Business

Mo.-St. Louis Trade Delegation In China Renews Air Cargo Hub Efforts

St. Louis Public Radio | By Marshall Griffin,

Marshall Griffin

Published December 5, 2012 at 4:20 PM CST

Missouri and St. Louis-area leaders are wrapping up a trade mission to China this week designed to revive the so-called China Hub project.

Members of the Midwest-China Hub Commission and the American Society of Transportation and Logisticssigned an agreement in Shanghai on Saturday to pursue expanding trade between the U.S. and China, and in particular adding new airfreight routes between the Asian nation and St. Louis. Tim Nowak is Executive Director of the World Trade Center St. Louis.

“These kind of relationships cannot just be built over the phone or by Internet," Nowak said. "You really do have to take time, and I think arguably our state has done as good a job or better than any others.”

Nowak says Missouri will have exported over $1 billion in products to China by year’s end, but suggests that figure could be doubled or tripled if Lambert Airport is established as a major air cargo hub.

“I’m thrilled with a billion, (but) why wouldn’t we want $2 billion or $3 billion?" Nowak said. "China’s not going to export less, it is up to us to export more…we’re doing that, we’ve seen that success.”

Last year, China Cargo Airlines began cancelling flights to St. Louis after Missouri lawmakers failed to pass legislation, dubbed "Aerotropolis," that would have provided $360 million in tax breaks designed to turn Lambert Airport into a major air cargo hub.

The trade mission is being jointly led by the World Trade Center St. Louis, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley (D), and retired U.S. Senator Kit Bond(R). The delegation is scheduled to return to Missouri on Friday.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter: @MarshallGReport

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Marshall Griffin

Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.

See stories by Marshall Griffin

Marshall Griffin

St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.