Washington state governor offers his view on trade wars and 'America First'

Global connections and a strong international relationship are among the things that make Washington a great state for business and help us maintain one of the most vibrant economies in the nation.

Washington led all states in GDP growth and exports per capita last year. In 2016, $90 billion in merchandise shipped through Washington ports, including more than a third of all U.S. aerospace exports. We are the most trade-dependent state in America, with at least 1 in 3 jobs tied to international trade. Our seaports are a full day closer to Asia than Los Angeles–Long Beach.

As U.S. trade policy was clouded with uncertainty following last year's presidential election, we stayed the course here in "the other Washington." The simple reality is that nearly 95 percent of the world's consumers live outside the United States.

We measure competitiveness against other nations and regions of the world, not just other U.S. states. Washington is wide-open for business, from aerospace and advanced agriculture to clean technology, information technology and global health.

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Typically, 40 percent of the cases in our recruitment and investment pipeline are international firms. We conduct international trade missions and business development work all over the world — most recently in Spain, Japan, China, Canada, Mexico, Germany, United Kingdom and France — and I look forward to being in Switzerland in the fall. We regularly welcome inbound delegations exploring targeted opportunities that require the kind of skilled workforce and exceptional quality of life Washington state is known for.

Embracing business beyond our borders is second nature. Our economic and cultural ties with Japan date back a century. The Port of Seattle received the first cargo ship from China to the United States in 1979, and the first state trade mission to China was organized and headed by then-Gov Dixy Lee Ray.

This global point of view extends to action on climate change and the economic potential inherent in pursuing a clean energy, low-carbon future for our children. I am proud to stand with my fellow governors Jerry Brown of California and Andrew Cuomo of New York in founding the United States Climate Alliance. At least 12 states and Puerto Rico have joined us, committing to the goals of the Paris Accord. Our action is creating new businesses and jobs now, and that will only increase as nations move to combat the impact of global warming.

Protecting the environment and providing jobs are compatible. The American Jobs Project calls global demand for advanced energy and enabling solutions for "the biggest market opportunity of our era." We cannot wait to invest. Our Clean Energy Fund has helped Washington companies lead the way in a full range of energy storage and control technologies. Major initiatives in other key sectors are inspiring fruitful public-private collaborations, bringing the most promising technologies to life.