So Far, Trade Missions to China Fail to Muster ; Building Ties with China Is Becoming a Business Necessity, but Attempts to Jumpstart the Process Have Attracted Little Interest

Summary

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A diversified forest products company, Cousineau Inc. has strong roots in the Maine woods. On its Web site, the North Anson company boasts: "Family owned and Maine made since 1959."

But Randy Cousineau, son of the company's founders, also knows forest products have become a global market. That's why he was excited last winter, when the Maine International Trade Center announced its first trade mission to China. He wanted to explore the possibility of exporting hardwood lumber to China, and for turning Maine-cut lumber into flooring or furniture in China for import.

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Extract

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So Far, Trade Missions to China Fail to Muster ; Building Ties with China Is Becoming a Business Necessity, but Attempts to Jumpstart the Process Have Attracted Little Interest

Cousineau won't be making the trip, however. Earlier this year, the trade center canceled its mission, which had been set for March.

Instead, Cousineau and three other Maine companies were encouraged to join a regional mission organized for this month by the Eastern Trade Council. The council is composed of 10 state trade centers from Maine to Delaware and has a representative in China.

But last month, the council p...

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