Colorado-Mexico trade booming

Colorado exports to Mexico have grown an average of 13.8 percent a year in the 14 years since the North American Free Trade Agreement was enacted and totaled $949 million last year, said Eduardo Arnal, consul general of Mexico in Denver, Tuesday.
The state's exports to Mexico have grown more than four times as fast as exports send to the rest of the world since NAFTA's 1994 enactment, helping Mexico to move up from being Colorado's seventh-largest trading partner to the state's second-largest trading partner behind Canada during the 14-year period, Arnal said. He was the featured speaker during the Mayor's Seventh Annual International Lunch at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Colorado Springs.
Mexico last year bought more U.S. goods -- $140 billion -- than the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands and Belgium combined -- $136 billion, Arnal said. Total trade between the the two nation's totaled $347 billion, ranking Mexico third behind Canada and China among U.S. trade partners.
"Trade is a win-win relationship for both countries," Arnal said, creating economic growth on both sides of the border. He cited a Goldman-Sachs study that predicted that Mexico would be among the world's five largest economies in 2040 along with the United States, China, India and Brazil.

Two-day workshops planned on international trade

The Rocky Mountain World Trade Center Institute will conduct a pair of day-long workshops on "International Business Fundamentals" in late November at the offices of the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce. The sessions are designed for novice and experienced exporters who want to learn more about international shipments. The workshops cover everything from contract negotiations and export controls to credit considerations and letters of credit. The cost is $175 for the two-day workshop, with a discount available for members of the World Trade Center. The sessions will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 27 and 28 at the Colorado Springs Office of International Affairs, located at the Colorado Springs Chamber offices at 2 N. Cascade Ave., Suite 110, in downtown Colorado Springs. Advance reservations are required and may be made at www.wtcdenver.com/export_biz_fundamentals.html. More information: (719) 575-4314 or internationalaffairs@cscc.org.

Trade mission to Taiwan seeking companies

If you’ve always wanted to see Taiwan, here’s your chance. The Colorado International Trade Office, in partnership with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, is leading a trade mission to Tapei, Taiwan, in late June and is seeking participants. The deadline to register is May 11. For more information, contact Leslie Plomondon at leslie.plomondon@state.co.us or 1-303-892-3858.