Gregoire returns to China for trade mission

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire hopes to drum up business for Northwest companies in China. She leaves Monday on a trade mission. It's her second trip to the country since last year.

Monday, Washington's Lt. Governor Brad Owen leaves on his own trade mission to Spain. His office reports his trip is not taxpayer funded.]

Gregoire is leading the National Governors Association trade mission. She will be joined by the governors of North Carolina, Georgia, Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. They plan to meet with former Washington governor Gary Locke, now Ambassador to China.

Andrew Cassey is an assistant professor of economics at Washington State University. He's studies trade missions and says it's smart for Gregoire to return to a place she's been before.

"I think of it as imagine you're a traveling salesperson, how do you spend your time? Do you cold call or do you go back to the customers you already have and try to get them to buy even more," Cassey says.

Cassey says the goal of a trade mission is to reduce trade barriers, especially for small and medium-sized companies.

After China, Gregoire will make a separate trip to Japan where she will conduct trade business and meet with survivors of the recent earthquake and tsunami there.

The China portion of Gregoire's trip will be paid for by the National Governor's Association.

Also Monday, Washington's Lt. Governor Brad Owen leaves on his own trade mission to Spain. His office reports his trip is not taxpayer funded.

On the Web:

Gov. Gregoire's trade mission:

http://governor.wa.gov/news/news-view.asp?pressRelease=1785&newsType=1

National Governors' Association press release:

http://www.nga.org/cms/home/news-room/news-releases/page_2011/col2-content/main-content-list/delegation-of-us-governors-head.html;jsessionid=B43E2868D5BA475676706FD9E8DEDBD6

Lt. Governor Owen's Spain trip:

http://www.ltgov.wa.gov/PressCoverage/newsreleases/2011/MissiontoSpain10142011.htm

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