Gov. Terry Branstad this morning said he plans to lead a trade mission to China and Japan in mid-November, accompanied by executives from the Iowa Pork Producers Association and the Iowa Beef Industry Council. In 2015, Iowa companies exported $1.2 billion in manufactured and value-added goods to China and $1.1 billion to Japan. China is Iowa’s third-largest export destination, while Japan is the fourth-largest. In addition, Japan is Iowa’s leading export market for pork and beef products. Iowa companies exported $564 million in meat products to Japan in 2015. “This mission marks my fourth visit to China and third to Japan since 2011 and is a testament to my long-standing commitment to strengthening economic ties with these important export markets for the state,” Branstad said.