On Wednesday, April 13th, our group met with Ambassador
Baucus and 250 business leaders from 29 American Chambers from Southeast Asia
and the Pacific Rim.
What was originally scheduled as a 30-minute meeting with Ambassador Baucus followed by a briefing from senior Embassy staff extended to a two hour session as the Flathead delegation and the Ambassador clearly were enjoying each other's company and the exchange.
Topics discussed by Baucus on American-Chinese relations included trade, tourism, technology, security, business trends and much more. In a response to a question how he would advise young people today, he said we as Americans need to be engaged with the world and that if we do not, it is at our own peril.
I asked him about the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade bill pending before Congress right now because of its importance to our members in the ag and technology industries. He said this trade agreement is critically important to our country. If we do not pass it, we cede trade leadership to our competitors.
Several from our group were able to make connections with business men and women active in the region in the social that followed. A nice contact for me to make was with United Airlines marketing director for the Far East. Chinese travelers are branching out to markets like Montana and represent new market potential for our state.
Our time at the Embassy was truly a special experience for our group to understand the issues, opportunities, and personal stories of our diplomats and business leaders that are on the front lines of working with one of the world's largest economies and trading partners.
Joe Unterreiner, President and CEO
Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and CVB
What was originally scheduled as a 30-minute meeting with Ambassador Baucus followed by a briefing from senior Embassy staff extended to a two hour session as the Flathead delegation and the Ambassador clearly were enjoying each other's company and the exchange.
Topics discussed by Baucus on American-Chinese relations included trade, tourism, technology, security, business trends and much more. In a response to a question how he would advise young people today, he said we as Americans need to be engaged with the world and that if we do not, it is at our own peril.
I asked him about the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade bill pending before Congress right now because of its importance to our members in the ag and technology industries. He said this trade agreement is critically important to our country. If we do not pass it, we cede trade leadership to our competitors.
Several from our group were able to make connections with business men and women active in the region in the social that followed. A nice contact for me to make was with United Airlines marketing director for the Far East. Chinese travelers are branching out to markets like Montana and represent new market potential for our state.
Our time at the Embassy was truly a special experience for our group to understand the issues, opportunities, and personal stories of our diplomats and business leaders that are on the front lines of working with one of the world's largest economies and trading partners.
Joe Unterreiner, President and CEO
Kalispell Chamber of Commerce and CVB
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