March 10, 2026 · Seattle, Washington

Northwest Trade in 2026: Challenges, Priorities, and the Path Forward

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.

Five Key Themes

Locke Loeb, Weyerhaeuser, Craig Weichel, Consul General, Canada, Riley Bushue, Northwest Horticultural Council, Ted Alden, Western Washington Univeristy and Foreign Policy Magazine.

Participants in the panel on U.S.-Canada Relations found a moment of levity during a serious topic.

Theme 1 of 5

The U.S.–Canada Relationship Depends on Preserving USMCA

↓20%

WA exports to Canada, 2025

↓80%

U.S. wine sales to Canada — over $350M lost

↓27%

Tourism from Canada to Washington

Canada is among the Northwest's most important trading partners, and recent policy decisions have put that relationship under strain. Washington state exports to Canada fell roughly 20% in 2025. U.S. wine sales to Canada dropped 80%, a loss exceeding $350 million. Tourism fell 27%, driven largely by Canadians choosing not to cross the border.

The depth of that relationship makes these numbers more significant. Cherry exports to Canada grew sevenfold following NAFTA — a track record built over decades that is now at risk. Canada also supplies more crude oil to the United States than all of OPEC combined, underscoring the strategic importance of the relationship beyond trade flows alone.

The USMCA review is scheduled for this summer. USMCA provides the framework that enables trade with both Canada and Mexico to function predictably. Its continuation and strengthening should be a clear priority.

U.S. Rep Kim Schrier speaking to the 2026 WCIT Trade Summit

U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, M.D.

Theme 2 of 5

Tariffs Are Disrupting Northwest Trade — and Uncertainty Is Compounding the Problem

$1M

Apple exports to India after tariffs — down from ~$120M

Tariffs and trade wars are having measurable effects on Northwest businesses. Retaliatory tariffs on apple exports to India reduced that market from approximately $120 million to $1 million in a single season. Wine and spirit sales to Canada have fallen sharply. Across agriculture, manufacturing, and services, businesses are absorbing costs and losing sales that were not part of their planning assumptions.

Equally challenging is the unpredictability of the current environment. Businesses that had been planning large investments have deferred those decisions. One Northwest importer noted that the uncertainty around duty rates made it difficult to evaluate whether to proceed with a shipment at all. Investment and planning require a stable policy horizon, and that stability has been difficult to find.

The consensus at the summit was clear: a return to rules-based, predictable trade policy would benefit Northwest businesses across sectors. Stability and consistency are what businesses need to plan, hire, and invest with confidence.

Port Commissioners Ryan Calkin, Kristin Ang, and Glen Bachman speaking at the 2026 WCIT Trade Summit

The Port Commissioners panel discussed the vital topic of keeping our ports competitive, reliable, and efficient while finding moments to laugh.

Theme 3 of 5

Infrastructure Investment Is Essential to Staying Competitive

↓5.5%

Tacoma container volumes, 2025

↓10%+

Tacoma imports, 2025

↓25%

Seattle port volumes vs. early 2025

Washington's ports saw meaningful volume declines in 2025. Container volumes at Tacoma fell 5.5%, imports dropped more than 10%, and Port of Seattle volumes were running roughly 25% below early 2025 levels.

A key question raised at the summit: can Northwest ports keep pace with the investment in technology, infrastructure, and management systems underway at ports in Asia and Europe? Shippers make routing decisions based on efficiency and reliability, and the region needs to offer both.

The path forward is clear: sustained infrastructure investment is essential. Speed and decisiveness will determine whether Northwest ports can maintain — and build on — their competitive position in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Innovation panelists Amy Morgan, VP, Trade, Altana and Phil Chen, PhRMA

Amy Morgan, VP of Trade, Altana and Phil Chen, PhRMA, discuss how trade is fueling innovation.

Theme 4 of 5

Technology, Life Sciences, and Innovation Remain a Regional Strength Worth Protecting

85,000

Patents from WA researchers in the past decade — ~25 per day

~75%

Share of global AI investment from the U.S.

Washington state has a strong innovation track record. Researchers here have received 85,000 patents over the past decade — about 25 per day. U.S. AI investment represents roughly 75% of global totals, and Seattle is home to significant activity in both technology and life sciences.

Sustaining this position requires consistent intellectual property protections and continued R&D investment. It also requires attention to trade policy as it applies to the services sector. Digital services taxes, which are levied on gross revenue, can result in effective tax rates considerably higher than their stated rate — creating burdens for technology and services companies similar to what tariffs impose on goods exporters. These issues deserve the same policy focus as traditional trade concerns.

Jason Park, Coupang, and Director, John L. Thornton China Center, Brookings Institution

Jason Park, Coupang, and Ryan Hass, Brookings, dig into insights on China and Asia-Pacific.

Theme 5 of 5

Middle East Instability Poses Ongoing Risk to Trade Flows

The conflict in the Middle East was a recurring topic throughout the day. The Strait of Hormuz is a significant chokepoint for global energy and fertilizer supplies, and its disruption has downstream effects on Northwest agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics costs. Speakers noted that the situation is unlikely to be resolved quickly and that businesses should plan accordingly.

Building supply chain resilience and maintaining flexibility in sourcing and logistics are practical steps Northwest businesses can take to reduce exposure to continued disruption.