Kimmie Candy President and CEO Joe Dutra recently wrote an article in the Reno Gazette Journal that has also been featured in The Spanish English Newspaper : La Voz Hispana En Nevada:
Maintaining Positive Relations with México Makes Good Economic Sense
Reno Gazette Journal, September 23, 2016
By Joe Dutra,
President & CEO of Kimmie Candy
Whether you are for or against Donald's Trump's recent visit to Mexico, the trip speaks volumes about just how significant Mexico truly is to the U.S. both as a close neighbor, and as a key trading partner.
I intimately understand how important a robust relationship with Mexico is to the steadily growing number of Mexican Immigrants into Nevada, whether as legal immigrants or otherwise, coupled with the alignment of values held by the populaces of each of our countries, suggest it is vital that we strengthen our relationship with Mexico on all levels.
I sell approximately half a million pounds of chocolate into Mexico each year. This accounts for roughly 10 percent of my company's annual sales; and is directly responsible for about four of the 36 people Kimmie Candy employs locally. Mexico was one of the first, and remains my company's largest trading parent. This sales volume, created through exporting, allows me to contribute not only to the local community, but to the overall economy, as well.
While I am proud of our ability to contribute, my small company is just a slice of a much larger pie. The close proximity of the state of Nevada to Mexico has bred extensive partnerships between the two entities, with bilateral trade, impressively, having accounted for $924 million in 2015! Mexico, in point of fact, ranks fourth as both Nevada's largest export and supply market; with Mexican goods accounting for five percent of Nevada's $476 million in imports during that same year. Just as importantly, are the jobs this trade generates within our state-as many as 55,000...and counting.
On a national level, Mexico ranks as the second largest, for U.S. goods, in the world. So, it is easy to see h ow bilateral trade benefits both of our countries! When Mexicans buy U.S.-produced goods and services, like mine, they help create jobs within the U.S.-economy. And in the long-term, as Mexico Continues to develop economically its demand for U.S. goods will mirror that growth.
Trade is not the only benefit that stems from maintaining close ties with our southern partner, as there is a large number of Mexican companies that actively invest in the U.S. These ventures also create jobs, thousands of them, within a wide range of sectors. Strong growing economies, on both of the border, backed by governments committed not only to healthy reform, but to a sincere, solid, mutually beneficial relationship, will insure this positive trend continues far into the future. It is obvious to me, that maintaining a good relationship with Mexico makes sound economic sense, on both the state and national levels. Trade with Mexico is not only a one-way street,. Both sides benefit with six million U.S. jobs dependent on Mexican trade. Our economies and businesses are intertwined. Growth within the Mexican economy matters for America, and vice-versa. Let's see what we can do to support this growth, rather than shutting it down!
