5512-S AMH TEH GAVI 1 [1]

SSB 5512 - H COMM AMD

By Committee on Trade, Economic Development & Housing

Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the most recent round of negotiations on the general agreement on tariffs and trade and the North American free trade agreement of 1992 have the potential for significant impact on the state's economy, environment, and businesses.

It is the purpose of this act to provide information to the state's increased opportunities as well as increased risks posed by recent international trade agreements.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The department of trade and economic development shall undertake a study of the impact of the Uruguay round of the general agreement on tariffs and trade and the North American free trade agreement on the state's economy, environment, and businesses. The study shall:

(a) Focus on the competitive threats and opportunities presented by the trade agreements to the state's economy and environment; and

(b) Focus on the competitive threats and opportunities presented by the trade agreements to the state's six most significant traded sectors as measured by the number of employees in the sector and the aggregate dollar volume of goods and services traded in the sector, including:

(i) Identify the competitive advantages and weaknesses of the state's firms in each of the six sectors;

(ii) Identify the competitive advantages and weaknesses of the most competitive firms in each of the six sectors;

(iii) Project the number of jobs which may be created or lost within each of the six sectors as a result of the agreements;

(iv) Project the potential gain or loss of state revenue from each of the six sectors as a result of the agreements;

(v) Discuss the effect of the agreements on the trade surplus or deficit, whichever is appropriate, for each of the six sectors, as well as the state's overall balance of trade;

(vi) Identify those sectors, or firms within sectors, which exhibit the greatest potential to move their operations out-of-state as a result of the agreements;

(vii) Identify what measures, if any, can be undertaken domestically to improve the competitiveness of each of these sectors under the agreements; and

(viii) Identify traded sectors other than those comprising the six most significant that are presented with competitive advantages and exhibit significant potential for growth as a result of the agreements.

(2) The department shall:

(a) Consult with the department of agriculture, the department of community development, the employment security department, the department of social and health services, the department of labor and industries, the department of ecology, the private sector, and other appropriate organizations or individuals to assist the department compete this study; and

(b) Identify and utilize in the study existing analyses, studies, and data from the federal government, national and state business and labor organizations, and educational and policy institutes.

(3) The department of trade and economic development shall report the findings of the study conducted under this section before July 1, 1994, to the senate committee on trade, technology and economic development and the house of representatives committee on trade, economic development and housing.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill number, is not provided in the omnibus appropriations act by June 30, 1993, this act is null and void."