The Washington Council on International Trade (WCIT) held its annual member summit Monday, June 22. The 2020 WCIT Trade Summit: Virtual Edition featured discussions on top issues, including, ongoing tariffs on Washington’s agriculture economy, the top trade issues before the U.S. Congress, the impact of the current economic slowdown on trade-reliant local communities and the steps needed to strengthen relationships with important trading partners like Canada and the United Kingdom. The program enabled WCIT members to hear directly from elected-officials, trade experts, and local and international leaders. These leaders addressed the most critical issues and challenges that are shaping the Washington State trade agenda.
“While we missed the in-person experience of past trade summits, this year’s virtual summit made up for it with engaging dialogue and valuable insights from our speakers and thoughtful engagement from participants,” said Lori Otto Punke, President of the Washington Council on International Trade. “The economic challenges Washington state trade community face are significant, and the spirited dialogue from our summit will help inform WCIT’s advocacy efforts as we pursue sensible policies that will help Washington’s farmers, fishermen, ranchers, inventors, software and services suppliers, professionals, workers, and small and large business owners.”
Virtual Summit Speakers/Presenters included:
- Antony Phillipson, Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America (U.K.)
- Brandon Lee, Consul General of Canada to Pacific Northwest
- Jason Hafemeister, Trade Counsel to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Purdue
- Former Ambassador Demetrios Marantis, Visa | Former Deputy USTR
- Congressman Rick Larsen (WA)
- Commissioner John McCarthy, Northwest Seaport Alliance
- Commissioner Sam Cho, Port of Seattle
- Angela Ellard, Chief International Trade Counsel (R), Ways and Means Committee, U.S. House of Representatives
- Katherine Tai, Chief International Trade Counsel (D), Ways and Means Committee, U.S. House of Representatives
- Nasim Fussell, Chief International Trade Counsel (R), Finance Committee, U.S. Senate
- Jayme White, Chief International Trade Counsel (D), Finance Committee, U.S. Senate