Rep. Tranel Member of Midwest Legislative Delegation Visiting Taiwan 

Next week, Rep. Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City) will travel with a Midwest delegation comprised of state legislators from Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, and Ohio to visit Taiwan.
 
Rep. Tranel was invited by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office out of Chicago to join the delegation because of his strong small business and agricultural background.  He operates a 120 cow dairy farm in Southwest Wisconsin.  Also, Rep. Tranel serves as a member of the Assembly Committee on Agriculture and co-chairs the Assembly Committee on State and Federal Relations. 
 
The group of Midwest legislators will be visiting Taiwan from October 19th – 26th.  They are scheduled to visit officials within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Mainland Affairs Council, the Bureau of National Health Insurance and the Taiwan High-Speed Rail Authority.  The delegation will have the opportunity to visit the Taiwanese Legislative Yuan.  Also, they will visit the World Trade Center in Taipei, the National Palace Museum, along with several agricultural industries and small businesses.  
 
“I am looking forward to having the opportunity to visit Taiwan and meet with officials from business, agriculture, and government,” said Tranel.  “This is a great opportunity to build bridges and learn about one of Wisconsin’s major trading partners.  It is truly humbling to have the opportunity to represent my constituents and fellow Wisconsinites on this trip.”
 
Agricultural exports to Taiwan were significant in 2012, Wisconsin sold nearly $24 million worth of soybeans.  Wisconsin companies sold $192 million worth of products to Taiwan last year making them our 23rd largest export partner.  About every two years a group of Taiwanese buyers visit the Midwest to sign “Letters of Intent to Purchase” with corn and soybean producers, each visit results in orders of $4 to $5 billion.
 
Last month, Rep. Tranel had the opportunity to meet Ambassador Yen ChingChang the former Finance Minister and World Trade Organization Ambassador of Taiwan in Madison.  Rep. Tranel’s colleague, State Senator Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) will also be a member of the Legislative delegation.