Why Trade? Why should Dow care about and fight for open markets? Why should we be promoting rules that help others access our market?

Dow’s business strategy calls for access to the 95% of world's consumers that live outside the borders of the United States. And having a "level playing field" in which to access those markets gives us an opportunity to compete - fairly. Our ability to compete is unparalleled - with the world's greatest workforce, highest rates of productivity and limitless capacity for innovation - we compete well, where we have access.

With trade policy comes rules and enforcement. Trade and investment agreements raise the standards in countries where we want to build plants, access cost-advantaged feedstock and establish local market presence. In many cases, Dow’s overseas investments become key customers for Dow US production. For example, our 2007 exports from the US have doubled from $300MM to over $660MM - most of which goes to Dow China facilities.

Trade gives us access to export our products and creates a rules-based system where we can be local investors in key strategic countries - all aligned to our business strategy. Trade promotes jobs by creating markets, giving exports a place to get to, and opening up investment climate to create Dow's worldwide assets.

The information in these pages provides more background and details on the real trade story - thanks for taking a look at these materials, and if you have questions - please feel free to contact me.

Lisa Schroeter
Director, Global Trade Policy