A governor's perspective on the trade - Wisconsin governor Tommy G. Thompson

Business America, May 6, 1991 by Tommy G. Thomposn

Infrastructure. Another essential aspect of responding to changes in the economy is ensuring a safe and efficient infrastructure. This includes transportation, such as highways, bridges, ports, and airports, as well as other types of infrastructure, such as water supply, wastewater treatment, and telecommunications. A nation's economic performance is tied to the quality of its infrastructure facilities and services.

Providing and maintaining infrastructure is a key function of state governments. It is an expensive undertaking. Our infrastructure facilities are getting older, requiring greater attention to maintenance and rehabilitation. At the same time, rapid economic growth and changes in demographics and business practices have placed greater or at least different demands on many of these aging systems.

Governors often must grapple with funding difficulties while at the same time recognizing the importance of investing in the foundations of the future. Governors recognize they must work collectively and individually to forge new partnerships that will help meet the nation's future infrastructure needs.

Encouraging Innovation. Leadership in the global economy now is associated with the ability to translate the latest advances in research into products for consumer markets. State programs that promote research and commercial development of new technologies are aimed at helping Americans cope with the demands of the future.

In recent years, states have taken a more aggressive role in promoting the commercialization of new technologies. Programs are aimed at stimulating research, introducing technology into businesses, improving management techniques, and determining overall state technology policy. Governors can use their leadership and policymaking abilities to help the United States become more successful in developing new products and manufacturing techniques, and capturing the potential of emerging technologies. Armed with these and other policy tools, governors can help businesses shape their trade strategies and be more effective competitors in an increasing global marketplace.

A World of Opportunities

America's trading relationships span the globe. More than 200 countries and territories traded with the United States in 1988. Individually and collectively through the National Governors' Association, governors are pursuing a range of activities that reflects this rich diversity of relationships. In the following "trip around the world," it is evident that, in the face of fast-paced, unprecedented change, states are strengthening existing ties, forging new partnerships with reforming economies, and playing an important part in multilateral trade negotiations.

Canada. The United States recently embarked on a major new relationship with its closest neighbor and largest single trading partner. The U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement phases out tariffs and many other trade barriers over the next ten years, and it surely will serve as a model for future bilateral and multilateral negotiations.