Proponent Testimony on House Bill 291 — Liz Baumgartner, Ohio Chamber of Commerce (June 11, 2025)

Summary

Proponent testimony on House Bill 291 from Liz Baumgartner, Director of Economic Development and Tax Policy at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, dated June 11, 2025, to the Ohio House Development Committee. The testimony states that HB 291 creates the Ohio International Trade Commission and builds partnerships with international markets beginning with Japan, Ireland, and Israel. It cites the Ohio Department of Development's 2023 Export Report as showing Japan as the fourth largest export market, totaling $2.1 billion in goods. It states that the Ohio Chamber represents over 8,000 companies and that the bill comes at no cost to taxpayers.

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          Liz Baumgartner, Director of Economic Development and Tax Policy
                             Ohio Chamber of Commerce
                        Proponent Testimony – House Bill 291
                                     June 11, 2025

Chairman Hoops, Vice Chair Lorenz, Ranking Member Abdullahi, and members of the Ohio
House Development Committee, thank you for the opportunity to provide proponent testimony
on House Bill 291.

For 132 years, the Ohio Chamber has served as the state’s leading business advocate and
represents over 8,000 companies that do business in Ohio. Our mission is to aggressively
champion free enterprise, economic competitiveness, and growth for the benefit of all Ohioans.

The Ohio Chamber has long advocated for policies that strengthen Ohio’s global footprint,
support Ohio businesses in global markets, and increase investment in our state. House Bill
291 (HB 291) does that by creating the Ohio International Trade Commission, a structured,
strategic platform to promote multilateral trade and investment opportunities, joint research
agreements, business and academic exchanges, and the creation of technology centers.

HB 291 enhances Ohio’s commitment to building deeper economic and strategic partnerships
with key international markets beginning with Japan, Ireland, and Israel, who have meaningful
trade ties with Ohio. According to the Ohio Department of Development’s 2023 Export Report,
exports to Japan decreased overall but Japan was still our fourth largest export market, totaling
$2.1 billion in goods. Ireland saw a nearly 6% increase in exports from Ohio businesses. While
trade with Israel and Japan declined slightly from 2022 to 2023, it underscores the need for
renewed investment in sustaining and expanding trade with these nations.

At no cost to taxpayers, HB 291 provides a practical, business-friendly strategy for
strengthening Ohio’s global competitiveness. The Ohio Chamber appreciates being named to
serve on the Commission and looks forward to representing the business community to
promote trade, investment, and economic growth between Ohio, the countries in HB 291, and
those to be determined by the Department.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide proponent testimony on HB 291. The Ohio Chamber
supports the Commission and appreciates the opportunity to serve.


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