His official party includes Washington's Director of Agriculture, Jim Jesernig, the Director of Community, Trade and Economic Development, Tim Douglas, and the Executive Director of the Washington China Relations Council, Joe Borich. A Washington delegation of 22 business, education and community representatives will travel with the governor. Among them are Washington State Sen. Alex Deccio-R, Yakima, representatives of Washington ports, higher education institutions, the agriculture industry and several other state businesses. During the trip, the governor will meet with representatives of Washington companies with permanent offices in China including Weyerhaeuser, Microsoft, John Fluke Manufacturing and Seattle law firm Davis Wright Tremaine. Washington is a national leader in trade-oriented benefits linked to international trade.
Export production is the fastest growing sector of the state's economy.
One in four jobs is tied to world markets, the highest rate per capita of any state in the nation. Japan is Washington's number one export partner, purchasing 22 percent of all state exports. China is Washington's sixth largest export market and Washington products account for 13 percent of all U.S. exports to China. Besides traditionally exported goods such as aerospace, agriculture and forest products, service industry exports, such as software, professional services and tourism, now account for about one fourth of Washington's total export value. Gov. Locke's first stop will be Tokyo followed by Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai in China and a stop in Hong Kong.