Governor Chris Gregoire has directed that flags at all Washington State agency facilities be lowered to half-staff Tuesday, May 13, in memory of U.S. Army Reserve Spc. Joseph M. Cerfus of Marysville who died during an active duty military training exercise in Canada on Monday.

Other government entities, citizens and businesses are encouraged to join this recognition.

Flags should remain at half-staff until sunset Tuesday or first thing Wednesday morning, May 14.

Trade Missions and International Visitors

Governor Gregoire knows that in order to be globally competitive, we must think of Washington not as a state, but as a small nation. She leads trade missions of business, education, agriculture and community leaders to develop opportunities that make Washington more competitive in the global market. She welcomes foreign dignitaries to our state to show off our high-quality crops and products and build the relationships that make our state the most trade dependent state in the nation.

Governor Gregoire’s trade missions have resulted in:

$1.5 million in new business from Europe for Washington companies;
Expansion or relocation of five European aerospace supplier operations to Washington;
$300,000 in new sales to China and Japan for Washington companies;
Elimination of a high Chinese tariff on linerboard;
Agreements to expand education programs by our colleges and universities in Asia;
Agreements with British Columbia, Canada to expand cross-border trade and tourism; and
Agreements with Queensland, Australia to share bio-tech information and research.

	Governor Chris Gregoire, in October 2006, led a trade mission to South Korea and Taiwan. Learn more > > >
	Governor Gregoire, in May 2006, led a trade mission to Australia and New Zealand. Learn more > > >
	Governor Gregoire, in May 2006, welcomed Vicente Fox, President of Mexico, to Yakima and Seattle. Learn more>>>
	Governor Gregoire, in April 2006, welcomed Hu Jintao, President of China, to Everett, Redmond and Seattle. Learn more > > >
	Governor Gregoire, in September 2005, led a trade mission to China and Japan. Learn more > > >
	Governor Gregoire, in June 2005, led a trade mission to France, Germany and Great Britain. Learn more > > >