TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – The European Union Ambassador to the United States spent the week meeting with Florida state and local leaders to strengthen relationships and better understand how state policy influences global policy.
EU Ambassador Jovita Neliupšienė and diplomats from 10 other countries visited the Capitol on Wednesday to meet with state leaders and discuss partnerships.
“A lot of Florida people are right now in government, in the administration, it’s a question of understanding politically what is happening and why,” Neliupšienė said.
The ambassador said the exchange of ideas and information is important for the EU’s understanding of American policy.
Many federal policies around trade have been controversial. In July, the Trump administration reached a deal with the EU that includes a 15% tariff on many goods.
“Tariffs were never an option for us. We don’t believe as Europeans or as the European Union that tariffs are the silver bullet to solve all the problems,” Neliupšienė said.
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Nearly $9 billion worth of goods are exported from Florida to Europe. House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell said she hopes this week’s visit will expand that trade despite the tariffs.
“Florida is open for business. We want to see better high-paying jobs here in our state,” Driskell said.
The EU Ambassador said she expects economic growth will continue.
“You have the fastest-growing economy, and that makes all the people interested,” Neliupšienė said.
Florida is now the 15th largest economy in the world, if it were a country, with a gross domestic product exceeding $1.7 trillion, according to Sheridan Morby, Senior Research Economist with the Florida Chamber Foundation.
“International partnerships play a vital role in this growth,” Morby said. “European visitors, foreign direct investment, exports, and more, fuel this momentum.”
This was the first time European diplomats visited Florida. The ambassador said they try to visit at least one state a year to get an understanding that they cannot get in Washington, D.C.
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