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On Friday September 6th, 2019, the World Trade Center – Kansas City (WTC-KC) held a roundtable discussion on the importance of the United States Congress ratifying the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The participants included Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver, MO-5th District, Missouri Governor Mike Parson, Missouri farmers and executives of some of the largest businesses in the region (KC Southern, Hallmark, Garmin, Black & Veatch, Burns & McDonnell and Boulevard Brewing).

The day started with KC Southern hosting the legislators and farmers on a grain tour of western Missouri on their Southern Belle train. They used this grain train to highlight the importance of trade for one of the largest sectors in the Kansas City regional economy, agriculture. Missouri agriculture products exported to Canada and Mexico amounted to $452 million in 2017 and USMCA offers greater market access for key Missouri agriculture sectors. The farmers made it apparent to all aboard that tariffs hinder their livelihood.

The attendees deboarded at Union Station for the roundtable on USMCA. The CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and World Trade Center – Kansas City, Joe Reardon, welcomed the group and opened the conversation to discuss the impact of tariffs and importance of a trade agreement in North America. Reardon reiterated the KC Chamber and WTC-KC’s position against tariffs on behalf of the regional business community they represent.

Engineering firms Black & Veatch and Burns & McDonnell do not export products, but they do export and import services and people. They depend on NAFTA and now USMCA for work visas and the easy movement of people across the Canadian border. Garmin shared the need for an end to tariffs for the overall health of the US economy. Hallmark noted the impact for US consumers that would hurt everyone—they import materials from China and export their final product all over the world. All the businesses unequivocally advocated for the ratification of the USMCA agreement.

Both legislators listened to the feedback and shared their support of fair free trade without barriers. Congressman Cleaver informed the group that he was on a conference call with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who unambiguously acknowledged the importance of USMCA and is working to address concerns about the protection of American workers and the environment in the deal. The roundtable was open to media and successfully conveyed the importance of North American free trade to the greater Kansas City region.

2019

  • WTC-Kansas City Hosts USMCA Roundtable - On Friday September 6th, 2019, the World Trade Center – Kansas City (WTC-KC) held a roundtable discussion on the importance of the United States Congress ratifying the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The participants included Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver, MO-5th... more

2018

  • Trade 101: Getting Started in Exporting - On November 8th, 2018, the World Trade Center-Kansas City, hosted the first course of its Trade 101 Educational Series. The purpose of this session was to introduce businesses new to exporting to the many resources in the Greater Kansas City Region. The two outstanding instru... more

  • The Icelandic Ambassador Visits Kansas City - The World Trade Center - Kansas City welcomed and hosted the Icelandic Ambassador to the United States Geir H. Haarde and his wife Mrs. Inga Jona Thordardottir. The Ambassador was invited to celebrate the Icelandair inaugural flights between Kansas City and Reykjavik. The dire... more

  • Kansas City Doing Business in the Ukraine - On July 27, the World Trade Center—Kansas City, in partnership with Global Ties KC, hosted a visiting delegation of Parliamentarians from Ukraine for a business roundtable. The delegation was comprised of Parliamentarians Nataliia Vasylivna Veselova, Iryna Mykolaivna Suslova, ... more

  • Trade in the Time of NAFTA, Tariffs and Tweets - On June 6th, 2018, the World Trade Center – Kansas City held its 3rd Annual Luncheon promoting Kansas City’s vibrant international trade economy. In 2015, the first Go Global Luncheon launched the Kansas City Export Plan led by the World Trade Center. It was a plan developed... more

  • Doing Business in the Czech Republic and Slovakia - On May 16th, the World Trade Center – Kansas City with the International Relations Council and the Czech & Slovak Club of Kansas City, hosted the Ambassador of the Czech Republic Hynek KmonĂ­ÄŤek and the Consul General of Slovakia Ladislava Begeç for a celebration of the Pit... more

  • Doing Business in South Africa - The World Trade Center – Kansas City continued their Doing Business In series by hosting Consul General Phumzile Mazibuko for Doing Business in South Africa. On Thursday May 17, 2018, the WTC -KC held a business roundtable with Ms. Mazibuko and local business executives, acade... more

  • Discover Global Markets – Kansas City - The World Trade Center – Kansas City sponsored and participated in Discover Global Markets: Design + Construct, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s flagship event series for U.S. exporters. From April 30th to May 2nd, the WTC – KC met with visiting U.S. Commercial Diplomats, for... more

  • Doing Business in Colombia - Doing Business in Colombia, with The Colombia Ambassador to the U.S. His Excellency Camilo Reyes The World Trade Center - Kansas City, in partnership with The Business Council for International Understanding, ProColombia and Black & Veatch, hosted the Colombian Ambassador... more

  • WTC-KC & Husch Blackwell host Tariff Roundtable - “Recent Developments in Tariffs and Trade Remedies” It is a turbulent time for international trade in the United States and businesses are navigating how the NAFTA negotiations and the steel and aluminum tariffs will affect them. It is confusing for companies to understand th... more