Blunt leads effort to increase trade with Mexico

Blunt, along with a delegation of government and business leaders, will meet with Mexican President Vicente Fox, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Antonio Garza and other government and business leaders to expand the state’s relationship with its second-largest trading partner.

Officials also will discuss a Mexican customs facility in Kansas City that would speed up trade and reduce barriers for Missouri goods being transported to Mexico. Goods would be cleared through the Missouri port instead of ports in California, avoiding bottlenecks at the Mexican border.

The facility also would expedite exports from Asia and Canada on their way to Mexico.

In 2004, Missouri’s export figures show Mexico, at $946 million, was second to Canada, $4 billion, in purchasing Missouri exports. Between 1999 and 2004, exports to Mexico increased by 38 percent, or $260 million.

The top five Missouri exports to Mexico last year were transportation equipment; agricultural products; chemicals; electrical equipment, appliances and components; and computer and electronic products.

Year-to-date Missouri exports for 2005 are $9.8 billion, $800 million ahead of the same period in 2004, when the state set a record in global sales.

Blunt’s trip is funded by the Hawthorn Foundation, a nonprofit organization that assists efforts to promote Missouri economic development.