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<< Back E-mail Update – April 16, 2003 – Volume 3, Number 6 International Trade Day In Salem: International Trade Day was a great success. Coalition members and partnering organizations from businesses, farms, ports, labor unions, and communities across the state of Oregon, along with a few representatives from Washington participated in this lobby day at the Oregon State Capitol on March 19, 2003. The focus of International Trade Day was to advocate for a series of key trade, transportation and economic development legislative priorities that are critical to Oregon’s economic future and quality of life, including: channel deepening; a transportation funding package; tourism investment; re-focus of economic development; extending shipping container property tax exemption; and enhancing the role of the International Trade Commission. Key legislative leaders and many other legislators clearly voiced their support for Channel Deepening and other key issues listed above. Legislators indicated that they would work to ensure the re-appropriation of funding ($27.7 million) for this critical project. Benson Beach Project Status: Pacific County and the Costal Community Group have determined that Benson Beach Phase II will not be performed this year (2003). At the recommendation of Pacific International Engineering (PIE), it was determined that no additional benefit would be gained from utilizing the $905,000 appropriated by Congress and allocated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to proceed with Phase II. Pacific County is hoping that any remaining funds from the $905k would be held over or re-programmed for FY04 by the Corps. However, the Corps was not able to make a firm commitment to hold over or reprogram remaining funds from the $905k for FY04. The Corps has indicated that, due to low water levels this year, they are finding a significant budget shortfall in having adequate funding to perform enough maintenance dredging to allow several channels in our region to be dredged to their authorized depths, including the 40-foot Columbia River channel. Speakers Bureau: If your organization, business, union, or local government would like an updated presentation about the goals, implications, and current status of the Columbia River channel deepening project, we would be delighted to provide an informative, updated, and interesting presentation at no cost. Feel free to contact the Coalition office to arrange for a presentation. Did You Know? In 2002, Oregon’s factories, mills and farms exported $10.1 billion worth of manufactured and agricultural products, a thirteen percent increase over 2001. The percentage increase in shipments was the fourth largest in the nation. Maritime transportation is vitally important for international trade. Ocean-going vessels move over 95% of U.S. overseas trade by weight and 75% by value. In the Columbia/Snake River Customs District, marine shipping accounts for 99% of our foreign trade by weight and 72% by value.
Please contact us with any questions, concerns, or information requests. Thanks for your partnership in building a stronger economy through maritime trade.
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