The holiday season is a nostalgic time for a lot of us: memories of family traditions, visions of sugar plum fairies, nonstop Warm 106.9 FM on the car radio…it’s easy to get emotional. So, maybe you’ll forgive me a little extra holiday emotion when I say “Holy $@!#@, WCIT has had a productive year!!!”
It’s always awkward to be tooting your own horn (even if it’s a yuletide horn), but don’t just take my word for it. From policy advocacy and events to statewide outreach and communication efforts, WCIT has been actively engaged in efforts to increase Washington’s international competitiveness and drive trade and job growth in our state. And we have the list of accomplishments to prove it:
Programs
- Roundtable Discussion with U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer – March 11
- Roundtable Discussion with U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene – April 19
- 2013 DC Fly-In – May 6 & 7
- Imports Roundtable – May 10
- Co-sponsored event with Trade Development Alliance: Breakfast with Ian Bremmer, President of the Eurasia Group – May 14
- Roundtable Discussion with Washington State Department of Commerce Director, Brian Bonlender, and Washington State Department of Agriculture Director, Don Hover – June 27
- Imports Roundtable 2 – July 18
- WCIT Summer Trade Luncheon – August 8
- WCIT/PMSA/SMBC Port of Seattle Commission Candidate Forum – September 12
- Co-sponsored event with Trade Development Alliance: Business Opportunities between Korea and Washington State under the Korea-U.S. (KORUS) Free Trade Agreement – September 30
- Co-sponosred event with Trade Development Alliance: The Big Deal: the U.S., EU and the Building of the World’s Biggest Free Trade Area – October 8
- Trade on the Move: A Discussion on Freight Mobility in Eastern Washigton (co-organized with Greater Spokane Incorporated, Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce and Move Forward Washington ) – October 16
- Dinner and Discussion with President of National Association of Manufacturers, Jay Timmons – October 24
- 2013 Washington Trade Conference – November 18
Policy
- Created congressional district trade profiles for each House member
- Developed factsheets for all ten policy priorities
- Created factsheet on the positive impact of imports on Washington’s trade economy
- Testified on importance of trade to the Washington State Legislature (January 16) and to the State Senate Trade and Economic Committee (January 31)
- Submitted comment letter on Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
- Submitted comment letter on Japan’s entry into the Trans-Pacific Partnership
- Sent letter to the Washington congressional delegation in support of Harbor Maintenance Tax reform
- Developed list of priorities for Trade Promotion Authority legislation
- Submitted feedback to Governor Inslee’s Results Washington Proposal
- Sent letter to the Washington congressional delegation in support of Trade Promotion Authority
- Testified to the Washington State Legislature Joint Transportation Committee on the importance of international trade – September 11
- Met regularly with Washington’s elected officials in D.C. and Olympia to discuss WCIT’s trade policy priorities
Communications
- Placed Op-Eds in Seattle Times (July 18), The Bellingham Herald (February 10, May 2), The Tri-City Herald (Feburary 10), Tacoma News Tribune (May 2), The Olympian (May 2), The Columbian (June 10)
- Quoted in articles in the Everett Herald (February 9), The Columbian (April 25), Tacoma News Tribune (May 22), Tri-City Herald (May 22), Bellingham Herald (May 22), The Olympian (May 22), Seattle Times (May 23, October 12, November 19), Politico (August 18), Context China (November 26), Voice of Russia, American Edition (December 6)
- Interviewed for KIRO TV’s story on the threat of Canadian ports (February 22)
- Mentioned in articles in Washington State University News (March 19), The Columbian (July 14), Business Examiner (September 13)
- Published Letters to the Editor in Seattle Business Magazine (October), The Longview Daily News (August 20), Seattle Times (October 15, December 6)
- Published columns in Crosscut (September 17, December 16)
- Ongoing blogging at The State of Trade Blog
- Ongoing engagement with stakeholders on Twitter; WCIT has reached 1140 followers
The staff of WCIT would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped make 2013 such a productive year for WCIT. Thank you to our members, event sponsors, Board, partner organizations, event attendees and speakers, and everyone who signed letters and contacted our Congressional delegation to express your support of pro-trade policies that promote economic growth in Washington state and increase our international competitiveness. We couldn’t do it without you, and we look forward to doing it again with you in 2014.