Washington's trade deficit widens as manufacturers face new tariff hurdles
Local manufacturers and producers hit by new regulatory hurdles and uncertainty are scrambling to find a foothold amid a widening trade imbalance.
Washington’s trade deficit grew by 30.4% last year to $22.94 billion, according to an analysis of U.S. International Trade Commission data. Over the last decade, exports from Washington have fallen 27.1% while imports jumped 26.6%.
Earlier in April, President Donald Trump announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs, which were later paused for 90 days. But a 25% duty on goods from Canada and a 145% levy on goods from China are in effect. The two countries are Washington’s top trading partners. The Trump administration also imposed a 10% baseline tariff on most imports.
The trade policies are “concerning” to some of the state’s largest employers as they “don’t know how to react and respond,” said Lori Otto Punke, president of the Washington Council on International Trade. The council advocates for trade competitiveness for its membership, which includes companies like Amazon, Costco, Google and Nike, among others.
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