The Oregonian article "To win trade, learn Chinese: Oregon is poised for a boom in sales to China, but too few know the language, culture" by Rich Read:
China, known for selling goods of every kind to the United States, suddenly appears destined to become Oregon's biggest foreign buyer.
Yet, business leaders and academics say Oregon is unprepared to take advantage of China's vast market. Despite the state's position on the Pacific Rim, they say, too few Oregonians speak Mandarin or know Chinese culture.
Portland International Airport managers, content with connecting service to China through Tokyo, are no longer seeking a Chinese airline to provide nonstop passenger flights between PDX and the mainland. Oregon outsources trade representation in China, instead of employing state workers there as it does in Japan and Taiwan. The Chinese government has no consulate in Portland, as Japan and Mexico do, for visas and other services.
"We are not prepared to engage China in a serious and responsible way," says Stephen Durrant, head of East Asian languages and literature at the University of Oregon. "When you're trying to buy, you can do that in English. But when you're trying to sell, it really helps if you have some familiarity with the language."
For years, Japan bought the most Oregon goods of any foreign country. But Japan's purchases declined with its economy during the 1990s. Last year China, a minor buyer during socialist days, bypassed four other nations on the strength of its red-hot economy to become the state's second-largest customer behind Canada.
"I don't think there's any doubt at all" that China will become Oregon's biggest export destination, says Jim Bean, dean of UO's Lundquist College of Business. "The growth rates in China are astounding, and they still have only developed the east coast.".....
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