Chamber Involvement

Home » Tri-Cities Public Policy » Chamber Involvement

Tri-Cities Legislative Council Trip to Olympia

Dates: February 18-19, 2011

It's time to be involved. Be heard. Be part of the solution. Register to attend the Tri-Cities Legislative Trip to Olympia. Once again, we are partnering with the Greater Pasco, West Richland Area, and Tri-Cities Hispanic Chambers, as well as the Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau and TRIDEC.

This trip to Olympia provides regional business leaders the opportunity to meet with Governor Christine Gregoire, Senate and House leaders and key legislative committees to discuss workplace and business issues that affect our region.

The trip includes transportation, lodging, and a reception to help distinguish the Tri-Cities to our elected leaders at the Capitol. Our goal is to communicate our legislative priorities while having fun and networking with other advocates and decision makers in Olympia.

Topics of discussion will include but are not limited to: Economic Development, Agriculture, Transportation and Energy.

Space is limited! If you would like to be involved and make your voice heard, RSVP early to ensure your reservation.

To register, call (509) 736-0510 or email info@tricityregionalchamber.com.

Requests for Chamber Involvement

You may request the Tri-City Regional Chamber to get involved in an issue that will have an affect of business in the Greater Tri-cities Region. Please fill out the Request for Chamber Involvement form and return to Colin Hastings @ colin.hastings@tricityregionalchamber.com.

Free trade needed for Mid-Columbia growers

By Bill Shibley, Mid-Columbia Voices

As we struggle through potentially the worst recession in three generations, I think it is important to acknowledge the value of international trade to the Tri-City area and to Washington as an instrument to help turn our economy around. The Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the Washington Potato Commission, is celebrating the month of May as World Trade Month. It is critical to our area to foster international trade and continue to expand markets for our local goods, especially agricultural goods grown and processed in the Mid-Columbia.

But policy coming out of Washington, D.C., is putting free trade at risk.

In March 2009, Mexico imposed duties on U.S. exports in response to congressional action that ended a program giving Mexican trucks access to U.S. highways. The tariffs will cover 90 agricultural and industrial products from 40 states. This is expected to hit Mid-Columbia farmers and processors really hard.Recent estimates indicate these tariffs have affected $15 million worth of frozen potato exports from Washington as of January! As for the tree fruit industry, pear growers have lost more than $18 million, apricots show losses at about $350,000, and an additional $3 million for cherries could have sold in Mexico if the retaliatory tariff weren't in place. That's a total economic impact on the Northwest tree fruit industry of about $21.5 million in less than a year!

This action by Mexico is retribution for language in the fiscal 2009 omnibus appropriations law that reneged on a commitment made by the United States in the North American Free Trade Agreement allowing approved Mexican trucking companies to send vehicles more than 25 miles past the U.S. border. Mexico's reaction is not surprising and well within its right to retaliate under rules set forth under NAFTA.

Unfortunately, the process to getting this situation resolved is moving slowly. In March, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development that the Cross Border Demonstration Project proposal was "very near." Just last week, the administration testified that the proposal would be released "very soon."

More policy out of Washington, D.C., threatens Washington state's exports. Past inaction by Congress hinders the United States in negotiating trade agreements. Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), also known as fast track, was allowed by Congress to expire July 1, 2007. TPA allowed the president of the United States to quickly negotiate trade agreements that Congress can approve or disapprove but cannot amend or filibuster.

It is imperative to our economy that Congress approves free trade agreements with Peru, Panama, Colombia and Korea, all of which the United States signed before the deadline.

However, the United States will suffer severe economic and foreign policy costs if the House action is permitted to stand. Careful studies at the Peterson Institute for International Economics show that the U.S. economy is $1 trillion per year richer as a result of the trade liberalization of the past 60 years, and that we would gain another $500 billion per year if the world could move to totally free trade.

Washington, D.C., has been sluggish to react to trade compacts among European Union and Asian economies that will discriminate against the United States rather than make deals with us. Examples likely will include EU-India and EU-Korea, and eventually an Asia-wide trade area.

We could lose billions of dollars' worth of exports and the associated high-paying jobs at a time when improvements in our trade balance and a highly competitive dollar are cushioning our slowdown. Because of these trade inequities, Washington stands to suffer substantially, including our agricultural economy. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, top exported products from Washington in 2008 were transportation equipment (primarily Boeing), followed by crop production and processed foods, valued at more than $14 billion dollars.

It is important the Obama administration carry through on its promise to restore the policy to allow approved Mexican truck drivers to deliver up to 25 miles past the border.

Congress needs to focus on reinstituting TPA and approve free trade agreements with Panama, Peru, Colombia and Korea.

For more information on Free Trade Month, visit tricityregionalchamber.com. Or contact Colin Hastings, vice president of the Tri-City Regional Chamber, to find out how to get involved in supporting free trade.

* Bill Shibley is vice president of commercial lending with Northwest Farm Credit Services in Pasco and chairman of the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce. E-mail: bill.shibley@farm-credit.com

Tri-City event promotes world trade awareness

By Pratik Joshi, Herald staff writer

KENNEWICK -- International trade is critical to the fortunes of Mid-Columbia growers and business owners and all who work for them, several speakers told participants in a kickoff event Wednesday to promote awareness about world trade.

Washington's economy derived about $78 billion in 2008 from exporting manufactured goods, services and agricultural products. That business also created hundreds of thousands of Washington jobs.

Those facts make it imperative for the U.S. to promote free trade with other nations, said Jon DeVaney, executive director of the Yakima Valley Growers-Shippers Association. He was one of many speakers at the launch of the inaugural World Trade Month Awareness Campaign in Kennewick.

Leaders at local, regional, state and national levels need to understand the importance of breaking down trade barriers, promoting cooperation and staying engaged with other nations, said Colin Hastings, vice president of the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the program.

Agreements with Panama, Colombia and South Korea are awaiting congressional approval, said Hastings and DeVaney, highlighting their importance for U.S. trade.

Washington exports 33 percent of its apples, 28 percent of its cherries and 30 percent of its pears, DeVaney said.

"Mexico is our No. 1 destination for tree fruit," he said.

Washington lost millions of dollars last year when Mexico imposed a 20 percent tariff on more than 90 U.S. agricultural and industrial products in retaliation for the U.S. ending a pilot project that allowed Mexican truckers on U.S. highways beyond border areas.

"We need to liberalize trade policies," DeVaney said.

Kennewick-based Infinia designs and manufactures its solar power generator in the U.S. and is trying to find markets for the generator in Europe, the Middle East, China and India. Access to foreign markets is crucial for that, said Jason Modrell, Infinia's director for development programs and government relations.

Lampson International of Kennewick also relies on export of its huge cranes to keep people employed in the community, said Bryan Pepin-Donat, the firm's director of contract/international business. Lampson exports to Europe, Indonesia and has recently developed markets in China, he said.

"Our business is growing and free trade is essential," he said.

That's also true for Washington's wine industry, said Heather Unwin, vice president of marketing at Terra Blanca Winery.

The rise of middle classes in developing countries is creating demand for Washington wines, known for their quality and affordable prices, she said. "Wine is a global product."

-- Pratik Joshi: 582-1541; pjoshi@tricityherald.com.

Tri City Regional Chamber

Tri Cities Public Policy

Chamber Involvement

Navigation