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.The text of the following section
has been vetoed by the Governor. It is noted in bold italic.
*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.
*Sec. 3
was vetoed. See message at end of chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec.
4. Sections 2 and 3 of this
act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.
Note: Governor's
explanation of partial veto is as follows:
"I am
returning herewith, without my approval as to section 3, Substitute House Bill
No. 1123 entitled:
"AN ACT Relating to international
trade;"
I strongly support the
efforts reflected in Substitute House Bill No. 1123 to enhance the position of
Washington State in international trade. Our economy depends more on
international trade than does any other state in the Union. Our economic
future will be made in international markets, the source of many of the high
wage jobs we now enjoy and will see more of in our future.
Last year, I
established the position of state trade representative as a way of increasing
the visibility of international trade in the state and the visibility of the
state in international markets. I have been impressed with efforts so far and
continue to believe that the position of state trade representative is a
valuable and important component to increasing the visibility and focus of the
state's trade efforts. As a result, I am pleased to establish the Office of
State Trade Representative in statute.
However, section 3 of
Substitute House Bill No. 1123 raises concerns. The section can be interpreted
to establish a new agency for international trade. The state trade
representative should not operate as a separate agency but should serve as an
arm of the Governor's office, working collaboratively with the Department of
Community, Trade and Economic Development and the Department of Agriculture to
develop and implement a broad and unified trade strategy in concert with the
trade community of our state.
The state trade
representative must be the lead advocate on international trade issues that
affect the enterprises and citizens of the state. Advocating the state's
interests in federal, foreign, bilateral and multilateral forums, the state
trade representative must work to focus state efforts on international trade,
investment and tourism. The state trade representative must work closely with
the wide community of interests in the state concerned with trade ensuring that
their concerns are heard and that their broad expertise is utilized to benefit
the state.
I am committed to
ensuring that the state trade representative carries out this vision. In the
near future, after consultation with legislators, affected state agencies, and
the trade community, I will sign an executive order articulating the role of
the state trade representative in greater detail.
For these reasons, I
have vetoed section 3 of Substitute House Bill No. 1123.
With the exception of
section 3, Substitute House Bill No. 1123 is approved."
