Grants Pass will have a direct voice in shaping Oregon’s international trade future as Representative Dwayne Yunker joins a bipartisan delegation traveling to Vietnam this month. The mission, running from September 4–11, 2025, is organized by the Oregon Legislative Trade Caucus and is aimed at strengthening economic ties during a period of uncertainty at home and expansion abroad.
Yunker, who represents southern Oregon, is part of a four-member legislative team working to promote Oregon businesses, farms, and workers on the global stage. His presence highlights the role rural communities can play in international trade, especially as Oregon seeks to broaden opportunities beyond its metropolitan hubs. For areas like Grants Pass and Josephine County, where timber, agriculture, and small business innovation remain cornerstones of the economy, new partnerships abroad could translate into real benefits back home.
The delegation will travel through Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hanoi, balancing official government meetings with business-to-business sessions, trade expos, and cultural events. One of the central moments of the trip will be the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Port of Portland and Long An Port, strengthening ties in shipping and logistics. Delegates will also attend the Vietnam International Sourcing Expo, where Oregon products and expertise will be introduced to new markets, and tour cutting-edge facilities like the Da Nang Semiconductor and AI Center.
Yunker’s involvement underscores the bipartisan nature of the mission. He joins Representatives Daniel Nguyen of Southwest Portland, Shelly Boshart Davis of Albany, and Shannon Jones Isadore of Portland, forming a politically diverse group working toward shared economic goals. For Yunker, the trip is a chance to ensure that southern Oregon’s needs are included in the state’s broader trade agenda, particularly in sectors such as timber, technology, and agricultural exports that can directly benefit his district.
The trip also coincides with the 30th anniversary of normalized relations between the United States and Vietnam. Delegates will participate in the U.S. Friendship Festival, an event highlighting three decades of diplomatic progress. For Oregon, the milestone offers not only a moment of reflection but also an opportunity to signal readiness for future collaboration.
Business and institutional partners are also part of the delegation, including representatives from Oregon State University, the Port of Portland, and small businesses looking to expand abroad. The mission has been coordinated with multiple agencies and organizations, including the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Business Oregon, the U.S. Commercial Service, and the offices of Vietnam’s Consul General and Ambassador. This multi-layered partnership is designed to ensure that the benefits of new agreements and contacts flow back to communities across the state.
For Grants Pass, Yunker’s role provides a direct link between southern Oregon and the expanding Vietnamese market. The trip represents not only an exploration of trade opportunities but also a chance to position rural communities as vital contributors to Oregon’s global economic profile. With global supply chains shifting and Vietnam’s economy on the rise, the mission highlights how smaller regions can gain from being part of the international conversation.