Nixon signs $4.4B export agreement with China

Gov. Jay Nixon today closed a $4.4 billion export agreement allowing the Missouri Department of Economic Development to work with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade to sell Missouri goods during the next three years.

Nixon is currently leading a delegation of more than 60 Missouri business and agriculture leaders in an effort to sign a series of export agreements with the country. The trip began Oct. 21 and is scheduled to end Oct. 29.

The agreement, which puts an emphasis on agricultural exports to Chinese customers, increases Missouri's annual exports to China by more than $1 billion from 2012-14. The state currently exports $987.4 million annually to the country, according to a news release.

“Missouri farmers, growers and producers feed, fuel and clothe the world,” Nixon said in the release. “This agreement recognizes the important role Missouri agriculture plays in our export growth, and it will open new doors for Missouri’s agricultural businesses to sell their goods to China.”

Several Missouri agriculture businesses and groups have sent representatives with the delegation, including the Missouri Corn Growers Association, the Missouri Soybean Association, the Missouri Beef Industry Council, the Missouri Pork Association, Riceland Foods, Forrest Keeling Nursery and Hammons Products Co.[[In-content Ad]]