Gregoire heads up trade delegation to South Korea and Taiwan
OLYMPIA - An 80-member Washington state trade delegation, headed by Governor Chris Gregoire, left Friday on a mission to South Korea and Taiwan.
The first stop is Korea, and Gregoire says despite tensions created by North Korea's statement that it tested a nuclear device, she was not about to cancel.
"My major goal now is to say to South Korea: Washington State is going to be your friend and stand by you in good times and in challenging times," Gregoire told KOMO 4 News.
Like the rest of the world, Gov. Gregoire worries about North Korea's militaristic regime, its defiance of public opinion, its long range missile tests, and the claims it tested a nuclear device.
But Sunday, she heads to the DMZ, the zone separating North and South. She says she wants to see for herself and to reassure those on the border: "When it comes to this subject, I am a representative of this country. When it comes to trade, I am a representative of Washington State. So, I stand behind this country with a message, we cannot tolerate this threat."
Despite the tensions, Gregoire believes the future of our state's agriculture is overseas, and that's why she is going. But she leaves knowing that on Sept. 6, U.S. and South Korean labor unions sponsored a rally to protest a possible Fair Trade Agreement unless it recognizes environment, worker, and health concerns.
Gregoire made this pledge: "My goal is to go to Korea and say, 'We want to take your products and spread them throughout the entire United States; but we want workers protected, we want worker safety and decent wages.' "
After the Korea visit, the delegates, which includes business and education representatives, will move on to Taiwan.
Washington state's trade with Taiwan and Korea is now nearly $5 billion a year. Gregoire says trade creates well-paying jobs right here.
She added the members of the delegation are paying their own way or the costs are covered by their businesses and institutions. The state is paying only for the governor and four members of her staff.
The first stop is Korea, and Gregoire says despite tensions created by North Korea's statement that it tested a nuclear device, she was not about to cancel.
"My major goal now is to say to South Korea: Washington State is going to be your friend and stand by you in good times and in challenging times," Gregoire told KOMO 4 News.
Like the rest of the world, Gov. Gregoire worries about North Korea's militaristic regime, its defiance of public opinion, its long range missile tests, and the claims it tested a nuclear device.
But Sunday, she heads to the DMZ, the zone separating North and South. She says she wants to see for herself and to reassure those on the border: "When it comes to this subject, I am a representative of this country. When it comes to trade, I am a representative of Washington State. So, I stand behind this country with a message, we cannot tolerate this threat."
Despite the tensions, Gregoire believes the future of our state's agriculture is overseas, and that's why she is going. But she leaves knowing that on Sept. 6, U.S. and South Korean labor unions sponsored a rally to protest a possible Fair Trade Agreement unless it recognizes environment, worker, and health concerns.
Gregoire made this pledge: "My goal is to go to Korea and say, 'We want to take your products and spread them throughout the entire United States; but we want workers protected, we want worker safety and decent wages.' "
After the Korea visit, the delegates, which includes business and education representatives, will move on to Taiwan.
Washington state's trade with Taiwan and Korea is now nearly $5 billion a year. Gregoire says trade creates well-paying jobs right here.
She added the members of the delegation are paying their own way or the costs are covered by their businesses and institutions. The state is paying only for the governor and four members of her staff.
