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Missouri trade mission in Taiwan & South Korea

Missouri commodity and ag industry leaders are among those with Missouri Governor Jay Nixon on a trade trip this week in Taiwan and South Korea.  Governor Nixon says Taiwan is a big importer of Missouri corn and soybeans and South Korea is Missouri’s fourth largest trading partner overall.

“They are already a big market for us and we know that with the recent free trade agreements that have been inked nationally, these are opportunities for us to expand already good relationships.”  Nixon says these countries need our corn and soybeans, “When you drive across Missouri and you see the corn this summer and you see the beans we grow and when folks hear me say we feed, fuel and clothe the world, these are two very good examples of economies that rely on us here in the heartland to them the food.”

Also on this trip, Nixon says they are hopeful for expanding beef trade, “We have a number of very significant meetings on the beef side.”

Representatives from five Missouri universities are on the trip as well. Nixon says Missouri is getting more and more foreign students attending school here and that’s helping cement trade relations.

At last report, the governor’s office says Missouri has inked deals in Taiwan for that country to purchase $700 Million in Missouri goods over the next four years. The deal includes a $200 million agreement between the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Taiwan Feed Industry Association.

~Missourinet contributed to this report~