More than 40,000 jobs in Nebraska are tied to exports.
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman visited Omaha on Wednesday to learn more about Nebraska’s agricultural exports and trade opportunities. $4.3 billion of Nebraska’s exports last year were tied to free trade agreements with 20 countries, according to the International Trade Administration.
Froman says the U.S. is currently negotiating agreements with 11 countries. He says every billion dollars in exports equates to 5,000 to 7,000 jobs.
“So by opening these markets, tearing down these barriers abroad, we’re increasing exports, we’re supporting more jobs in Nebraska, and those are good jobs, that pay more on average than other jobs. Whether it’s corn and soybeans that face these obstacles, machinery, chemicals, computer products, all of which are exported from Nebraska, all of these face serious obstacles abroad.”
Froman says there will be increased demand for Nebraska products over the next 15 years as Asia’s middle class grows to 3.2 billion people.
“The first thing people will tell you that middle class consumers want is more protein in their diets. They want beef, they want pork, they want better nutrition, higher quality food products, our soybeans, our corn. And those are all great made in America, grown in America products that have a good reputation around the world. And those consumers really want that.”
Nebraska businesses exported nearly $8 billion worth of goods last year. The state’s top five export markets are Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, and Korea.