Beijing, China – U.S. Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr., MD (R-Southwest Louisiana), co-chair of the U.S.–China Working Group, today praised the news of Louisiana’s record fourth-quarter exports in 2010 of $13.9 billion.  The state’s total annual exports expanded to $41.3 billion, up from $32.6 billion in 2009.

“Louisiana leads the way in exports around the globe, boosting our economy and our workforce at home,” Boustany said. “Trade with other nations expands markets for our goods and agriculture produced in south Louisiana and strengthens American competitiveness.”

The announcement coincides with Congressman Boustany leading a bipartisan group of Congressmen to China for high-level meetings with government officials on strengthening the relationship between the two nations.  As the leading voice for economic growth in Coastal Louisiana, Boustany believes the meetings will increase interaction between the world’s two largest economies.

The World Trade Center in New Orleans, which released the recent numbers, noted China is Louisiana’s largest export market, with $6.5 billion in goods and services in 2010.  Louisiana also retained its ranking as the nation’s fourth largest exporter to China among the fifty states.

While in China, Boustany attended a breakfast in Beijing sponsored by AmCham-China and the US-China Business Council to discuss economic ties between the two countries.

“Our global economy requires constructive relationships,” Boustany said.  “I am confident our discussions this week will lead to stronger economic ties and commerce between Louisiana and China. We must continue these conversations with our counterparts in Asia, and I look forward to engaging them.”

Rep. Boustany has been a member of the working group since 2005 and has served as its Republican co-chair since 2010.  As subcommittee chair of Oversight on the House Ways and Means Committee, Boustany is pushing for pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea to further expand Louisiana’s influence on a global economic stage.