Former governor, Seattle attorney discuss doing business overseas at trade week event
As part of Washington State 2007 Trade Week in Vancouver, former Gov. Gary Locke and Seattle attorney Allen D. Clark will discuss global economics, focusing specifically on China.
The Vancouver luncheon will cap off the week-long Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development conference from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 23 at the Hilton Vancouver. The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and the Columbia River Economic Development council are partnering with CTED to host the event.
Locke, a partner in Davis Wright Tremaine’s Seattle law office who specializes in China practice, will speak about opportunities and challenges of doing business with China.
"Pacific Northwest companies offer so many products and services so badly needed by the Chinese people as they modernize and improve their quality of life," he said.
Products and services in the agricultural, medical, engineering, energy efficiency and financial fields are in high demand, Locke said.
"There are incredible opportunities for Pacific Northwest companies of all sizes, but there are also challenges and things they can be mindful of in exploring these opportunities," he said.
Clark, also a partner in the Seattle and Shanghai offices of Davis Wright Tremaine, recently returned from living and doing business in the country for three-and-a-half years. He is a business and commercial transactions attorney whose practice emphasizes foreign direct investment in China.
Clark will offer a "ground-view" of Chinese economics, he said.
"Frankly, doing business with China right now is like a gold rush," he said. "There are so many companies going into China – it’s very high on the radar screen. There are 1.3 billion people who are a market for products from all over the world and a source of cheap labor, although that’s changing in some extent."
Locke added that the Chinese middle class is growing and "people all across China are hungry for American products," he said. "Our music, blue jeans, movies – it’s a love affair with all things American."
Trade week starts March 20 in Bellevue with the International Export Symposium and Governor’s Trader of the Year Awards.
The International Trade Division of CTED assists Washington businesses in profitably accessing the global marketplace by providing training and assistance, building international trade relationships and advocating the importance of international trade to the state’s economy.
It works with companies of all sizes to help them enter new foreign markets and provides most services at no charge.
The cost of the luncheon is $25 for CREDC and GVCC members and $35 for non-members. Pre-registration is required at 360-694-2588 or www.vancouverusa.com.
