Trade became a 2016 campaign catchall for what ails America. President Trump, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders all took their shots.
And yet because about 95 percent of consumers live outside the U.S., trade is more important than ever. That's especially true in Minnesota, with its export-oriented agricultural, manufacturing and service sectors.
In 2015 (the latest full year of data available), Minnesota companies shipped $20 billion worth of goods to 203 nations, according to the state Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Those exports supported more than 304,000 jobs in Minnesota, according to data supplied by the Minnesota Business Partnership, which estimates that export-related jobs pay 10 percent to 18 percent more than nonexport jobs, helping individuals and institutions that contribute to Minnesota's vaunted quality of life.
"Trade is critical to Minnesota's economy and our ability to grow jobs here, so it's critical to our infrastructure, our education, and everything that benefits from a strong economy," Charlie Weaver, executive director of the Minnesota Business Partnership, told an editorial writer.
Mirroring national trends, Minnesota exports fell 7 percent in 2015 and also dropped in the first three quarters of 2016. DEED suggests that among other factors in the complex trade environment, the decline is partly due to the strength of the U.S. dollar and slowing growth in China.
It's critical that Trump not add to those headwinds by slapping punitive tariffs on U.S. imports.
"It's a no-win proposition to start trade wars, especially with our largest trading partners," Weaver said. That includes Mexico, much maligned by then-candidate Trump. It was Minnesota's second-largest export market in 2015, growing 6 percent to account for more than $2.3 billion in exports.
Minnesota's congressional delegation should unite on trade issues. Yes, trade pacts need more robust enforcement. But the anti-trade tirades that doomed passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and have stalled any progress on the U.S.-E.U. Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) are counterproductive to state exporters.
U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., who has been a consistent champion of expanding trade opportunities, made a good case for vital state support of trade when he told an editorial writer: "The bottom line is for the economy continuing to grow, we can't simply just buy American products. We've also got to be selling American in growing markets. We can't just walk away from the table from the [T-TIP] negotiations if we want to improve Minnesota's economy — we have to have a role in how these agreements are crafted."
Paulsen's congressional colleagues should heed those words.
