Companies that depend on access to global markets today face very real and serious risks. Tariffs are reducing our trade flows and threatening over half the imports into the Seattle-Tacoma gateway. More than 40% of jobs throughout Washington state are tied to international trade, and trade with China contributes to nearly 200,000 jobs and $7 billion in wages.
The impact transcends the Cascades, touching virtually every region of the state.
Washington leaders at all levels can take steps right now to maintain our globally competitive standing while aggressively opening new economic development opportunities. That’s why our organizations traveled to Asia last month — to build upon generations of cultural and economic cooperation between Washington State and China, including our 40-year formal sister port relationship with the Port of Shanghai.
This excerpt is from a post originally published here.