WA Commerce chief warns tariff fallout could hit state hard

Joe Nguyễn, Washington's Department of Commerce Director, warns the state's economy is vulnerable to the fallout from escalating tariffs, particularly impacting agriculture and technology sectors. Exports to the Asia Pacific region have plummeted by 30% since the last trade war in 2018. New and retaliatory tariffs could cost the agriculture sector $7. 5 billion, with crops like apples facing severe tariff impacts. Despite launching a tariff information resource, Nguyễn emphasized the limited capacity of the state to mitigate these economic challenges.

He also indicated that the regulatory environment complicates housing projects, leading to inefficiencies in meeting housing needs. To address this, Nguyễn is developing a "Fast Track" proposal aimed at streamlining permitting for housing projects. He critiques the complexity of compliance rules that burden state programs, highlighting that the state’s administrative manual exceeds 1,000 pages. Ultimately, he stresses the need for more investment and efficient processes to build the necessary housing units.