Episode description

In the latest edition of “Talking Trade,” Wisconsin District Export Council Acting Chair Chris Wojtowicz discusses the latest developments in the global export landscape and how it connects to the state.  

Wojtowicz, who’s also an international trade consultant with the Small Business Development Center, said he’s seeing “a lot of continued opportunity and growth” in the ports of Superior and Duluth. 

“Around the state, we’re seeing really cool opportunities in foreign direct investment,” he said. “That’s something that we really don’t talk about quite a bit, but you know, between Japan, China’s still investing of course, Mexico’s investing, Italy — it’s just been really kind of neat.” 

The discussion also touches on companies looking at alternatives to China for diversifying their supply chains, as well as some recent disruptions that have underlined the fragility of these networks. That includes the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, caused by a collision with a large container ship. 

The DEC recently re-launched its website with a new events page, Wojtowicz said, aimed at capturing all international trade-related events happening across the state.