Chamber Experts: Trade, Infrastructure Critical for Washington State

U.S. Chamber leaders held a July 21 event in Everett, Washington, to highlight the economic and competitive benefits of free and fair trade and a strong transportation infrastructure.

In 2007, Washington-produced manufactured goods sent abroad generated more than 293,300 jobs for workers in Washington. However, the state's growing infrastructure challenges could erode those trade benefits, according to Leslie Schweitzer, Chamber senior trade advisor. "We cannot effectively move people and goods with overcongested airports and ports and crumbling roads and bridges," Schweitzer said.

"Our job is to get everyone talking, identify legislation to spur investment in transportation, and open more doors for Washington state businesses so that they can take advantage of opportunities to sell their products and services abroad," said Janet Kavinoky, the Chamber's director of transportation and infrastructure. 

Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson participated in the event, which was held in partnership with the Everett Chamber of Commerce. The event is part of a multicity campaign that combines the Chamber's multimillion-dollar Let's Rebuild America initiative to increase investment in America's infrastructure with it's TradeRoots program, which helps educate small and medium-size businesses on the benefits of trade.

Learn more at www.traderoots.org/ or www.uschamber.com/lra.

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