MEMBER NEWS

Fall 2007

From the World Trade Center

A warm thank you to all of the wonderful members of the World Trade Center Seattle who attended the last (my first) member reception. What a fantastic way to meet so many of you! Lenora Edwards, host of the event and president of her own consulting company for business development and coaching for entrepreneurs, was the "star" of the event.

The theme of the event was "Classic Hollywood" and Lenora was pleasantly surprised when she was presented with a mock Academy Award from Jack Creighton! Stein Kruse introduced Tay Yoshitani, the new CEO of the Port of Seattle and co-chair for the World Trade Center. Tay addressed the 150 attendees regarding his vision for the Port of Seattle and the overall future of our great city. If you are interested in sponsoring a WTCSE member event, you too can be the star of the evening. Just let me know!

Stein Kruse & Lenora Edwards

Looking ahead, we have some fabulous fall events for you to enjoy. You will have the opportunity to hear from Grace Allison at our October 24th Breakfast Leaders Forum, where she will be speaking on Managing Personal Wealth. Later that same evening we will have our fall member reception. Following these events is a cocktail reception on November 1st with Seattle Symphony Maestro Gerard Schwartz.

We have heard from you, our members, that these are the kinds of programs you are looking for. Please email or call me with more suggestions and ideas that you have for your World Trade Center Seattle. I am here to bring your ideas to life!

Thank you and I look forward to meeting each and every one of you over the next few months!



Ambassador Susan C. Schwab Visits WTCSE

The purpose of Ambassador Schwab's visit to WTCSE was to provide an outlook on the US trade agenda that will be considered by Congress this fall. Ambassador Schwab, a United States Trade Representative, is a member of the President's Cabinet and serves as the President's principal trade advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson on trade issues.

Kate Wilson from the Washington Council on International Trade (WCIT) opened the meeting by introducing Senator Patty Murray. Senator Murray explained how she and Ambassador Schwab have worked on many trade projects together, which is how she gained her admiration for Ambassador Schwab's abilities and passion for helping to educate American citizens on how trade is critical to the prosperity of the United States.

Acknowledging that the largest hurdle is the ongoing discussion on 'Free Trade versus U.S. Labor Force' Senator Murray went on to state that, "All we have ever told our citizens is that 'Trade is good' without explaining why. Our job is to educate the American citizen and tell them how trade benefits them. As trade advocates, we need to lead that fight". Senator Murray then introduced Ambassador Susan Schwab as "Persistent, persuasive and pragmatic" all qualities needed to lead the fight for International Trade.

Ambassador Schwab explained how trade is critical to the prosperity and stability of the United States in general and Washington in particular. Washington exports more than twice as much per worker than any other state in the nation. In fact, merchandise exports in Washington State reached $53 billion in 2006, an increase of 40 percent from the year prior. Over 200,000 jobs in Washington are associated with exporting. Many other countries support jobs in Washington as well.

Ambassador Schwab has been working with the Senate and House trade committees to develop a trade policy that increases export opportunities for U.S. goods and services while also addressing international labor standards and the needs of those hurt by expanding trade. Such a trade policy needs to be acceptable to the U.S. business community, which benefits from increased trade and increasingly applies high labor and environmental standards to its own operations abroad. In short, the well-being of the U.S. economy depends on reaching a political consensus on trade policy. To this end, the Bush administration and Congressional leaders built trade and labor standards into a bipartisan agreement last May that has a strong chance for Congressional approval.

Ambassador Schwab closed with a reminder that trade is a partnership not a detriment. No one creates jobs by closing their markets and our elected officials need to be convinced that economic policies that generate more jobs should be of primary focus. There needs to be a proper understanding of the benefits of trade and more discussion on the benefits of expanded trade, its positive impacts both in developed and developing nations, including its role in reducing poverty.

Two Unique Trips to Japan

In May of this year, Linda Solomon from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)* and Tomoko Miwa, Executive Director of the Japan-America Society (JAS)*, traveled to Japan on two very different missions.

Linda visited Japan in May on a study mission sponsored by the International Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle, an international arm of the Chamber of Commerce. Linda was one of 70+ individuals from Seattle, Everett, and Tacoma who enjoyed learning about Japan from an economic viewpoint. "The study mission was a way to see Japan through new eyes" Linda said. The traveling university discovered what it takes to be a "Competitive Region in a World Economy".

Tomoko Miwa visited Japan from May 18 through May 23, on a different mission. Kobe and Seattle are sister cities celebrating 50 successful years of an informative and educational relationship. Tomoko was very impressed by the welcome she received and enjoyed her experiences:

     • Ceremonial tree plantings
     • The Kobe City Museum
     • Earthquake Museum which featured a 7.5 earthquake demonstration

To celebrate the 50-year relationship, the Seattle Art Museum will be showcasing a splendid exhibition:

Organized by the Seattle Art Museum in collaboration with Kobe City Museum, the exhibition provides an intriguing window on the early interaction between Japan and the West during the period of the 16th to 19th centuries.

Japan Envisions the West will include 142 cultural treasures from the Kobe City Museum, many of which have never traveled outside of Japan before. The exhibition features rare and exquisite paintings, prints, maps, ceramics, lacquer ware, metal ware, glass ware, leather ware and textiles. Demonstrating not only how Japanese and Westerners comprehended and appreciated each others' cultures, the exhibition also raises important contemporary questions about how we perceive people and cultures from our own.

*JAS, a WTCSE tenant, promotes mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of Japan and Washington State by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. JETRO, a JAS member, is a government-related organization that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world.



World Trade Center Seattle provides a physical focal point for the international community, greatly enhancing an expanding global stature and enriching global education programs throughout the Pacific Northwest. As members, you have probably been to the fourth floor of the World Trade Center West, which serves as a dynamic venue for international trade discussions, business development, as well as a center for new and continued business opportunities for our region. What you may not realize is that it also houses government and non-profit trade organizations that your membership dollars directly support.

SAVE THE DATE!


Breakfast Leaders Forum
with Grace Allison

Managing Personal Wealth
Wednesday, October 24th
7:30 to 9:00 am
$25/member | $28/non-member
RSVP by October 19th

Sponsored By:



*****