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13th Annual Senators' Trade Conference
Maintaining Washington State's Competitiveness in Uncertain Times

 

Friday, October 24, 2008
7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Seattle Sheraton Hotel
1400 6th Avenue
Seattle, Washington

 

Conference Agenda

Maintaining Washington's Competitiveness in Uncertain Times

 

8:00 Welcome Remarks: Kathleen Connors, WCIT

8:10 Introduction of Senator Murray: Rullie Harris, Director of Regional Public Affairs, Weyerhaeuser

8:15 - 8:45 Senator Patty Murray

8:45 - 10:00 Panel From There to Here: Business Facilitation, Transportation and Competitiveness -- Challenges for the World, Opportunities for Washington State
Looking ahead to the next 10 years, business facilitation costs will make or break business deals. What are the emerging global trends? How do we balance global business expedience with the need for security at our borders? What US policies help or hurt us? What should Washington State be thinking about now to ensure competitiveness in 2018?

Moderator: Kate Riley, Seattle Times
Tay Yoshitani, CEO Port of Seattle
Skip Kotkins, Chairman & CEO, Skyway Luggage
Jennifer Spall, Senior Manager, Public Affairs & Government Relations, Wal-Mart Stores
Herald Ugles, President, Local #19, Longshoremen's Union
Michael Mullen, Assistant Commissioner, International Affairs and Trade Relations
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection

10:00 - 10:15 Break

10:15 - 10:45 Views from the House: Building Consensus for a Competitive U.S. Trade Policy from Washington State to Washington D.C.

Introduction of Congressman Smith: Clare Petrich, Commissioner, Port of Tacoma
Congressman Adam Smith

10:45 - 11:45 Panel 2: Trade Messaging: Why Does Trade Get Such a Bad Rap, and What Can We Do About It? Economists, trade statistics and historical trends prove that trade and open markets bolster economic development and job creation, while isolationist policies have devastating impact. Yet polls show that most Americans think trade impacts the country in a negative way. How do we work in our communities to ensure more workers feel they benefit from trade?

Moderator: Dorothy Dwoskin, Senior Director of Global Trade Policy and Strategy, Microsoft
Ed Gresser, Director, Trade and Global Markets Project, Progressive Policy Institute
Anne Kim, Director, Middle Class Program, Third Way

11:45 - 11:55 Break

11:55 Introduction of Senator Cantwell: Travis Sullivan, Boeing

12:00 - 12:30 Senator Maria Cantwell

12:30 - 1:30 Luncheon

1:15 - 1:30 Closing Remarks: Gary Isham, Wells Fargo Bank, Chair, WCIT