VIDEO.AUDIO.PHOTOS: Montana Senator Baucus’ Colombia, Brazil Trade Mission

Montana’s Senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus reflected today on his week-long trade mission to Colombia and Brazil. Production-quality video and audio of Baucus’ comments are below. Photos from the trip are now available on Baucus’ Flickr page at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40531203@N08/sets/72157626058395277/.

Max and President of Colombia

· MP3 audio file: http://demradio.senate.gov/actualities/baucus/030211_BAUCUS.mp3

· MPEG2 video file: http://gp1d.senate.gov/sdmc/Baucus/030211_BAUCUS_PF.mpg

· Pathfire Feed: Slug: Baucus MT Colombia, Brazil Trade Mission

1. On the left side of the Pathfire/DMG main page, click on Video News Feed (Master VNF Locator).

2. From the expanded list, double-click on VNF Provider B.

3. Click the U.S. Senate tab.

4. Locate and click (MT1) MT, Baucus. The link to the video will be displayed in the pane on the right.

For further instructions, visit http://democrats.senate.gov/tv/pathfire/baucus.pdf.

If you have trouble accessing these files or need another format, please contact Jennifer Donohue at [email protected] or 202.224.2651.

On the success of the trip Baucus said:

"This was a really good trip, very well worth everyone’s time. About 15 Montana business men and women joined me in going to Brazil and Colombia to make connections, to sell Montana products: everything from platforms that repair airplanes to wheat and barley. We made a lot of connections. It was very, very positive. These are the people I work for. These are my advisors, and I took them to all the meetings I had so that the Colombian and Brazilian officials could see that I meant what I said in making these connections. When I talk to our folks, our 15, they all say, "man that was really helpful," because all this comes down to is jobs, jobs in Montana. We just need more good paying jobs in Montana, a boost in Montanans’ incomes, and the 15 who joined me are going to help make that happen."

On the urgent need to pass the Colombia FTA Baucus said:

"This really is a no brainer. Already today, we take Colombian goods into the United States. We don’t have tariffs or taxes on the Colombian goods coming into the United States. On the other hand, Colombia has very significant taxes and tariffs on our goods going into Colombia. So this agreement would eliminate all those tariffs and taxes on our goods that go into Colombia and that’s why I say this is a no brainer. I very much hope that we can get this agreement passed so that our Montana farmers and ranchers and other people across our country can sell products into Colombia without paying an extra tax, an extra tariff. I’ve got to also remind all of us that if we don’t, other countries will take advantage of our failure. Canada already is increasing its sale of wheat into Colombia at our expense, as are other countries at our expense."

Last week Baucus brought 15 Montana farmers and businesspeople on a trade mission http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=372 to Colombia to highlight the urgency of ratifying the agreement.

Last week Baucus brought 15 Montana farmers and businesspeople on a trade mission to Colombia and Brazil to highlight the urgent need for the Colombia FTA and promote Montana jobs by selling more Montana products overseas. More information on the Colombia FTA, the Montana participants and highlights from the trip are available on Baucus’ website here:

· February 28, 2011 – Baucus Meets with Colombian President to Wrap Up Trade Mission http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=372

· February 25, 2011- Baucus Continues Pushing Colombia Trade Agreement, Promoting Montana Jobs on Trade Mission http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=370

· February 24, 2011- Baucus, Montana Farmers, Business Owners Promote Montana Jobs in Meetings with Top Colombian Trade, Ag Officials http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=368

· February 22, 2011- Baucus, Montana Farmers, Business Owners Meet with Brazil’s Top Ag, Trade Officials to Promote Montana Exports http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=363

· February 18, 2011- Baucus Presses Ag Secretary on Urgent Need for Trade Agreements that Protect, Promote Montana Jobs http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=361

· February 17, 2011- Baucus Announces 15 Montanans Joining Him on Colombia, Brazil Trade Mission to Promote Montana Jobs http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=356

· January 24, 2011- Baucus to Lead Montana Farmers, Businesses on Colombia, Brazil Trade Mission as Part Of Jobs Agenda http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=300