Impacts of China Trade Dispute Ripple Across Washington State: Report
New Research Highlights Implications for Washington State
SEATTLE, February 15 — Washington state has a long history of close trade relations with China that have benefited both sides. In virtually every county and congressional district, Washington workers and businesses rely on China as a market for their exports and as a supplier of products and raw materials.
As negotiators from the U.S. and China meet this week in Beijing to try to hammer out a trade agreement that will ease tensions between the two countries, the Washington Council on International Trade (WCIT) is releasing a new report that details the many industries and regions in Washington state that have a major stake in the outcome.
The study provides county-by-county and district-by-district analysis of Washington’s trade ties with China.
“From cherry growers in the Yakima Valley to cargo handlers at the Port of Olympia, hundreds of employers in Washington state are anxious to see a successful resolution to the trade negotiations with China,” said WCIT President Lori Otto Punke.
“The on-going trade dispute has presented a unique opportunity to encourage the Chinese to make much needed reforms in areas such as market access and intellectual property,” added Punke. “At the same time, high tariffs carry hefty costs for Washington consumers and businesses, so we hope an agreement is reached soon.”
A full copy of our new report can be downloaded here.
ABOUT WASHINGTON COUNCIL ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE
On behalf of our members – manufacturers, farmers, retailers, service providers and non-profits – the Washington Council on International Trade advocates for pro-trade policies and investments that benefit Washington’s workers and employers. Trade paves the way for Washington-made goods and services to reach foreign markets, provides Washingtonians with products that raise our quality of life, and sustains family-wage jobs in numerous local industries. To learn more, visit us at https://www.wcit.org.
Contact:
Jane Harris
Washington Council on International Trade
(206) 389-7295
media@wcit.org