TRADE

Expanding Markets Creates Oregon Jobs

Oregon is one of the most trade-dependent states in the country, and the First Congressional District is certainly one of the most trade-dependent districts – and we should be!

We sit on the Pacific Rim, boasting diverse and valuable goods and services produced in the high-tech sector of Washington County, the fisheries on the North Coast, the forests in Columbia and Clatsop Counties, the nurseries and vineyards in Yamhill County, and the center of business activity in Downtown Portland. Bordered by the navigable waters of the Columbia, our largest city is called Portland for a reason.  Truly, Northwest Oregon was built on trade.

The Brookings Institution estimates that there are 268,000 jobs in the Portland region that rely on trade.  These jobs tend to pay higher average wages than jobs in the same market that do not depend on international trade.  So, not only does international trade create sustainable jobs, it creates good-paying careers and a positive future for our communities, schools, and children.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, there are over 113,000 Oregonians who owe their manufacturing jobs to exports.  And the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis recently reported that Oregon grew its durable goods manufacturing sector faster than any other state in the country in 2009.  Our own Hillsboro-based Intel is currently using Oregon know-how to build a $3 billion manufacturing facility that will add a thousand new permanent jobs in the region, all the while depending on international trade to grow their market and solidify opportunities for Oregonians.

Congress and the White House recently came to an agreement that would result in consideration of new trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama.  While Colombia and Panama are not huge markets for Oregon goods and services, South Korea is a strong market with more potential.  In fact, between 2009 and 2010, Oregon exports to South Korea grew by 33% to a total of over $936 million.  These products include agriculture, electronic components, machinery and many other products.  As the congressman from the First Congressional District, I will champion our region’s employers and workers, manufacturers, and agriculture and promote their goods and services domestically and internationally.

The U.S. market is largely open to countries for importing their goods, while other countries remain closed to our exports.  The representative of the First Congressional District must fight to remove unfair restrictions to our exports to accomplish this. Enactment of trade agreements help to level the playing field, which is why the U.S. International Trade Commission recently found that enactment of the agreement with South Korea would net $11 billion in additional manufacture exports annually from the U.S. to South Korea.

I support free trade agreements and policies that expand markets, and will vigorously fight for Oregon employers that want to compete internationally.  I see vast markets for Oregon’s diverse products and services throughout the world and believe our businesses can win if given the opportunity.  As a congressman from the First Congressional District with experience in Asia (and a former fluent speaker of Japanese), I look forward to taking trade missions to potential and existing partner nations with the goal to reduce regulatory barriers and promote our goods abroad.

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