ByRepresentatives Tarleton, Chandler, Ryu, Steele, Fey, Dye, Morris, Slatter, Wylie, Valdez, and Van Werven

Read first time 04/02/19.Referred to Committee on Innovation, Technology & Economic Development.

TO THE HONORABLE DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

WHEREAS, The United States and Canada have one of the largest trading relationships in the world, and Canada is the United States' largest export market, valued at $320 billion in goods and services and the United States is Canada's largest export market, valued at $308 billion in goods and services; and

WHEREAS, Free, fair, open, and mutually beneficial trade between our two countries will continue to strengthen the economies of both countries; and

WHEREAS, In 2016, trade between the United States and Canada totaled over $1.7 billion in goods and services every day, supporting 9 million jobs in the United States, and 2.1 million jobs in Canada; and

WHEREAS, In the more than 20 years since the three countries entered into the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), North American trade has tripled from $340 billion (in 1993) to $1.2 trillion (in 2016); and

WHEREAS, On March 1, 2018, United States section 232 tariffs were announced on steel and aluminum by 25% and 10% respectively, initially granting Canada and Mexico waivers; and

WHEREAS, On June 30, 2018, the United States revoked the waivers and levied tariffs on both Canada and Mexico; and

WHEREAS, On July 1, 2018, Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs on United States products totaling $12.8 billion. By July 5th, Mexican retaliatory tariffs on $3 billion worth of United States products were imposed; and

WHEREAS, North American integration under NAFTA has helped to make the region more competitive in the world economy by providing highly integrated and valuable supply chains, common rules and harmonized regulations that enhance cross-border trade and economic development in each participating county, and jobs in North American communities that depend on efficient and effective supply chains; and

WHEREAS, Canada and Mexico are the number 1 and 3 export markets for United States agriculture products, $20.6 billion to Canada and $18.6 billion to Mexico; and

WHEREAS, Since NAFTA was signed in 1992, agriculture exports from the United States have increased from $8.7 billion in 1992 to $39 billion in 2017; and

WHEREAS, Canada was Washington's second largest trade partner in 2017, with total exports of $8.8 billion in goods and services annually, representing more than 223,300 jobs in Washington; and

WHEREAS, Canada has agreed to grade imports of United States wheat in a manner no less favorable than which it accords Canadian wheat, and not require a country of origin statement on its quality grade or inspection certificate; and

WHEREAS, Canada, Mexico, and the United States have agreed, by signing the United States, Mexico, and Canada Agreement, to make targeted improvements to NAFTA that build on the successful North American partnership and our shared competitiveness in the global marketplace;

WHEREAS, The Washington State Senate and House of Representatives support the ratification of the United States, Mexico, and Canada Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that Congress immediately ratify the United States, Mexico, and Canada Agreement and remove steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico; and

Your Memorialists further pray that Congress call on Canada and Mexico to remove retaliatory tariffs on all United States goods and services.

BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.