Developing a State Trade Strategy

Summary

Eric ffitch, Executive Director of the Washington Public Ports Association, presented Developing a State Trade Strategy to the Senate Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee on October 30, 2025. The stated vision is to make Washington state the most competitive gateway on the West Coast for International Trade, with an objective measured by increased cargo volumes through Washington state ports. Near-term priorities include tax relief for "trade-exposed small businesses," capital investment in freight facilities, truck parking, and not revisiting the proposed increase to the "stevedoring" tax. The presentation lists partner outreach from spring 2025 through fall 2025 and invites involvement.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Full text

Washington Public Ports Association
              Developing a State Trade Strategy




                                Eric ffitch, Executive Director
                        Washington Public Ports Association
      Senate Business, Financial Services & Trade Committee
                                              October 30, 2025
Timeline and Early Efforts
• March 2023 - Ports and with cabinet leads discuss competitiveness


• 2023 and 2024 sessions- Some progress with partners


• 2025 session – Some cuts to key programs, tax discussions


• Continuing evolution of national and international picture
Spring 2025 Convening
April ’25, before session ends – WPPA gathers key supply chain partners for
initial discussion

April, May, and June internal meetings: Problem Statement, Goal, Values, Priority
Initiatives

July in Wenatchee: Importer; Exporter; The Northwest Seaport Alliance

September and October: Extended partner outreach - Chambers, businesses
labor groups, shippers

Fall 2025: Key legislators (you!); cabinet leads; more partners!
 Vision, Objective, Values
Vision: To make Washington state the most competitive gateway on the West Coast for International Trade


Objective: Sustain, grow, and attract trade-related business and trade-driven jobs across the economy, including in
import-based business and in agriculture and manufacturing, as measured by increased cargo volumes through
Washington state ports


Values:
• Quality jobs: workers in trade-related sectors earn a fair wage and can support families and communities
• Safe working environments for all workers in trade-related sectors
• Affordable economy: cost of living aligns with incomes and job types that are achievable for all
• Value the industries that built Washington
• Value all freight modes as critical elements while promoting best utilization of individual modes
• Sustainability: efficient movement of goods in and through Washington will reduce the
environmental impacts of trade
Near-term priorities
Address costs and operating hurdles that cause import- and export-based
businesses to leave Washington

       Incentives for warehousing and manufacturing
       Tax relief for “trade-exposed small businesses”


Address supply chain challenges that present tangible hurdles to trade
competitiveness

       Capital investment in freight facilities
       Truck parking



Do no harm – resist policy proposals that increase the cost of moving goods across
our supply chain

       Do not revisit proposed increase to “stevedoring” tax
       Continued exploration of meaningful permitting reform
       Land use policy that promotes and protects industrially-zoned lands that serve ports and the supply
        chain
Extended state policy partnership?
  • Inland logistics hub?: Conversations underway in Central WA


  • Land use policy: recent upzones of industrial land in Seattle threaten the efficient operation of port
   facilities, will others follow?


  • Workforce: do we have enough workers in the supply chain? How can we train the next generation?


  • Foreign trade zones: and other tools to promote in-state manufacturing


  • Business recruitment: from site selector to site readiness, what can be improved?


  • Other:
       -     Energy, yes it comes up in this context!
       -     Business, marketing, and Legislative Champions!
Want to get involved?
The partner conversations continue!


Eric ffitch        effitch@Washingtonports.org


File and source

File

2025-10-30_a33484_d289832_wppa-eric-ffitch-developing-a-state-trade-strategy-ppt.pdf

Size

499,048 bytes

SHA-256

c5651466ed1311924dbaa3450a48bef41f27b4efdcd92a80ea365cbe570f4108

Our copy

2025-10-30_a33484_d289832_wppa-eric-ffitch-developing-a-state-trade-strategy-ppt.pdf

Original

app.leg.wa.gov