Puget Sound port chiefs outline plan to increase US exports

PORT of Seattle chief Tay Yoshitani and Port of Tacoma director John Wolfe have sent a joint letter to US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke outlining suggestions on how to achieve President Obama's goal of doubling the country's exports in five years.

The port bosses urged Mr Locke to approach trade in a coordinated, strategic way. Suggestions include conducting a series of regional hearings to gain insight from the farmers and manufacturers; examining the container shortage that occasionally prevents Washington goods from making it to market; and assuring that proposed new agents for the International Trade Administration will include shipping and logistics experts to promote US goods.

"When we ship Washington apples and wine to family tables across the globe, we create steady jobs and we build the economy for our state," said Mr Yoshitani. "To do that more effectively, we need the roads and rail to get them to the dock and the containers to ship them."

Echoing the port chief's remarks, Mr Locke, in his recent address to a US House of Representatives subcommittee cautioned that freight mobility concerns were national in scope, and deserved the close attention of the federal government.

"Simply put," he said "if we cannot provide efficient, cost-effective intermodal connections and service, the cargo will flow through other port gateways - such as Canada."

Yoshitani will be making further suggestions to the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness.

(Source: www.schednet.com)