This week in New Orleans, at Louisiana Trade Week, business leaders from around the nation will come together to discuss the importance of trade to Louisiana and the United States. In fact, because of shipping exports from the Mississippi River, international commerce is responsible for one in every five jobs in our state.

While trade advocates are convening in New Orleans to champion the state’s culture of trade, our leaders in Washington are debating the future of trade policies that directly benefit Louisiana. These include multilateral agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement, a pact between the United States, Mexico and Canada, which is responsible for direct business growth in Louisiana. The leadership is also discussing the importance of Foreign Trade Zones — regions designated by our federal government as critical to supporting trade and the free flow of goods between nations.