Lori Otto Punke

A variety of political and economic factors, including the increased reliance on tariffs and ongoing tensions with China, have negatively impacted the growth of international trade in Washington over the past couple of years.  A new report released Tuesday by the Washington Council on International Trade, details the affect these factors have had on the state’s economy.  The repo...

The Washington Council on International Trade recently released a report taking a look at the issues and priorities that should be considered in a "post-brexit" free trade agreement between the U.S. and U.K. WCIT President Lori Otto Punke said there are a lot of macroeconomic questions still on the table ...

USMCA is now bound for President Trump, after what’s being called a landslide victory in the Senate Thursday.  The 78-21 bipartisan vote is being called a win for America’s farmers and ranchers and the president, a day after he signed the Phase One trade agreement with China.  But, the year-...

Thanks to the county’s rapid pace of economic growth, India could become an even more important trade partners for the Washington economy, and Washington farmer could benefit.  But ongoing global trade conflicts may put those potential benefits at risk, according to a new report released by the Washington Council on International Trade.  Lori Ott...

The Washington Council on International Trade released a report earlier this month outlining out the ongoing trade war has hurt both the state’s Ag and non-ag economies.  Lori Otto Punke, WCIT president, said the U.S. should be working on a level playing field with other economies around the world.  However,...

The trade war with China is not even nine months old, and the effects are already being felt by the Washington farm economy.  According to a study conducted by the Washington Center on International Trade, the overall Washington economy has lost hundreds of millions of dollars because of the trade war, and farmers have been some of the hardest hit.  WC...

Many in the Ag industry say USMCA will be good news for American farmers if passed.  But how specifically could the updated NAFTA deal impact Northwest producers.  The Washington Council on International Trade recently conducted a report, which found Washington’s economy stand to gain substantially if USMCA is implemented.  Lori Otto Pun...

Washington Council on International Trade plans on hosting the Honorable Liam Fox, U.K. Secretary of State for International Trade, for a discussion on trade between the U.S. and a post Brexit U.K.  The meeting will take place in Seattle Wednesday, from 8 a.m. t...