Senator Hatch Touts Utah’s Record on International Business
Salt Lake City, Utah
August 30th, 2011
The World Trade Association of Utah and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development hosted a meeting with speaker Senator Orrin Hatch on Tuesday, August 30th. At the meeting, Senator Hatch expressed his gratitude for the mission of the WTA and GOED, stating that “International trade is a key pillar to our past and present economic success.”
Gary Harter, Managing Director for Business Creation at GOED, introduced Senator Hatch by talking about Hatch’s stellar six terms in the Senate and his current position as the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Finance. Trade issues go straight through the Finance Committee, and Senator Hatch began his speech by touting three pending free trade agreements with Columbia, Panama, and South Korea. Under NAFTA, Utah’s exports to Mexico increased 154%, and because of a free trade agreement with Peru, Utah trade has more than doubled. Hatch cited these examples to draw support for the pending FTAs, stating that “these exports mean jobs…lower tariffs mean more exports, and more exports mean more jobs.”
Hatch said “Utah is one of the most dynamic states in the union – yes, we’re small, but we’re important – and it’s entrepreneurs and job creators like you that make it that way.” He asked for input from business leaders on important legislation. “Utah is the only state in the country to double exports in the last five years,” Hatch stated. “Thank you for your steadfast commitment to making these things work.”