PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Governor Tina Kotek and a delegation of Oregon business leaders are departing Oregon on Thursday for a trade mission promoting business and tourism in South Korea and Japan — who are among Oregon’s top trade partners.
During the trade mission, the Oregon delegation will highlight the state’s economic strengths and will work to expand trade opportunities, investment and tourism.
“Oregon’s prosperity is deeply tied to our connections across the Pacific,” Governor Kotek said in a statement. “As uncertainty grows in Washington D.C., it’s more important than ever for Oregon to stay focused, protect our interests, and strengthen the partnerships that help keep our economy strong. Our longstanding and emerging relationships in Asia are vital to Oregon’s future, helping us grow, innovate, and weather any storm. I will continue to monitor the situation at home while ensuring the business of the state moves forward.”
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The delegation includes Oregon First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson, representatives of Business Oregon, the Port of Portland, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Travel Oregon, economic development groups and about a dozen Oregon small businesses.
The delegation departs from Oregon on Thursday and will return October 30.
“International trade isn’t just business in Oregon. It’s our way of life, and the backbone of our economy,” said Port of Portland Executive Director Curtis Robinhold. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to meet with our international partners, deepen our global connections, and bolster trade and travel for Oregon.”
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“International travelers are essential to the traded sector—spending, on average, eight times more than domestic travelers nationally, staying longer and supporting Oregon jobs and businesses,” added Todd Davidson, CEO Travel Oregon. “With the Asia Pacific region on track to become Oregon’s leading international market for visitor spending by 2029, and the multi-faceted economic value of travel extending well beyond direct visitor spending, we appreciate Governor Kotek’s attention to the travel and tourism industry during this important mission.”
According to Business Oregon Director Sophorn Cheang, the state saw $34 billion in revenue from export sales in 2024, noting growing investment from Japanese and Korean companies.
ODA Director Lisa Charpilloz Hanson added that Japan and South Korea are “important allies” for agricultural trade with Oregon.
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“Japan and South Korea are important allies in Oregon’s agricultural trade, ranking consistently among our top five partners. With Japan purchasing over $413.8 million and South Korea investing more than $345 million in Oregon goods, the growth potential is great,” said Charpilloz Hanson. “Our delegation’s mission during this visit is to unlock market access for our premium products — frozen berries, sweet cherries, hay, straw, seafood, and nursery products. Expanding our reach into these markets will not only strengthen Oregon’s economy but also provide essential support to our family farms, which are the backbone of our agricultural industry.”
During the mission, Gov. Kotek plans to meet with executives from the Port of Portland with SM Line to “thank them” for investing in Oregon though their shipping operations at the Port of Portland.
Additionally, the governor will promote tourism at receptions in Seoul and Tokyo with travel agencies in an effort to highlight Oregon as a “premier destination” for Korean and Japanese travelers. Discussions are set to focus on culinary tourism, outdoor recreation and sustainable traveling.
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The governor will also focus on business investments – with meetings planned with leaders from Kanto Chemical, Meiji Yasuda (the parent company of The Standard) and Toyota Tsusho (the parent company of Radius Recycling) to discuss continuing investments in Oregon and opportunities for expansion and job creation.
The governor’s office says Kotek will also meet with Korean Air and Delta Air to advocate for the return of nonstop flights between Portland and Asia, a priority for the business and tourism communities.
The trade mission comes after the Oregon legislature considered two bills during the 2025 legislative session that aimed to boost trade and international relations in Oregon as President Donald Trump planned to impose tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China.
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Ahead of those tariffs, some Oregon lawmakers looked to strengthen the state’s overseas partnerships with Mexico, Canada and China — which are among Oregon’s top trading partners.
One of the trade bills included House Bill 3100, the Oregon Trade Resilience and Developing Exports (TRADE) bill. The Oregon TRADE bill would have directed Business Oregon, Travel Oregon, the Port of Portland and the Oregon Department of Agriculture to develop a unified trade strategy.
The bill requested $3,200,000 in lottery funds to implement provisions in the bipartisan bill, whose chief sponsors include Committee Chair Daniel Nguyen (D-Lake Oswego & SW Portland) and Vice-Chair Rep. Ed Diehl (R-Stayton).
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In a round of testimony for the bill, Edward Kimmi — honorary consul for the Republic of Korea and Council President for the City of Beaverton — noted “untapped” trade opportunities in the agricultural, semiconductor, renewable energy and tourism sectors between South Korea and Oregon.
“Oregon is a leading producer of hazelnuts, wheat, wine and seafood, all of which are in high demand in South Korea. Expanding trade agreements and market access would further support Oregon’s farmers and food producers,” Kimmi said. “Additionally, Oregon’s semiconductor and technology sectors have strong synergies with South Korea’s advanced tech industry, home to major firms like Samsung and SK Hynix.”
