The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission will hold a public hearing on January 13, 2005, in Seattle, Washington to assess The Impact of U.S.-China Trade and Investment on Pacific Northwest Industries. This investigation will focus on current trends in U.S.-China trade and investment and the short- and long-term impact on sectors vital to the economies of Washington State and the neighboring region.

The Commission's hearing will begin with an overview of Washington State and the Pacific Northwest's trade and investment relationship with China from representatives of the Washington State China Relations Council, the Washington State Labor Council (AFL-CIO), and the Economic Policy Institute.

The hearing will then move to a series of panels focusing on the key industries of aerospace, technology and software, agriculture, forest and paper products, and maritime and shipping. On aerospace, the Commission will hear from representatives of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), an aerospace industry consultant, and an aerospace industry analyst from Morgan Stanley. The technology and software panel will feature testimony on trends regarding globalization of the technology and software industries, the impact of these trends on U.S. technology workers, and concerns regarding intellectual property rights protections.

The Commission will then hear from analysts, labor and industry groups on the Pacific Northwest agriculture and forest and paper products industries and conclude with a panel examining shipping and maritime trade featuring testimony from the Ports of Seattle and Portland and the National Marine Manufacturers Association.

Congressman Jim McDermott (WA, 7 th District) will open the hearing.

The full agenda for the hearing is attached above.