Herger hosts trade forum

Last Thursday (May 24), Rep. Wally Herger (pictured) hosted a trade-agreement forum at the Chico Elks Lodge. The featured speakers included Ambassador Islam Siddiqui, the chief agricultural negotiator at the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and Eric Sohn, who works for the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The forum was designed to bring attention to trade opportunities for Northern California businesses, based on new trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

Sohn explained that the event concerned free-trade agreements among countries that lower tariffs and other trade barriers, making trade easier.

Sohn, who was born in Korea and now lives in Washington, D.C., spent a few nights in Chico and said he was impressed by the town, adding, “I did get the opportunity to stop by the [Sierra Nevada] Brewery, and it was just fantastic!”