Statement of the Hon. Jesse Ventura, Governor, State of Minnesota

Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Trade
of the House Committee on Ways and Means

Field Hearing in Bloomington, Minnesota, on the
Benefits of Trade to the Medical Technology and Agriculture Sectors

May 14, 2001

Let me first welcome you, Chairman Crane and other members of the trade subcommittee, to the great state of Minnesota.

If you get a chance, may I suggest you take an extra day and visit one of our beautiful lakes, or take a stroll through the Mall of America or see a Twin's Game.

I think you'll find that Minnesota is truly the greatest state in the nation.

But we are much more than a great place to visit. We're also home to leading agriculture and medical manufacturing companies that feed people and save lives throughout the world.

I'm glad to see that you've brought before you today some of these industry leaders. They are competing on the world stage while building a better Minnesota here at home.

And they still have time to keep an eye on what you're up to in Washington, especially when it comes to trade.

A critical portion of my Big Plan for Minnesota is about keeping Minnesota a competitor on the world stage. I want Minnesotans to set higher goals and expect more.

We cannot settle for being the best in the Midwest or the best in the country. We must strive to lead the world by increasing exports, creating better jobs, and building a stronger and more diverse Minnesota economy.

Last year, we set a record. For the first time, Minnesota manufactured exports surged to over $10 billion and our State's export rate grew by 11.2 percent.

In case you didn't notice, we have arrived.

But we're not stopping there.

I'd like to highlight some of the important trade issues facing these industries, and the work left to be done, but first, let me share some of my newfound Eastern Philosophy.

Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting the Dalai Lama. I was impressed by his peaceful charisma and statesmanship. To my surprise, the Dalai Lama and I bonded. After all,:

• We both share a hairline with Buddah.

• He's written 56 books, I'm getting there.

• And, although he's not a golfer, I did interest him in renting the movie Caddyshack. After all, he does play a major role in the movie, and he's never seen it.

Above all, the Dalai Lama and I share a similar view on engaging the world in order to spread free markets and free ideals.

The Dalai Lama preaches "common responsibility" when it comes to world relationships. He believes that we cannot close our doors to those around us, but we must embrace differences throughout the world and spread democracy and human kindness through forming relationships.

He believes that we must develop relationships with the Chinese people and the Chinese government so that our democratic ideals and free trade ideals spread like wildfire.

If we don't, we will not change minds. We will not open markets. We will not move forward.

I took this encouragement very seriously and I vow to spread this message when I go to China on a Minnesota trade mission this fall.

I'm going to China because I strongly believe that we have an opportunity, especially in Minnesota, to grow markets in China, especially in the areas of agriculture and medical technology.

Last time we met, I was asking for your support for trade with China. Thankfully, the tripartisan effort to establish permanent normal trading relations with China was a success.

It goes to show you how good things can happen when partisanship is set aside and sound policy prevails. Thank you for your work on this issue.

But don't stop there.

Minnesota's medical technology and agriculture industries need you to continue to push for a "Free Trade Agreement of the Americas" and for what you are now calling "Trade Negotiating Authority."

As you will learn today, Minnesota is home to a thriving international medical technology industry.

We are a leader in medical manufacturing, with total production of more than $1 billion.

Our innovative medical establishment, enterprising research institutions, educated labor force and high-tech environment make Minnesota fertile ground for medical devices.

Overall, the industry in Minnesota employs over 20,000 people. Between 1988 and 1996, the industry added the largest number of new employees to the state - over 7,400 jobs.

We like these high-wage, high-skill jobs and I think that free trade makes this industry stronger and more productive.

But to keep this industry - and others -- thriving, we need Washington to implement more free trade agreements.

The sad fact is that while other countries forge ahead with new trade agreements, the United States is falling far behind.

According to a recent study from the Business Roundtable, there are 130 free trade agreements in force throughout the world. The United States is currently part of only 2 free trade agreements. That means our farmers and our manufacturers face discrimination through higher tariffs in hundreds of markets throughout the world.

Last year, our strong exports in the medical manufacturing sector were driven by exports to Japan, Germany, Ireland, Canada, and the Netherlands. Unfortunately, you don't see any Central or South American nations in the top five. It's time for a Free Trade Agreement of the Americas, so our manufacturers can improve access and increase exports to markets right here in our hemisphere.

Agriculture producers remain the backbone of Minnesota's economy. Our dairy farms, live animal production, and commodity farmers export hundreds of millions of dollars worth of food every year, making us the 7^th largest exporter of agricultural products in the United States. Minnesota's world class agricultural producers are responsible for 10% of our nation's exports of soybeans and 10 % of America's exports of feed grains.

Because of the innovative spirit of Minnesotans, because of our strong work ethic, and because our skilled workforce, we have done a pretty darn good job with agriculture exports. But let's face it, we can do better.

Of course, if we want more free trade agreements, the President needs sufficient negotiating authority. Thank you, by the way, for changing the term from Fast Track to "Trade Promotion Authority."

No matter what you call it, we need it.

Education is the key. The three most dangerous opponents of free trade are misinformation, misunderstanding, and ignorance. In a recent New York Times column talking about the protesters in Quebec City, Minnesota native Thomas Friedman put it best, when he said, 

"this anti-globalization movement is largely the well-intentioned but ill-informed -- being led around by the ill- intentioned and  well-informed…"

In order to pass Trade Promotion Authority, we need to first take this case to the American people and spread the word about the benefits of free trade.

Your presence here today is a good step in that direction.

I applaud you for taking your committee out of Washington. It's always good to get a fresh perspective.

For far too long, discussions about trade have only taken place in the committee rooms of Washington, the boardrooms of corporations and the classrooms of economics professors.

It's time to turn it up a notch and put the word on the streets.

Let's move the discussion out of the committee rooms and boardrooms and bring it to the break rooms and living rooms. Let's move the discussion beyond the hallowed halls of our universities and take it to the people who get up and go to work everyday.

I have been around the world and back to promote Minnesota products and workers and educate the citizens of my state about the jobs created through exports. I have been to Mexico and Japan, where I've seen firsthand that the products made in Minnesota save lives and feed people.

Mr. Chairman and Congressman Ramstad please take a message back to Washington from the people of Minnesota. We need Congress to approve Trade Promotion Authority for the President, and we need to participate in more trade agreements. We want more high-paying jobs. We need more pacemakers in Peru, Panama, Paragauy, Portugal, Poland and Pongo Pongo. We need more soybeans in Senegal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Singapore.

As the Dalai Lama told me, so I share with you. "Go into the world and make friends, and take your values with you. Let's engage. Let's move forward."

Thank you.