Will Trump trade plan threaten Washington economy?

From aircraft to agriculture, foreign trade is crucial to jobs and the economy of Washington State.

But Donald Trump got elected by opposing trade agreements he said were unfair to America.

We visited Sea-Tac airport to see the growing impact of international trade. It's one of the reasons airport traffic is growing at 9 percent per year.

“We are definitely very busy, “said Charlee Ellingson, a designer and sales associate at a gift shop called Fireworks. She said the staff is ready to serve customers who speak many different languages,

“There's Spanish, Arabic, I think some speak Filipino and Japanese,” she said.

The Washington Council on International Trade says exports from our state total $112 billion.

The U.S. Department of Commerce says that adds up to 375,000 jobs supported by trade in Washington State.

But President-elect Trump campaigned against trade agreements like the NAFTA and the Trans Pacific Partnership, saying they cost Americans jobs.

If trading partners won't renegotiate them, he'll slap new tariffs -- new taxes -- on foreign goods imported to the United States.

We sat down with UW Business Economist Debra Glassman to see if that would bring jobs back.

“Let's say you are able to bring some manufacturing back to the United States you might have more jobs there, but you would lose jobs in the transportation and logistics sector, Port of Seattle, for example, would not see as much as many goods and services incoming,” she said,

And International Trade Consultant Jordan Royer says imports subsidize the infrastructure needed to export Washington crops like wheat and apples. When fewer boats bring imports to the port, there are fewer boats available to deliver those crops overseas.

Asked if trade barriers are more positive or more negative for Washington, Glassman replied, “I think for the pattern of industry in the state of Washington, that more trade barriers.

Top stories on KIRO7.com

• Baby born with unique birthmark that spans four generations
• 2 victims serious, 2 satisfactory, 1 discharged after Seattle shooting
• King County budget funds marine rescue team
• Pedestrian struck by car in Shoreline
• Trooper's SUV parked on shoulder of I-5 hit by car
• Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman re-elected to second term
• Post-election blues? Want to move to Canada? Here's how it works
• Seattle to remain sanctuary city, defy President-elect Trump
• Get breaking news updates in push alerts from the KIRO 7 News App

Cox Media Group