The significance of China entering the WTO is no more apparent than in the state of Washington. Several local trade-related groups have begun developing relationships to ensure future prosperity. For instance, the National Center for Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Seattle is working to update the antiquated customs procedures at the airport and seaport serving Shanghai, China's preeminent business hub.
      The project has several elements, including hardware and software systems to speed up customs clearance through Shanghai, an express package handling center being equipped by major U.S. air cargo companies, and an intellectual property rights information center that will help Chinese customs officials detect counterfeits being exported from China. The projects are intended as a gift to China, but they will also benefit U.S. exporters.
      "It's an effort to really modernize the operational procedures there in Shanghai, with the goals of greatly increasing the speed of the customs clearance process," says Mike Mullen, executive director for the National Center for APEC.
      The Port of Seattle is also making strong headway for streamlining its port and shipping-management systems. It signed a memorandum of understanding with Portnet.com last January to market, implement and operate a Web-based information technology system for Seattle's harbors. This marks the first time Portnet.com's port and shipping management technology has been made available to a port in the United States.
      After nearly a year of negotiations, Korea-based Hanjin Shipping Co. signed a 10-year lease renewal, with a five-year extension option, with the Port of Seattle. Speculation had run rampant that Hanjin might follow the example of another Korea-based shipping company, Hyundai Merchant Marine, by moving from Seattle to the Port of Tacoma. The new lease commits the port to investing approximately $50 million in improvements to Hanjin's Terminal 46 facility, including new truck gates, three new container cranes, yard improvements and a new administrative building.
      "We're excited to be staying in Seattle," says Ole Sweedlund, vice president and deputy managing director for Hanjin Shipping Co. "Our ties with the Port of Seattle and the region have been strong, and we are looking forward to prospering under this new lease amendment." Hanjin currently occupies 60 acres (24 hectares) at T-46 and will immediately increase its operations to 70 acres (28 hectares), and then to 88 acres (36 hectares) in 2004.
      The Tacoma Port is having an equally impressive run. Buoyed by strong auto imports and surging trade with China, the Port of Tacoma reported a 34 percent increase in annual operating income to $12.6 million. Operating revenues rose 9 percent to $62.3 million, and under the anticipation of its highest revenues in history, the Port of Tacoma Commission approved a $65.1 million budget for the year 2001. This budget maintains the port's property tax levy rate at its year 2000 level, and projects record volumes for containerized cargo.