Comment by alephnerd
7 hours ago
California set this precedent roughly a decade ago [0] with no challenge. It will stand.
Subnational diplomacy is the norm in most federations, hence why GOP led Iowa [1] and Montana [2] lobbied in favor of India with Trump leading to the current trade deal [3].
[0] - https://calmatters.org/environment/2017/11/gov-jerry-brown-t...
[1] - https://governor.iowa.gov/press-release/2025-09-07/gov-reyno...
[2] - https://www.daines.senate.gov/2026/01/20/daines-travels-to-i...
[3] - https://www.reuters.com/world/india/us-trade-chief-says-indi...
It looks like California showed up and participated in conversations, didn't sign anything. Montana appears to have lobbied, again not signing anything.
Iowa is the exception and I'd be curious what gave them the authority and how much, why it wasn't challenged last fall, and if Massachusettes meets the same circumstances.
Conversations are conversations, and that's my point. This is the "MoU"fication of the US, and honestly, it's not a bad thing.
Reincentivizing states to compete with each other for FDI is not a bad policy. If TX and CA talk with energy speicifc SWFs and go on roadshows abroad, there's nothing wrong with that.
It lights a fire under other state legislator asses.