A strong global economy is turbochargingWashington state business. In the first half of 2007,Washington state?s exports climbed to more than $30 billion, a 20.3 percent increase over the first six months of 2006. That rapid pace of exports helps to explain why both employment and income growth inWashington have outpaced growth in the rest of the country.

Thriving economies in Asia and Europe have generated strong demand for our agricultural products, our industrial machinery and our airplanes. "We have a lot of unique products like the Boeing 787 and the world?s best cherries," says Chang Mook Sohn, the state?s chief economist.

Washington also benefits fromservice exports that don?t showup in the trade numbers. Experts from our state are called upon to help foreign countries and companies design buildings, establish programs in environmental education, develop new hospital services and manage power plants. And companies like Microsoft and Amazon.comget amajor proportion of their sales and licensing revenues from outside the country, bringing billions of dollars to the state.

Our state?s pro-trade stance is also an important asset. "Seattle and Shanghai, we?re neighbors," LiuMingkang, chairman of the Bank of China, toldWashington CEO Magazine, referring to the state?s special relationship with China, our top trade partner.

But dependence on trade is a double-edged sword. Any weakness in the world trade system increases our vulnerability. And today, the system faces many challenges. As elections near, there will be calls for protectionism. Those calls could be intensified by China?s failure to ensure its toys and food are safe. Any measure that targets China could lead to tit-for-tat retaliation that could diminish overall trade. The recent problems with subprime loans has reminded us how our own irresponsibility, our failure to properlymonitormortgage lenders, can have repercussions worldwide.We suffered during the Asian financial crisis in 1997.We will suffer again if today?s financial problems lead to a contraction in economies overseas.Our experience with the war in Iraq could also turn our nation inward, as past wars have done. One of the greatest strengths of the PacificNorthwest has been its ability to tap foreign talent. But growing sentiment against using foreign labor puts that in jeopardy as well.

It is imperative that we, as a state, recognize the importance of international business to our region.We are dependent on trade, on imported talent and on an open international outlook on the world.

Gov. ChrisGregoire hasmade trademissions toMexico and other countries. Local executives have taken trips to Japan and Southeast Asia.More andmore students are studying foreign languages. Everything we do to keep our eyes trained on the globe is important for us and for our growing role in the world.

Write us at letters@washingtonceo.com. We would love to hear your thoughts on this and other issues.