Iowa State University
12-29-95

Contacts:
Carol Bradley, Governmental Relations, (515) 294-1385
Gary Steinke, Governmental Relations, (515) 294-1385
Steve Jones, News Service, (515) 294-4778

NAFTA SUMMIT TO EXPLORE NORTH AMERICAN TRADE OPPORTUNITIES

AMES, Iowa -- A conference exploring strategies for Iowa and other Midwest states to expand export and trade opportunities with Canada and Mexico will be held at Iowa State University's Memorial Union, Jan. 4-5.

The NAFTA Summit will include leading North American Free Trade Agreement officials from the United States, Canada and Mexico. Iowa business executives, state legislators and other elected officials, labor leaders and ISU faculty also will take part in the meeting.

Featured speakers include Tom Cox, director, and Laura Kunkel, deputy director, Trade Information Center of the U.S. Department of Commerce; Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley; Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad; and Chuck Gifford, retired legislative director, United Auto Workers.

Canadian and Mexican NAFTA officials speaking include Luis de la Calle, NAFTA program director for the Mexican embassy in Washington, D.C.; Brian Morrissey, minister counselor for trade and policy relations, Embassy of Canada, Washington, D.C.; and Bob Lee, consul and senior trade commissioner of Canada.

"The summit has an impressive list of speakers and panelists, including some very high-ranking NAFTA officials from the United States, Canada and Mexico," said Carol Bradley, director of governmental relations for ISU. "They will provide invaluable information for Iowa businesses and state government officials regarding trade with Mexico and Canada."

Bradley said Cox and Kunkel, of the Trade Information Center, will be available the entire summit to counsel Iowa business executives who wish to expand or begin trade with Canada and Mexico.

"This service will benefit both large and small businesses that just want more information or are actually ready to do business with Mexican and Canadian companies," Bradley said.

Friday's (Jan. 5) schedule includes three 90-minute panels focusing on manufacturing, transportation and agriculture and agribusiness. A session featuring members of the Iowa Legislature will conclude the summit.

The Iowa Legislature directed funds to ISU to conduct the summit.

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North American Free Trade Agreement Summit
Agenda
January 4-5, 1996
Iowa State University Memorial Union

Thursday, Jan. 4

1 p.m. Welcome -- ISU President Martin Jischke

The Practical Application of NAFTA, Helping Iowa Businesses Compete for Trade
Tom Cox, director, Trade Information Center, U.S. Department of Commerce; and Laura Kunkel, deputy director, Trade Information Center, U.S. Department of Commerce

2:15 p.m. The Nature of Business in Canada and Mexico after NAFTA
Luis de la Calle, NAFTA program director, Embassy of Mexico
Brian Morrissey, minister counselor for trade and policy relations, Embassy of Canada
Bob Lee, consul and senior trade commissioner, Canadian Consulate General
Chuck Gifford, retired legislative director, United Auto Workers
Patrick James, professor and chair, ISU Department of Political Science

5 p.m. Governor's Welcome
Terry E. Branstad, Governor of Iowa
Charles Grassley, U.S. Senator from Iowa
Leonard Boswell, President of the Iowa Senate
Brent Siegrist, Iowa House Majority Leader

Friday, Jan. 5

8:30 a.m. Manufacturing Panel
Jim Melsa, chair; dean, College of Engineering, ISU
Janice Simons, manager, Export Support
Viking Pump Inc., Cedar Falls
Patrick Gilchrist, director of business development, Sauer Sundstrand, Ames
Tom Glen, South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL- CIO
Labor Institute for Workforce, Des Moines

10:30 a.m. Corridors Panel
Benjamin Allen, chair; dean, College of Business, ISU
Glenn Brown, president,Contract Freighters Inc., Joplin, Mo.
Raleigh Sheffield, general manager-Mexico projects, Union Pacific Railroad, Omaha, Neb.

Noon Lunch Speaker
Bill Trent, board chairman, Iowa Department of Economic Development

1:30 p.m. Agriculture and Agribusiness Panel
David Topel, chair; dean, College of Agriculture, ISU
Jim Mullins, Prairie Flat Farms, Corwith
Leroy J. Hanson, president, Triple F Inc., Des Moines

3 p.m. Summit Wrap-up -- Iowa Legislative Perspective Panel
Co-chair Representative Phil Wise, Iowa House of Representatives
Co-chair Senator Darryl McLaren, Iowa Senate
Other members of the Iowa General Assembly