SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 9

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Jacob Candelaria

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO CREATE A WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WAYS TO INCREASE TRADE BETWEEN NEW MEXICO AND LATIN AMERICA.

     WHEREAS, the trade industry supports approximately one out of every five jobs in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, as of 2009, approximately two hundred thirty-five thousand nine hundred jobs in New Mexico were supported by the trade industry, and over twenty-one percent of all jobs in the state were dependent on trade; and

     WHEREAS, trade and trade-related jobs are critical to New Mexico's economy; and

     WHEREAS, from 2008 through 2010, New Mexico imported between six hundred million dollars ($600,000,000) and six hundred fifty million dollars ($650,000,000) worth of goods from Mexico each year; and

     WHEREAS, in 2011, New Mexico's imports from Mexico drastically fell to just three hundred forty-seven million dollars ($347,000,000) worth of goods, and New Mexico now imports more goods from China than any other country; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's import activity is lower than all but three states; based on the value of goods that the state imported through October 2012, New Mexico ranked forty-seventh in the nation, with approximately one billion nine hundred million dollars ($1,900,000,000) worth of imported goods; and

     WHEREAS, in contrast to New Mexico's declining imports from Mexico, the state's export of goods to Mexico has steadily increased during the past four years, and Mexico is now the primary export destination for goods leaving New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, even with increasing exports to Mexico, the state ranks lower than all but five states in exporting; based on the value of goods that the state exported through October 2012, New Mexico ranked forty-fifth in the nation, with approximately two billion five hundred million dollars ($2,500,000,000) worth of exported goods; and

     WHEREAS, overall, the trade industry in the United States has steadily grown during the last decade, primarily due to an increase in free trade agreements and trade liberalization, and New Mexico's economy would benefit by following this trend; and

     WHEREAS, improving New Mexico's trade activity in general and, specifically, its trade with Mexico and other Latin American countries would significantly benefit the state;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council establish a working group to develop and make recommendations on ways to increase trade between New Mexico and Latin America; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative council invite representatives from the governor's office of policy and planning, the economic development department, the university of New Mexico and New Mexico state university to serve as members of the working group; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative council name to the working group additional members whose expertise could contribute to the success of the working group's mission, as it deems necessary; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group provide a report of its recommendations to the appropriate legislative interim committees by October 2013; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council, the secretary of economic development, the president of the university of New Mexico and the president of New Mexico state university.

- 3 -