Washington’s businesses are some of the most recognizable in the world, from Boeing to Microsoft to Starbucks. In addition, timber and agricultural exports - as well as one of the most trafficked ports on the west coast in Seattle - help Washington exports reach every corner of the globe. In 2021, these exports generated $53.6 billion and helped support over 931,000 good-paying Washington jobs.

• In Washington, 931,100 jobs were supported by international trade in 2019, representing 20.0% of all jobs in the state.^1,2
• In 2020, 11,341 companies exported goods from Washington of which 89% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2018, 143,100 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.^3,4

• Washington exported $53.6 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2021, a 30% increase compared to 2020 driven by continued economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy.⁵
  • China ($12.1 billion)
  • Canada ($7.7 billion)
  • Japan ($5.2 billion)
  • South Korea ($2.8 billion)
  • Mexico ($2.8 billion)
• Agricultural exports are important to Washington's' economy, totaling $3.9 billion in 2020, according to the USDA.⁶
• Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $34 billion in exports from 139 companies in Washington.⁷
• Since 1971, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation - which has been modernized into the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) - has invested $485 million in Washington companies for overseas investment.⁸

• In 2018-2019, 6,780 Washington students studied abroad.¹⁰
• During 2020, 26,089 international students were enrolled in Washington colleges and universities and contributed $924 million to the Washington economy.¹⁰

• Since 1961, 9,968 Peace Corps volunteers from Washington have served in dozens of countries overseas.¹¹

1. https://tradepartnership.com/reports/trade-and-american-jobs-the-impact-of-trade-on-u-s-and-state-level-employment-update-2020/
2. https://www.businessroundtable.org/policy-perspectives/trade-international/benefits-of-trade-data
3. https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/edb/2019/index.html
4. https://www.bea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-11/imne1120.pdf
5. https://www.trade.gov/data-visualization/state-economy-and-trade-factsheets
6. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/state-fact-sheets.aspx#.U2ERwbQzqX8
7. https://www.exim.gov/customer-map/
8. https://www.opic.gov/sites/default/files/docs/OPIC_local_impact.pdf
9. https://ustda.gov/ustda-success-by-state/
10. https://opendoorsdata.org/fact_sheets/
11. https://www.peacecorps.gov/news/library/peace-corps-announces-top-volunteer-producing-states-2018/