Cox: Trade missions aim to bring back jobs and tax revenue

Gov. Spencer Cox returned to Utah on Thursday after a trade mission to Ireland and Northern Ireland, where he sought to link local medical technology firms with European counterparts. The trip, organized by World Trade Center Utah and the Governor's Office of Economic Development, included meetings with business leaders, lawmakers, and economic development teams in Dublin and Belfast.

Cox addressed questions about the value of such trips for residents who do not attend. He stated that businesses covering the majority of travel costs allows the state to limit public spending. Cox argued that successful international connections lead to higher-paying jobs and increased tax revenue for schools and other public services.

"We're very careful not to spend a lot of public dollars on these trips," Cox said. He pointed to Ireland's economic growth over the past 30 years as an example of how investment in education and policy can drive success.

Jonathan Freedman, director of World Trade Center Utah, said the mission has two primary goals: expanding Utah exports and attracting foreign investment. He noted that the presence of the governor and state legislators changes the level of access for small business owners who might otherwise struggle to enter new markets.

"They open doors to markets that are often closed to small business owners," Freedman said. He co-founded Downeast, a clothing and furniture retail chain, before selling the company in 2020.

Freedman emphasized that Utah's economy relies on small and medium-sized businesses rather than large corporations. He said this structure allows companies to pivot quickly in response to changes like tariffs. "We want to export our goods and services, not our children," he said.

Cox explained that data, rather than political preference, determines the destination of each trip. World Trade Center Utah and the Governor's Office of Economic Development propose three or four countries annually based on existing business connections. He contrasted this approach with other governors who select destinations before assembling a delegation.

In Northern Ireland, the group met with Alastair James, head of market access at Invest NI. James told the delegation that the region offers unique access to both the European Union and the United Kingdom markets. The group also met with Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly Edwin Poots and former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.

First Lady Abby Cox attended meetings in Dublin and Belfast. She discussed social media with current Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin and with Ahern. Cox said she doubted the Good Friday Agreement would have been reached in today's social media environment because of the incentives to avoid peace.

Cox noted that the trip occurred while Europe faced violent protests in France, Italy, and Spain, as well as a protracted war in Ukraine. He said the United States is also undergoing economic restructuring to reduce dependence on global supply chains. "One of the reasons we have such a high standard of living in the United States is because of free trade," Cox said.