BP BHEAD INT H

AN ACT Relating to international trade; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that:

(a) The expansion of international trade is vital to the overall growth of Washington's economy;

(b) On a per capita basis, Washington state is the most international trade dependent state in the nation;

(c) The north american free trade agreement (NAFTA) and the general agreement on tariffs and trade (GATT) highlight the increased importance of international trade opportunities to the United States and the state of Washington;

(d) The passage of NAFTA and GATT will have a major impact on the state's agriculture, aerospace, computer software, and textiles and apparel sectors;

(e) The current state efforts to develop relations with foreign countries are insufficient for effective coordination and mobilization of resources necessary to promote economic growth and international trade opportunities;

(f) There is a need to strengthen and coordinate the state's activities in promoting and developing its agricultural, manufacturing, and service industries overseas, especially for small and medium-sized businesses, and minority and women-owned business enterprises; and

(g) The importance of having a coherent vision for advancing Washington state's interest in the global economy has rarely been so consequential as it is now.

(2) The legislature declares that the purpose of the office of the Washington state trade representative is to strengthen and expand the state's activities in marketing its goods and services overseas.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The office of the Washington state trade representative is created under the office of the governor. The office shall serve as the state's official liaison with foreign governments on trade matters.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The executive and administrative head of the office of the Washington state trade representative shall be the governor's special trade representative. The governor's special trade representative shall be appointed by the governor with consent of the senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The governor's special trade representative shall be paid a salary to be fixed by the governor in accordance with RCW 43.03.040.

(2) The governor's special trade representative may hire such personnel as may be necessary for the general administration of the office. To the extent permitted by law, state agencies may temporarily assign staff to the office of the Washington state trade representative to assist in carrying out the office's duties and responsibilities under this chapter. An arrangement to assign staff must have the approval of the staff members to be assigned, the special trade representative, and directors of the agencies involved in the assignment.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The governor's special trade representative shall supervise and administer the activities of the office of the Washington state trade representative and shall advise the governor and legislature with respect to trade matters affecting the state.

(2) In addition to other powers and duties granted to the governor's special trade representative, the governor's special trade representative shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To consult with the department of agriculture and the various agricultural commissions, created in Title 15 RCW, on the promotion of Washington agricultural commodities overseas;

(b) To consult with the department of community, trade, and economic development on the promotion of Washington goods and services overseas;

(c) To work with the Washington state trade advisory council, created in section 5 of this act, on strategies to assist Washington businesses to expand international trade opportunities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1) The Washington state trade advisory council is established. The council shall consist of eighteen members as follows:

(a) Two members of trade organizations, appointed by the governor;

(b) Two representatives of ports, appointed by the governor;

(d) Four representatives from the legislative committee on economic development created in chapter 44.52 RCW;

(e) Two members with experience in foreign marketing, appointed by the governor;

(f) Two experts in financing export transactions, appointed by the governor;

(g) The director of the department of community, trade, and economic development or the director's designee;

(h) The director of the department of agriculture or the director's designee; and

(i) The governor's special trade representative, who shall serve as chair.

(2) Nonlegislative members may receive reimbursement from the governor's office for travel under RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060. Legislative members may be reimbursed under RCW 41.04.300.

(3) The council shall:

(a) Advise the governor and the legislature on policies, programs, and activities to enhance the exporting of Washington goods and services to international markets;

(b) Review current state export targeting efforts and advise the governor and the legislature regarding markets with potential that currently are not being emphasized;

(d) Identify for the governor and the legislature current and long-term international trade issues that need to be addressed by the state in its long-term economic development plan;

(e) Recommend methods to increase the awareness of international trade, especially its opportunities and its importance, throughout the state;

(f) Study 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 small manufacturing and export firms, focusing 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. The council shall identify and utilize existing analyses, studies, and data from the federal government, national and state business and labor organizations, and educational and policy institutes.

(4) The council may accept gifts, grants, donations, devises, and bequests to facilitate the work of the council.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1995.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Sections 1 through 6 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.