Around the time the Washington Farm Bureau was founded in 1919, a popular song posed the question, “How ya gonna keep ’em down on the farm? (after they’ve seen Paree).” This pop tune wistfully implied that worldliness and American farm life were irreconcilable concepts. But today, the dynamic global scene and the local farm are inextricably tied. Farming is an international business, and agricultural markets know no geographical limits. This is especially true for Washington. Most of us know that agriculture is an important part of our state’s economy. The agriculture and food processing industry contributes 12 percent of Washington’s economy, and employs 160,000 people across the state. Some 39,500 Washington farms generate income and employment in all 39 counties. We’re all proud of Boeing’s aerospace leadership and its stature as America’s top exporter. But it might surprise many to learn that our state’s second-biggest export category is agricultural products. Two-thirds of Washington’s agricultural products are exported to Asia. And our state ranks third in the nation in agricultural exports, with nearly $13 billion flowing through our ports. Trade keeps our state working. Washington is one of the most trade-dependent states in the nation, with one-in-three jobs dependent on trade. Our state’s economy relies on innovative companies, products and services in industries engaged in the global marketplace. More than 8,000 businesses export goods from our state. In 2011, Washington exported 64.6 billion in goods. We have a world-class business advantage when it comes to international trade because we are closer and better-connected to overseas markets than the competition. Washington’s exceptional deep-water ports are the closest in the U.S. to key markets like Japan and Korea. Washington container ships can arrive up to two days sooner to these destinations than ships from other U.S. ports. Compared with most other states, this means Washington has a unique path to economic improvement and jobs. International trade offers nearly unlimited potential for our agricultural and other exports. That’s why the Washington Farm Bureau strongly supports efforts to expand international trade. As an advocacy organization representing the interests of Washington family farmers, we are acutely aware of the challenges these families face. Trade brings jobs and income growth to our entire state, and will help make Washington farms more sustainable and profitable. How can we expand trade? We must focus on policies that remove barriers to Washington products and encourage fairness between nations. Tariffs are a good example. The average tariff rate among World Trade Organization participating countries is 62 percent. South Asian and some European nations impose average tariff rates of more than 100 percent. African and Caribbean countries assess between 71 and 86 percent average bound tariff rates. Yet the United States’ average bound tariff rate is just 12 percent. We emphatically support the efforts of our state agencies and Legislature to dissolve such barriers and impose fairer practices on trade relationships. We also support new international agreements and programs aimed at opening up market share and developing new markets for agricultural and other exports. A more aggressive trade strategy will bring jobs and economic growth to Washington. Washington Farm Bureau is not alone in such advocacy. We are partnered with Move Forward Washington, a coalition that includes businesses, trade associations, economic development organizations and international stakeholders. Collectively, we share a passionate dedication to expanding international trade as a key to our state’s economic future. Our elected officials and other key decision-makers understand the unique opportunities international commerce offers our state. We need to let them know that we do too, and that we strongly support efforts to capitalize on them. Mike LaPlant is a Washington hay farmer and President of the Washington Farm Bureau