washington business
Photo: Don Wilson/Port of Seattle
jobs by industry subsector
discretionary ports
Passenger Water Transportation
Boat and Ship Building, Repair and Maintenance
Marine Support Services
Fishing and Seafood Processing
Maritime Logistics and Shipping
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34 association of washington business
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There’s nothing inevitable or immutable about Washington’s trade activity.
The state’s ports are “discretionary,” meaning that the cargo can get to the
Midwest and beyond using any West Coast port.
“The cargo coming into the Puget Sound or to British Columbia is
overwhelmingly destined for the American Midwest and it will go through
whatever port can get it there most reliably and cost effectively,” says
Bryant. “And that’s why the competition is so much greater between us
and British Columbia than it is between us and our competitors to the
South. Because we’re competing for discretionary cargo.”
“We’re Chicago’s port,