Our Partners
Trade Builds Virginia is working to highlight the importance of trade to Virginia by bringing together state business and community leaders across industries to build an enduring network of trade leaders.
Working together, these trade leaders will help educate other federal, state and local lawmakers about how trade impacts Virginia consumers, manufacturers, businesses and taxpayers.
TO BUILD STRONG PARTNERSHIPS
We want to build a sustainable network of long-term allies on trade who can speak out when beneficial trade policies are threatened and mobilize to support new trade opportunities on the horizon.
TO EDUCATE DECISION-MAKERS
By working together, across industries and communities throughout Virginia, we can better educate Virginia lawmakers about trade’s impact on job creation, supply chains, emerging industries and business growth.
TO ENSURE TRADE IS PART OF OUR RECOVERY
We know that at a time of economic insecurity trade can often be an easy scapegoat. However, ensuring Virginia small businesses, farmers and manufacturers have access to global markets and consumers will be a key component of our state’s economic recovery.
TO TELL PERSONAL STORIES
We want to help provide a platform for our partners to amplify a pro-trade message across the state in the media, online and at events. We know that when businesses give first-hand accounts of how trade supports their employees and businesses it resonates with state leaders.
Overall Annual Exports: $18.4 billion
Trade Dependent Jobs: Over 963,000
Largest Export Market: Canada
Manufacturing Exports: $15.2 billion
Businesses that Export: 7,250
Agricultural Exports: $1 billion
Small Businesses
Over 6,100 Virginia small businesses export to help expand their customer base and increase overall sales and profits. Jobs supported by goods exports pay up to an estimated 18 percent higher wages.
Agriculture
From soybeans to fruits to poultry, the ag products Virginia farmers produce are sold around the world. Virginia’s farmers and state businesses depend on open, predictable markets across the globe for thier exports.
Manufacturing
Trade provides Virginia consumers with lower prices and more choices. Average consumers gain an estimated 29 percent of their purchasing power from trade.
Consumers
Workers in manufacturing companies that produce exports earn wages 12 to 18 percent higher. Virginia’s manufacturing exporters depend on trade to continue the tremendous growth this sector has seen.
“International trade is a powerful economic engine for our Commonwealth. Maintaining Virginia’s position as the best state to do business and ensuring that all regions of the Commonwealth can participate in our economic growth requires that we boost our international trade." – Virginia Governor Ralph Northam
IT’S FREE
Americans for Prosperity and Trade Builds America are committed to providing the resources to grow support for trade throughout Virginia. We know that the most effective way to do that is by building partnerships with respected business and community leaders. Our goal is to allow partners to easily plug in to campaign activities that they can lend their brand to without needing to expend their own financial resources.
IT’S OPEN SOURCE
We want this to be an open source campaign. As such, it will give your organization a chance to help guide our shared activities and will allow you to use the events and content we generate together to fuel your own trade activities.
IT’S TIMELY
As small businesses, farmers and manufacturers struggle to get back on their feet, its essential that we remind them and all Virginians that trade is a essential to rebuilding the state’s economy.
