The Utah International Trade Commission met Tuesday to discuss ways to train lawmakers in the customs and protocols of world travel, centralize information on trade contacts, appropriate money for regular travel and - how to win over the public and news media to see state politicians as trade ambassadors.

"The Legislature, the media and the citizens of the state need to understand more about how international trade works around the world," said Rep. Brad King, D-Price, who is acquainted with Japanese culture. "Especially in Asia, every time you make a personal contact it furthers Utah's trading chances."

Lawmakers, many of whom took their spouses along, said the July trip to China's Liaoning Province was a grueling swing through China to build personal relationships with one of Utah's most important trading partners. Those contacts will prove invaluable in future deals, they argued.

But the trip was sharply criticized in some quarters as a junket on taxpayers' money with no clear goal and without a contingent of Utah industry executives.

Sen. Pat Jones, D-Holladay, remains skeptical of large groups of lawmakers going on trade missions. The July trip was far different from the way a private business would approach forging ties.

"[A legislative trade trip] might be a good idea. But before they went I would want to see what the purpose is. What are the objectives? And we need to be very judicious about who goes," Jones said. "Then, I would want a full account of how it benefited the taxpayers who paid for the trip."

The commission is considering recommendations to legislative leaders that would include training for all incoming lawmakers in basic protocol and cultural sensitivity and developing an online gazetteer of the international trade potential for every legislative district. The committee also discussed a fund for gifts to foreign dignitaries. All these recommendations would go before a Legislature that just a few years ago considered a resolution asking Congress to pull the United States out of the United Nations.

Rep. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful, commission co-chairwoman, said care must be taken that state lawmakers don't duplicate the trade efforts of the U.S. State Department or the governor's economic development office.

"What I hope comes about is in integration [of efforts]," Allen said. "We can be of great assistance to their efforts."

Allen said any request for funding of international trade missions would be "modest," an annual expense in the range of the China trip, which was about $36,000. "It was such a broadening experience. It was enlightening," she said. "You need a few legislators to be advocates [for international trade]."

Lew Cramer, director of the Utah World Trade Center, said his private-public organization could develop training, briefing and information resources for lawmakers. "You wouldn't have to walk in cold turkey [to receptions with foreign dignitaries]," Cramer said, "so you can be effective."

"Every legislator ought to be required to go on a trip every year," Cramer added, "to prepare for the competitive challenge." He said he hoped the state's one-time $350,000 funding to the trade center would be made a permanent annual appropriation.

The commission proposed sending regularly to lawmakers newsletters, information sheets and "did you know?" e-mails that include such facts as Utah's third ranking among states for foreign consulates. "Otherwise," said Rep. Laurie Fowlke, R-Orem, "they'll all still want to get out of the U.N."