Press Release

Commerce Secretary Gutierrez Discusses Benefits of Trade with Minnesota Business Leaders

MINNEAPOLIS—U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez visited Minneapolis-St. Paul today to discuss how trade is supporting economic growth and job creation in Minnesota and throughout the U.S. Gutierrez attended a roundtable of Minnesota’s businesses hosted by Cargill to illustrate how trade is benefiting Minnesota’s exporters and the local job market.

“Global companies like Cargill and their employees are seeing the positive results of trade and the contributions they make to the health of the U.S. economy,” said Gutierrez. “In 2006, Minnesota companies exported 23 percent more than they did in 2005 to the eleven countries where the Bush Administration has put free trade agreements in place. Trade exports are growing the Minnesota economy and they are supporting Minnesota’s workers and farmers whose jobs depend on exports.”

Gutierrez was hosted by Cargill President and Chief Operating Officer Gregory R. Page, who discussed his company’s success and the company’s growing payroll as a result of trade.

Other participants in the roundtable included: Thomas Tiller, Chief Executive Officer, Polaris Industries, Inc.; William M. Cook, Chairman, President & CEO, Donaldson Company, Inc.; Stephen W. Sanger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, General Mills, Inc.; Dennis Leisz, President & Chief Executive Officer, Wavecrest; and Rick Udicious, Vice President and General Manager, Lockheed Martin MS2 Tactical Systems.

Gutierrez also responded to questions from Cargill employees and discussed with them President Bush’s trade and economic agenda. Gutierrez emphasized that the president’s pro-growth policies are helping to strengthen the economy through lower taxes, new efforts to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy and a commitment to prepare students to compete in the global economy.

“President Bush is dedicated to removing foreign trade barriers because it will help boost exports and create higher paying jobs, give consumers greater choice and lower prices, and improve our standard of living,” said Gutierrez. “As Congress prepares to debate the merits of free trade we need to remind them that free trade delivers direct benefits to many American businesses, their employees and consumers. The best thing we can do to help U.S. exporters is to renew the President’s trade promotion authority.”

In 2005, agriculture exports supported about 38,860 jobs in Minnesota on farms, in food processing, storage and transportation.