Wait a second, what year is it!?!

With just a few weeks left in the year, I'm spending most of my time thinking about WCIT's 2015 plans; we already have some great events lined up and will soon reveal our 2015 policy priorities! In fact, I'm doing that so much that I've already written 2015 on a couple of checks (yes, it's true, I still write checks to pay bills).

I need to remind myself to slow down and take a moment to recognize and celebrate all the achievements of the past year - and 2014 has definitely been a year worth celebrating! When I look back over WCIT's work over the last year, I'm astounded at how much we have grown and how much our reach and impact on behalf of Washington employers has increased.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have helped make this possible, especially our members, partner organizations and our Advisory Board members. Together we have worked effectively and successfully to achieve the  policies and investments that increase Washington state's international competitiveness.

I hope you'll take a moment to look through our Year in Review in this e-newsletter to see how far we have come together.  Happy holidays to all, and I look forward to working with all of you to make 2015 even more outstanding!

Communication

            Op-eds or Columns:

            WCIT Quoted in Articles:

• The Seattle Times column "Bible for Business-Site Selectors Overlooks Northwest" (March 8)
• Global Trade Magazine article "Washington Is Heating Up!" (March/April edition)
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce's blog post "It Starts with the State: Organization Drives Support for Trade" (April 18)
• Puget Sound Business Journal article "Loss of Export-Import Bank Could Dull Boeing's Competitive Edge" (May 29)
• Puget Sound Business Journal article "Will Eric Cantor Defeat Hurt Boeing's Export Sales?" (June 13)
• Bellingham Herald article "Little-known Export-Import Bank Targeted by Conservatives as Corporate Welfare" (June 16)
• Puget Sound Business Journal article "Ray Conner: Losing Ex-Im Bank Financing Would be a Huge Blow to Boeing"  (June 25)
• Tri-City Herald and Tacoma News Tribune article "Study: Freight Rail Worth a Decade of Washington's Economic Growth" (October 6)
• McClatchy DC article "Washington State's Rep. Reichert Takes Aim at Top Trade Job" (October 16)
• Capital Press article "Container Slowdown Spreads to California Ports" (November 6)
• Puget Sound Business Journal article "Trade Organizations 'Feeling Powerless,' Call for Federal Mediator as Ports' Labor Dispute Heats Up"  (November 7)
• Puget Sound Business Journal article "Eric Schinfeld Works to Save the Ex-Im Bank, Peace on the Docks" (November 14)
• Capital Press article "Ocean Carriers Add Fees to Container Shipments" (November 19)
• Capital Press article "Curtailed Negotiations May Prolong Port Congestion" (November 21)
• McClatchy DC article  "Japan-U.S. Car Dispute Threatens Obama's Trade Plans" (December 1)
• Puget Sound Business Journal article "Trade Exec Wants Port Peace" (December 5) 

            WCIT Referenced in Articles:

• The Seattle Times column "Global Trade Uncertainties Will Hit Home in Washington" (January 17)
• Context China article "Washington Can Benefit from China's Great Leap of Investment into the U.S."  (February 2)
• Puget Sound Business Journal article "U.S. Trade Expert on China: Look for Export Opportunities, Watch Your Back" (July 22)
• Tri-City Herald and Bellingham Herald editorial "Our Voice: Export-Import Bank Crucial to Washington's Economy" (July 29)
• Ballard News Tribune article "Freight Rail Instrumental for Washington State's Trade Dependent Economy" (October 6)
• Progressive Railroading article 
  "Freight Rail a Boon to Washington State's Economy, Study Shows" 
  (October 8)
• Puget Sound Business Journal article "All Aboard: Seaport Alliance Could Be Good News for Rail" (October 8)
• Puget Sound Business Journal article "BNSF to Invest $235M in Washington Railroad System as Debate Over Coal Trains Smolders" (October 6)
• The Seattle Times column "Energy-Efficient Economy Needs Strong Railroads" (October 10)
• Yakima Herald article "Freight Rail Still a Vital Part of Yakima Valley Economy" (October 13)
• Puget Sound Business Journal article "New Port of Seattle CEO Sets Lofty Goal: Add 100,000 Jobs in Region (November 10)
• The Seattle Times column "Why Washingtonians Should Care More About Trade" (November 12)
• Journal of Commerce article "US Sen. Murray Vows to Push for HMT Replacement to Curb Canadian Diversions" (November 10)
• Everett Herald article "Spending to Keep Freight Moving" (November 11)
• The Seattle Times op-ed "Don't Be Quick to Bash Rail - An Engine of the Economy" (November 21)
• The Spokesman Review op-ed "Gateway Pacific Terminal: Pro: Economic Benefits, Export Growth Potential Outweighs Traffic Concerns" (November 23)
• The Seattle Times article "West Coast Port Slowdown Hits Agriculture Harder Than Holiday Goods" (December 2)
• Tacoma News Tribune article "Seaport Alliance already in choppy water with slowdown" 

            WCIT Interviewed for Radio or TV Stories:

• KUOW story "What the Trans-Pacific Partnership Could Mean for Washington" (January 16)
• KIRO story "Possible Sanctions on Russia Could Have Impact on Washington Business" (March 20)
• CCTV story "Billions at Risk As West Coast Port Contract Ends"  (June 27)
• CCTV story on TPP and APEC Summit (November 6)
• KOMO TV Seattle story on PMA/ILWU labor dispute (November 7)
• KUOW story "Who's to Blame for the Work Slowdown at Northwest Ports?" (November 19)
• KPLU story "Fifteen Years After 'Battle for Seattle,' Labor Groups Raise Concerns About New Trade Deals" (November 28) 

     Other Communication Achievements:

• Quoted in Representative Reichert's letter to House leadership urging reauthorization of Ex-Im Bank (July 2)
• Revealed a new WCIT logo and branding package (July 17)
• Created new WCIT informational handout (July) and membership pitch handout (November) 

Policy

• Testified to Washington State Legislature's House Transportation Committee on the importance of freight mobility to our trade economy (January 13)
•  Signed letter  to Congressional leaders urging swift passage of TPA (January 15)
• Sent 
  joint letter with Pacific Northwest Waterways Association 
  to the Washington Congressional Delegation, thanking them for introducing the Maritime Goods Movement Act (February 28)
• Signed letter urging ILWU and PMA to reach agreement and maintain port competitiveness (May 9)
• Testified on TPP and TTIP to the Washington State Legislature's Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Trade Policy (June 16)
• Wrote a thank you letter to the Washington Congressional Delegation for ensuring HMT reforms were included in WRRDA (June 16)
• Signed letter urging PMA and ILWU to come to an agreement (July 9)
• Released redesigned and updated policy factsheets  (September)
• Sent letter signed by 40 Washington state companies to the Washington Congressional Delegation, urging them to lead the fight for Ex-Im Bank reauthorization (September 3)
• Wrote a thank you letter to Governor Inslee for his support of Ex-Im Bank reauthorization (September 23)
• Co-commissioned a freight rail economic impact study with BNSF that found over 300,000 Washington jobs rely on freight rail (October 6)
• Wrote letters signed by outdoor apparel retailers to Representative Reichert and Senator Cantwell, thanking them for re-introducing the U.S. OUTDOOR Act. (October 15)
• Signed letter urging PMA and ILWU to quickly conclude a labor agreement (October 20)
•  Signed the "Hit the HMT Target Campaign" letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairs (October 22)
• Joined 100 businesses and organizations in signing letter urging President Obama to intervene to resolve PMA/ILWU labor dispute
• Joined 200 businesses and organizations in letter urging Congress to pass TPA before end of year (November 14)
•  Wrote letter signed by 88 businesses and organizations to President Obama, urging him to help ensure a resolution to interruptions at West Coast port terminals 

Programs

• Co-hosted the annual Trends in Ocean Shipping Forum with Foster Pepper (February 26)
• Held a member roundtable discussion on the TPP with U.S. Representative Adam Smith (March 18)
• Co-organized a dinner with the Indian Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. S. Jaishankar (May 5)
• Led the annual WCIT D.C. Fly-In (May 20 - 22)
• Hosted a member roundtable with U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (April 22)
• Co-organized a breakfast roundtable with Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Wendy Cutler (July 11)
• Held the WCIT Summer Luncheon featuring Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for China Affairs Claire Reade (July 17)
• Hosted a luncheon with U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman (August 12)
• Hosted the 2014 Washington Trade Conference (November 10)
• Co-sponsored a Trade +Aid panel discussion with the University of Washington Jackson School of International Studies Master in Applied International Studies program and the Washington Global Health Alliance (November 20)

WCIT Joins 100 Organizations in Letter Urging President Obama to Help Resolve PMA/ILWU Labor Dispute

WCIT Signs Letter Urging Passage of Trade Promotion Authority Before End of Year

WCIT and 88 Washington Businesses Urge President Obama to Help Prevent a West Coast Port Shutdown 

Port of Seattle

Port of Tacoma

Edelman
 

Perkins Coie LP

Weyerhaeuser Company

Silver Members

Clark Nuber

Columbia Sportswear

Wells Fargo Global Banking

Wurts & Associates

Highline Community College

SUPERVALU International

YCC International

World Trade Center Seattle