Issue Position: Trade

Issue Position

According to government statistics, Wyoming's export shipments of merchandise in 2009 totaled $926 million. Canada is Wyoming's largest export recipient. Canada, which received exports of $229 million (25 percent), was followed by Brazil ($80 million), Mexico ($74 million), Japan ($47 million), and Indonesia ($45 million).

The state's leading export category is chemical manufactures, which alone accounted for 75 percent ($695 million) of Wyoming's total merchandise exports in 2009. Other top manufactured exports that year were machinery manufactures ($82 million), oil and gas extraction ($39 million), mining ($35 million), and fabricated metal products ($16 million). Apart from directly exporting a wide range of manufactures, Wyoming is also an important exporter of minerals, such as coal and trona.

The ability for Wyoming's small businesses to export their products is critical for our state's economic stability. Fair trade agreements are vital to the success of these trade relationships, and are helpful in opening new markets to Wyoming products. However, each trade agreement must be evaluated on its individual merits, as not all agreements are created equal. I intend to base my support or opposition to each trade agreement upon its particular effects on Wyoming's citizens and industries.

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