Minnesota Agencies

The Trade Policy Advisory Council shall: advise the governor and the legislature on matters relating to United States
trade agreements; assess the potential impact of federal trade agreements on the state's economy; advise the governor and the legislature of the group's findings and make recommendations, including any draft legislation necessary to implement the recommendations, to the governor and the legislature; determine, on a case-by-case basis, the impact of a specific federal trade agreement by requesting input from state agencies, seeking expert advice, convening public hearings, and taking other reasonable and appropriate actions; request information from the Office of the United States Trade Representative necessary to conduct an appropriate review of government procurement agreements or other trade issues; and receive information obtained by the United States Trade Representative's single point of contact for Minnesota.

The council shall sunset January 1, 2020.

The Trade Policy Advisory Council was reviewed by the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy (LCPFP) in 2013 as part of their biennial duty required by Minn. Stat. 3.885 Subd. 11. The LCPFP's 2013 Recommendations called for keeping the council.

The Trade Policy Advisory Council shall have 15 members, as follows:
(1) the commissioner of employment and economic development or designee;
(2) the commissioner of agriculture or designee;
(3) the commissioner of administration or designee;
(4) two senators, including one appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules and Administration, and one appointed by the minority leader;
(5) two members of the house of representatives, including one member appointed by the speaker of the house and one member appointed by the minority leader; and
(6) eight members appointed by the governor. The governor's appointees shall represent specified interests, including organized labor, environmental interests, family farmers, business and industry, and international trade and development.

The Trade Policy Advisory Council may invite representatives from other state agencies, industries, trade and labor organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and local governments to join the council as nonvoting ex officio members. Except for initial appointments, the appointing authorities shall make appointments by the first Monday in January of each odd-numbered year.