AN ACT
Relating to international trade; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; and
creating a new section.
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)
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
(f)
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.
The
office of the Washington state trade representative may accept or request
grants or gifts from citizens and other private sources to be used to defray
the costs of appropriate hosting of foreign dignitaries, including appropriate
gift-giving and reciprocal gift-giving, or other activities of the office. The
office shall open and maintain a bank account into which it shall deposit all
money received under this section. Such money and the interest accruing
thereon shall not constitute public funds, shall be kept segregated and apart
from funds of the state, and shall not be subject to appropriation or allotment
by the state or subject to chapter 43.88 RCW.
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 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.
(3)
The governor's special trade representative may establish a trade advisory
council to:
(a)
Advise the governor and legislature on mechanisms for enhancing the state
export promotion and assistance efforts;
(b)
Evaluate proposals for enhancement, coordination, and structure of the state's
activities in international trade, including but not limited to proposals on
new or expanded overseas trade offices, sister-state relations, and new trade
priorities for the state, and make recommendations to the legislature and the
governor on the merits of such proposals; and
(c)
Provide the special trade representative with such advice and assistance as may
be necessary to carry out the purposes of the office of the Washington state
trade representative.
(4)
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.
(5)
The governor's special trade representative is authorized to:
(a)
Consult with the department of agriculture and the various agricultural
commissions, created in Title 15 RCW, on the promotion of Washington
agricultural commodities overseas; and
(b)
Consult with the department of community, trade, and economic development on
the promotion of Washington goods and services overseas.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Sections
2 and 3 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.
