WCIT Blog
WCIT Joins Coalition to Urge USMCA Extension
WCIT has co-signed a coalition letter led by PNWER urging U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to approve an USMCA extension during the July 1, 2026 Joint Review. The letter — backed by 35+ organizations across the Pacific Northwest and Canada — cites over $30.5 billion in annual regional exports, 647,700 jobs, and the critical role of North American supply chains in U.S. national security and long-term economic competitiveness.
Recap of 2026 WCIT Trade Summit
The 2026 WCIT Trade Summit brought together business executives, port commissioners, members of Congress, and policy experts for a single-day assessment of the current trade environment and its implications for the Northwest. Across nine sessions, five themes emerged as priorities for the region’s businesses, policymakers, and trade advocates.
Tariffs will Harm the Northwest’s Economy
This week, President-elect Trump once-again promised to impose significant tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China on the day he takes office.
While tariffs are often cited as solutions to problems, such as job losses, history has a long track record of unintended consequences, including inflation, supply chain disruptions and constraints, job losses, and retaliatory tariffs and import restrictions from other countries.
2024 WCIT Trade Summit Recap
WCIT hosted its annual Trade Summit on May 29, 2024, in Seattle, bringing together a diverse group of experts to tackle critical issues in international trade and help to answer how the Northwest can continue to grow its trade economy and the jobs it supports.
Announcing WCIT’s Expanded Trade Dashboard
WCIT’s expanded Northwest International Trade Dashboard, which provides quarterly reporting on key trade indicators for Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. This reflects our region’s deep integration and collective strength in the global trade arena.
The U.S. Must Resume Digital Trade Negotiations
WCIT expresses deep concern over the recent decision by the U.S. to withdraw from digital trade negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO). This move, which U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said aims to provide Congress with room to regulate big tech firms, has significant implications for the economy, both in the Northwest and throughout the United States.
WCIT Calls on USTR to Oppose Canada’s Proposed Digital Services Tax
With the Canadian government’s push to unilaterally implement a digital services tax (DST) that discriminates against American companies because of their leadership in innovating and delivering digital services, WCIT urges the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to work to ensure a fair and level playing field for technology companies operating in the U.S. and Canada.
The WTO Should Not Expand TRIPS Waivers
We stand at a critical juncture in international trade and intellectual property rights as the WTO considers expanding TRIPS waivers to COVID-19 diagnostics and therapeutics. This would expand the waiver already in place for COVID-19 vaccines – repeating their initial mistake.
2023 WCIT Fly-In Recap
Every year, Washington Council on International Trade (WCIT) members and staff travel to Washington, D.C., to meet in person with members of Congress, the Administration, and trade policy experts. Our goals are to: Deliver a message of the importance of international...