EXECUTIVE ORDER  84-08

Amending EO 84-04
Establishing the Washington State Advisory
Council on International Trade and Development

International trade is the most important feature of Washington State's growing economy. One out of every five jobs in our state is dependent on foreign trade. The primary industries of our state such as agriculture, aerospace, and other high-technology manufacturing and service industries, as well as wood products and forestry, must increasingly rely on export markets for maintaining business and employment expansion. Washington State's economy will become more internationally oriented during this "Decade of the Pacific" when our close proximity to Asia's fastest growing markets emerges as a decided advantage. World trade is our future. Washington of the 21st Century is at the crossroads of a new global economic order. To achieve our full potential, it is necessary for Washington State to assess its strengths and weaknesses as a trading partner and to constantly seek to improve our state's International business climate.

It is the intent of the state of Washington to:

1. Promote the state's objectives of job creation and retention, continued and accelerated growth of the state's economy, and enhanced economic well-being of the state's citizens and commerce;

2. Provide for private and public sector advice to the Governor and the legislature on international business policies development;

3. Ensure that the state pursue an International trade policy aimed at the mutual elimination of trade barriers with the state's trading partners;

4. Ensure the development of a superior, long-term state international trade strategy; and

5. improve methods for the formulation of state international trade policy committed to the principles of free and fair trade among nations and states.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, John Spellman, Governor of the state of Washington, do hereby order that:

I. There is established the Washington State Advisory Council on International Trade Development. The purpose of the Council is to marshal, the collective expertise of its members In order to advise the state of those strategies and Initiatives which will most effectively promote and encourage international business development by Washington State governments, private nonprofit development agencies, businesses, industry, agriculture, and citizens.

A. The Council shall consist of voting members appointed by the Governor including but not limited to representatives from the following groups or fields: public ports; nonprofit international trade associations or nonprofit business associations; importers; exporters, businesses involved with international trade with fewer than 50 employees; businesses involved with International trade with more than 50 employees; international banking; labor; agriculture commodity groups; trading companies; custom house brokering and freight forwarding; corporate strategic planning; and institutions of higher education.

B. Six members of the Council shall include:

1. Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House. One member shall be appointed from each caucus;

2. Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate. One member shall be appointed from each caucus;

3. The Lieutenant Governor;

4. The Managing Director of the state Department of Commerce and Economic Development's International. Business Development Division.

C. The Governor shall appoint the Chairman of the Council from the membership of the Council.

II.

In addition to the powers and duties set forth in sections 4 and 5 of SSB 4494, the Council shall have the following responsibilities:

A. To provide international trade information and counsel to the Governor, state agencies, and the legislature by December 1, 1984, and more often, if necessary, on the status of international trade and business in Washington.

B. To identify for the Governor, affected state agencies, and the legislature current: and long-term international trade issues which may require attention by the state.

C. Consult with appropriate public and private entities in the development of state policy alternatives which address and resolve current and long-term state international trade issues and international trade problems confronting the businesses, workers, and citizens of the state.

D. It is the responsibility of the Council to prepare and submit to the Governor and the legislature, by December 1, 1984, specific recommendations on the following topics:

1. Methods for most effectively coordinating all state international trade Activities including those carried on by the Department of Commerce and Economic Development, other state agencies, the Export Assistance Center, the Small Business Development Centers, university-based marketing centers, public ports, and agricultural commissions.

2. Methods of improving private-sector international, trade advice to the Governor and the legislature on a regular and long-term basis.

3. Methods for most effectively promoting Washington products in both established and new international markets.

4. Options the state may lawfully exercise to reduce unreasonable and restrictive trade barriers placed on Washington State and other trading countries, including ways to better affect United States government policy regarding foreign or domestic impediments to the trade of Washington's goods and services.

5. The potential benefits of pursuing and encouraging the development of a Pacific Northwest regional trade policy.

6. Methods for assisting small- and medium-size businesses which have the potential to develop international trade markets.

7. The desirability of authorizing and maintaining certified export trading companies and those state policies which would encourage the development of private export management companies.

8. Methods for better coordination and improving state, Federal, local, and private international trade informational resources, both computerized and noncomputerized, in order to achieve the most effective state international trade planning, academic research, and private sector international trade marketing policy.

9. Methods for attracting appropriate internationally derived investments to the state of Washington.

10. Prioritization and identification for the Governor and the legislature of those current and long-term international trade issues and international trade problems confronting businesses, workers, and citizens of the state.

11. The desirability of forming a permanent public or private entity for the review of long-term international trade issues.

III. In addition to the powers set forth in section 6 of SSB 4494, the Council shall advise the Department of Commerce and Economic Development on the bear methods for collecting, computing, distributing, and reporting of trade data and statistical information.

IV. The Department of Commerce and Economic Development shall provide administrative and lead staff support for the Council as may be reasonably required.

V. All executive agencies and departments of the state, including the Department of Commerce and Economic Development and Department of Agriculture, shall provide such assistance as the Council may reasonably request.

VI. The Council may hold such public meetings as it deems necessary.

VII. The Council shall recommend to the Governor and to the Department of Commerce and Economic Development such programs and policies as may be necessary In order to increase employment and economic activity within the international business sectors of our state's economy and shall review the Department's biennial program budget for international business development prior to its submission to the Governor and offer any comments it deems appropriate.

VIII. This order shall expire on June 30, 1985, at which time the Council will terminate its activities unless otherwise authorized by law or executive order.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the State of
Washington to be affixed at Olympia this
2nd day of May A.D., Nineteen hundred and eighty-four.

John Spellman
Governor of Washington

BY THE GOVERNOR:



Assistant Secretary of State