washington business
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Regional Meetings Connect AWB With Employers Across Washington
AWB Hosts Reception Honoring Washington-Canada Trade Ties
AWB’ s Government Affairs team crossed Washington this spring, visiting employers in all regions of the state. Starting with a busy set of meetings in Bremerton, then visiting Vancouver, Bellingham and the Tri-Cities before wrapping up in Spokane, the government affairs team gave a wrap-up on the 2025 legislative session and heard concerns from employers.
While there were a few isolated bright spots, it was largely a time to detail new taxes and burdens on employers, including more than $ 9 billion in new taxes, built upon the largest tax increase on employers in state history.
Turnout was strong, with full rooms and lots of questions— and one dog, Mocha, who sat in the front row at the Greater Vancouver Chamber.
The next big opportunity to connect with AWB will be at Policy Summit, Sept. 16-18 in Spokane. Learn more and register at www. awb. org.
PNNL’ s 60th Birthday Celebrated at AWB Office
AWB hosted a 60th anniversary event for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, with dignitaries from the Tri-Cities and the Legislature on hand to celebrate six decades of innovation and scientific leadership.
AWB hosted a reception at the Capitol during the legislative session honoring the Washington-Canada trade relationship.
Lawmakers from both parties and chambers attended the event, joining Nathalie Beaudoin, consul for foreign policy and diplomacy at the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle, and other members of the Seattle consulate.
Canada is Washington’ s # 1 trading partner, with more than $ 25 billion in exports and imports exchanged between the two in 2024.
The reception was held in tandem with a vote by the Legislature adopting a joint resolution underscoring our critical economic connections.
“ The shared economic interdependence across multiple including agriculture, energy, manufacturing, technology, transportation ensures continued job creation, business expansion, and global market shifts to maintain economic stability,” the resolution states.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and both sizes of the Cascades attended, along with representatives from the governor’ s office, Department of Commerce, WSU and other agencies.
14 association of washington business