade this week, which is World Trade Week.  That is why our International and TradeRoots teams are leading a delegation of Chamber members on lobbying visits to Capitol Hill today to urge Congress to act on the pending trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea.

Our members are frustrated by Congress' inaction on these agreements.  They recognize that trade creates quality jobs in America and it is unacceptable for Congress to continue down this path toward isolationism.  Failing to act on these agreements represents a U-turn for our country that would choke off innovation and prosperity at a time we need it most.

In the 546 days that the U.S.-Colombia FTA has lingered in Congress since it was signed, American businesses and workers have paid over $1 billion in unnecessary tariffs that the trade agreement would eliminate.  That’s $672 for every manufacturing worker in the United States.  It’s time for Congress to put partisan politics aside and look out for American workers.  Our members understand this and now they’re ready to take their message to the Hill and educate congressional leaders on the benefits of trade.

A few of our members had a chance to share their stories before they went up to the Hill, and all month we have been posting state by state trade facts which cut through the rhetoric.  Find out how real businesses are creating real jobs, then head over to TradeRoots to get all the facts for your state.

Cannondale - Trade and Jobs in Pennsylvania

by Brad Peck

I once had a roommate who was a huge cyclist, and I woke up every morning to a gigantic Cannondale poster on his wall.  Cannondale Bicycle Cooperation is the world's leading high performance bicycle manufacturer; selling more then 80 models in more then 70 countries around the globe. So I was very excited this morning to meet Edward Vlutters, Manager International Distributors, from Cannondale.

Mr. Vlutters was in D.C. today visiting Capital Hill and the White House to tell the story of what trade means for Cannondale. This is how he explained it to me:

Our company is widely regarded as the bike industries leading innovator. The elimination of trade barriers will allow us to market our products at more competitive prices. Given an even playing field where our products can be sold at reduced tariff rates, I am confident our sales will soar. That translates into more jobs at our factory in Pennsylvania.

Here is a video from their website, called "Inspired to Ride", hopefully Cannondale's story will cause the Reps they visit to be "inspired to trade".

Aventure Aviation - A Trade Story From Georgia

By Zaheer Faruqi

Based in Peachtree City, Georgia, Aventure Aviation provides aviation related services and a stock list of aircraft parts.

We are located in a Foreign-Trade Zone and 90% of our business comes from exports. As a company providing aviation services to the world, we believe that international opportunities are huge for small to medium businesses.

We have company reps travelling extensively all over the world representing ourselves and U.S. based companies who wish to do business overseas.  Many of these companies are not sure how to find a market for their product and services, or how to handle exporting.

Aventure Aviation was selected as a finalist in the Governor of Georgia’s Award for International Business in 2006 and has been featured in the US Chamber of Commerce TradeRoots publication in 2007 as one of 44 successful companies in GA.

We support the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in their efforts to promote trade because trade helps us increase employment within our organization. As an example, we are in the process of buying an aircraft from Panama for a European client.  The aircraft will be ferried to Georgia and refurbished at a maintenance facility in Brunswick and after 45 days will be delivered to the client.  This is a good example of how international trade equals U.S. jobs.

Zaheer Faruqi is President of Aventure Aviation

Trade Builds Business, Business Builds Jobs

by Dr. Toby Malichi

Anointed for the marketplace and celebrating over 26 years in over 70 countries and 7 continents, World Impact Ventures, Ltd. located in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a world power broker, business confidant, and coach.  We serve as a conduit that identifies, structures, and facilitates development project funding and the brokering of international deals, projects, and marketplace ideas for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), C-level executives and governments.

I have been officially and unofficially involved with most free agreements as a SME spokesman for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the White House, and the U.S. Department of Commerce, dating back to NAFTA.  Simply put, trade agreements are the life blood of our business.

These agreements, especially the current trade proposals with Colombia and Korea, give us access to markets that we might not otherwise be able to compete in. They will allow 85% of all SME’s who are involved in trade to build their export business profitably, thus hiring more employees.

I personally urge you to contact your Senators and Congressperson and tell them to vote yes on trade, starting with Colombia and Korea. Have a successful day!      

Dr. Toby Malichi is Founder & CEO of World Impact Ventures, Ltd.