S-219                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5449

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Talmadge and Moore

Read first time 1/25/89 and referred to Committee on   Economic Development & Labor.

AN ACT Relating to trade; adding a new section to chapter 43.31 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     Washington state's economic future rests with the development of trade with peoples of the Pacific.  It is essential to foster an understanding of the marketplaces in which the state and its businesses will want to do business in the future.  A network of aggressive trade offices will demonstrate the state's commitment to international trade opportunities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.31 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) The department shall create trade offices in at least the following locations:

          (a) Washington, D.C.;

          (b) Ottawa, Canada;

          (c) Brussels, Belgium;

          (d) Beijing, People's Republic of China;

          (e) Taipei, Republic of China;

          (f) Manila, the Philippines;

          (g) Singapore;

          (h) Seoul, South Korea;

          (i) Hong Kong; and

          (j) Tokyo, Japan.

          (2) For purposes of this section, "trade offices" are offices in various geographical locations that inform Washington businesses about the trade customs of host countries, communicate changes in government or business policies, explore the market, and advise host country businesses of Washington state products and business opportunities.  A trade office may be an office in a law, accounting, or public relations office that is on retainer on a full-time or part-time basis by the state of Washington to provide services as needed.

          (3) Trade offices may distribute state publications advertising products from Washington state.