Innovation Key for Pacific Northwest Exporters
The Pacific Northwest region of the United States – home to major Puget Sound container ports in Tacoma and Seattle – is expanding its worldwide exports. According to the Washington Council on International Trade (WCIT), one-third of the Washington state's economic activity, one-third of its agricultural product and one in three jobs depends on international trade. And on a per capita basis, Washington is now the most trade-dependent state in the United States. "When you take our total two-way trade volume – more than $110 billion annually – and divide by our population of roughly 6.3 million Washingtonians, you get an annual two-way trade volume of more than $17,000 per person," WCIT President Bill Center said in a recent speech to the National Lieutenant Governors' Association.
Record-Breaking Year for Louisiana Exports
According to the World Trade Club of New Orleans, Louisiana realized more than $13.4 billion in exports during the first six months of 2007, a 20.7 percent increase compared to the same period one year ago - and 2006 set records with exports valued at $23.5 billion for the entire year. Louisiana’s exports rank 11th among all 50 states, but the state’s export growth registered nearly double the U.S. rate at 10.6 percent. The World Trade Center’s report, using data compiled by the World Institute of Strategic Economic Research, found agriculture products, chemicals, petroleum and coal, processed foods and machinery rank among the state’s top exports. Products were principally shipped to Japan, Mexico, Chine, Canada and the Netherlands. Officials contend the declining value of the U.S.
