America's new stance toward trade partners could spell chaos -- and opportunity -- for Washington's $114.5B international

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Washington is one of the most trade-dependent states in the U.S. and, with its top trade partners squarely in the crosshairs of new federal trade policy, it risks losing key drivers of its GDP. President Donald Trump initiated a trade war Tuesday when he imposed a 25% tax on Mexican and Canadian imports and doubled the rate on products from China to 20%. Mexico, Canada and China represent America's three largest trade partners, all of which have responded by slapping tariffs on U.S. goods.

But as the Trump administration’s stance toward Canada, Mexico and China takes an abrupt turn, newly appointed Commerce Director Joe Nguyen says it could present an opportunity for Washington.

“I know that a lot of the tension and anxiety that people are seeing now at the national level is going to create some chaos,” Nguyen told the Business Journal in February. “There will be countries, there will be jurisdictions that are going to be afraid of working with the federal government, but they might not be afraid to work with us.”

Despite stumbles by Washington’s top manufacturer, The Boeing Co., the state’s industrial-heavy international exports held steady year over year in 2024 at just over $40 billion. Spending on imports shot up nearly 10%, with vehicles, industrial machinery and computers and electronics leading the way.

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2025/03/04/washington-exporters-tariffs-trade-economy-trump.html