The Global Impacts of Trade
Dow's position on trade not only affects our own US and global operations, but more than 2000 small and medium sized companies around the world.
In 2009, Dow supported American Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SMEs) with $616 million dollars in total input purchases as part of our global operations.
Ensuring access for American manufacturers to the 95 percent of world consumers living outside of the United States - representing nearly 80 percent of the global gross domestic product - is simply good for our economy. Consumers buy products and drive demand, which American manufacturers are well equipped to supply. Trade policy facilitates market access by establishing a level playing field, ensuring that trade partners are committed to the multilateral rules-based trading system and establishing transparent and fair mechanisms to dispute resolution.
Dow has been headquartered in Midland, Michigan since 1897. Approximately 40 percent of Dow's global workforce operates in the U.S., supporting American manufacturing, creating products for export and partnering with global operations for Dow's overall growth. Dow's U.S. operations also support American jobs beyond our own company, sourcing approximately 15 percent of our inputs from more than 2000 small and medium-sized companies.
With almost two-thirds of Dow's sales outside the U.S., trade and market access are critical in allowing Dow and other American companies to export more goods, build a customer base and contribute to both the domestic and global economy. The U.S. Congress must finalize the trade opportunities before it; support an ambitious, market-opening Doha Agreement in the World Trade Organization; and work aggressively to secure domestic trade support like limited-duty suspensions.
Trade Policy