California's trade mission

California's trade mission

LOS ANGELES (AFP): California Governor Pete Wilson departs next week on a three-week, seven-country trade mission to Southeast Asia to expand its market for the United States' biggest exporting state.

Wilson will stop in Hong Kong, Jakarta, Singapore, Bangkok, Manila, Taipei and Beijing between January 11-31 in the hopes of boosting the state's exports to the region.

Japan is the biggest consumer of California's exports that totaled US$77.5 billion and demand continues to grow primarily in the industrial machinery, electronics and precision instruments sectors.

But slowing domestic production in Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, China and Indonesia has decreased demand for California goods, a trend Wilson said he wants to reverse.