H-2051              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1162

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Doty, Vekich, B. Williams, Kremen, C. Smith, Schoon, Amondson and Wineberry

Read first time 3/2/87 and referred to Committee on Trade & Economic Development.

AN ACT Relating to state policy on international trade; and amending RCW 43.31.055.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 6, chapter 466, Laws of 1985 and RCW 43.31.055 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department shall assist in expanding the state's role as a major international gateway for landing and transshipping goods bound for domestic and foreign markets.  The department shall identify and work with Washington businesses which can utilize state assistance to increase domestic and foreign exports and are capable of increasing production of goods and services, including but not limited to manufactured goods, raw materials, services, and retail trade.  The department shall participate in trade and industry exhibitions both foreign and domestic to promote and market state products and services.

(2) The department shall provide direction and assistance to other state agencies regarding international trade development and business expansion in order to provide for a coordinated state policy regarding international trade in traded services and in manufactured goods.  The department shall be guided in its role by the following principles:

(a) The creation of new employment opportunities for state residents.

(b) The degree to which new economic growth in the state includes the higher value added elements of a manufacturing process or of a traded service.

(c) The degree to which state actions regarding international trade and commerce promote the reduction of trade barriers or subsidies which distort international trade in goods and services.

(d) The creation of employment opportunities and the promotion of economic growth using natural resources in the state, with a special emphasis on increasing the value of such resources and on diversification of economic activity in the state's natural resource economy.

(e) The creation of employment opportunities and the promotion of economic growth using the state's growing competitive advantages in traded services and design services.

(f) The promotion of the employment opportunities and economic growth using the state's geographic position on the northeastern coast of the pacific rim trading area, the most dynamic geographic area in the world economy.

(3) The department's activities under this section shall include, but not be limited to:

          (((1))) (a) Operating an active and vigorous effort to market the state's products and services internationally, coordinated with private and public international trade efforts throughout the state.

          (((2))) (b) Coordinating with the domestic and foreign export market development activities of the state department of agriculture.

          (((3))) (c) Sending delegations to foreign countries and other states to promote trade with Washington.

          (((4))) (d) Acting as a centralized location for the assimilation and distribution of trade information.