 Greetings, Washington State Exporters!
The Washington State Exporter Newsletter provides a sampling of some of the international trade events in the months ahead from across the International Trade Administration and beyond, including our federal, state, and local partners.
A few updates from our end: Since our last newsletter, we welcomed International Trade Specialist James Bledsoe to the Seattle team, so be sure to check out our updated Industry Sector Coverage. Recently our team here in Seattle has been extra busy engaging with companies focused on strategic technologies, energy and critical minerals, and manufacturing around the state in a variety of industry sectors.
Spotlight: Invest USA
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2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit
May 3 - 6 | Washington, DC area (Maryland)
The SelectUSA Investment Summit is the premier event in the United States to facilitate business investment by connecting thousands of investors, companies, economic development organizations (EDOs), and industry experts to make deals happen. Hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Investment Summit is a one-stop shop for companies considering expanding to the United States and provides EDOs with the opportunity to meet directly with international companies to facilitate investment deals.
Register
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Companies Growing and Investing in Greater Seattle
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In addition to supporting US export activities, the U.S. Commerce Department and SelectUSA are dedicated to expanding investment and creting jobs and economic opportunity here at home. Our friends at Greater Seattle Partners are pivotal in driving this effort locally. This report shows the footprint of foreign direct investment in Greater Seattle. Foreign investment in the area brings new jobs, capital, and global connections that strengthen our economy and innovation ecosystem.
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Around Town
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Local Small Businesses!
The countdown to the FIFA World Cup 26™ is on — and your business can be part of the opportunity.
The Seattle Metro Chamber’s Community Business Connector is launching the Small Business Ready Portal, a free digital platform designed to help small businesses across King County access the tools, connections, and support needed to prepare for the global spotlight.
More Info and Register!
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Trade Shows, Trade Missions, and More
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#IndustrialAutomation
Connect with Washington State at at Automate this summer in Chicago
June 22-25 | Chicago
Washington State Department of Commerce invites small businesses focused on automation in the manufacturing, automotive,food and beverage, electronics and consumer goods sectors to connect at Automate in Chicago, June 22-25, 2026. The state will host a pavilion at the show, with space for up to 10 qualifying companies.
Contact: Julie Monahan / (206) 256 6147.
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#IndustrialAutomation #Manufacturing
U.S. Pavilion at Hannover Messe
April 20 - 24 | Hannover, Germany
The U.S. Pavilion at HANNOVER MESSE 2026 offers American exporters turnkey exhibition space, prime location, shared marketing, and on-site support from the U.S. Commercial Service — all designed to maximize visibility and minimize hassle. Space is limited! Don't miss this opportunity to network with thousands of qualified international buyers. Secure your spot today!
Contact james.bledsoe@trade.gov and mark.cooper@trade.gov
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#Aerospace #Defense
Farnborough International Air Show
July 20-24 | United Kingdom
This one-of-a-kind trade show features leading innovators in aerospace and defense industries showcasing advancements. Participants will engage with a global audience and create partnerships that propel businesses forward. Join Washington state at the show to maximize your experience.
Contact Joanna Boatwright
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#Aviation
The Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX)
April 14–16 | Hamburg, Germany
AIX is the world’s leading marketplace for the aircraft cabin interiors and passenger experience industry, bringing together airlines, manufacturers, designers, and suppliers to showcase innovations and build global partnerships.
Contact .Joanna Boatwright
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#FoodandBeverage
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May 16-19, 2026 | Chicago, IL
Don’t miss exploring new opportunities at the National Restaurant Association Show 2026 - the global restaurant and hospitality industry’s premier trade event, bringing together industry leaders, technology innovators, and international companies and business partners in one place.
Contact: Thomas Meade
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#FoodandBeverage
Mexipan
July 29–August 1 | Mexico City, Mexico
Mexipan brings together leaders in the baking and agribusiness industries to showcase emerging trends, technological innovations, and solutions shaping the future of the sector, while connecting companies with buyers and partners across Mexico and Latin America.
Contact Esthela Martinez
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Featured Webinars and
Virtual Learning Opportunities
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Make Your Website Work Worldwide
Wednesday March 12 | 4-5:50pm PT |
Tacoma or Virtual
Join our very own James Bledsoe for an interactive session where you will learn to:
- Optimize your website for global markets
- Boost visibility and attract international customers, and
- Drive export sales and expand globally
More info and Registration
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International Trade Talks: Supply Chain Management
Wednesday March 11 | 10-11am PT | Virtual
Join this webinar series hosted by the WA State Dept of Commerce, in partnership with the University of Washington Foster School of Business and Impact Washington, to bring you an important topic on Supply Chain Management.
More info and Registration
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Ready for Takeoff: Strategies for Export Success
March - June | 1-2pm PT | Free
Mark your calendars now for what promises to be an excellent export series from our friends at the Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
March 17: Export Readiness Assessment
April 21: Export Planning & Compliance
May 19: Export Marketing & Meeting Strategy
June 16: Export Logistics & Payments
Register
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Export Speed Dating: Meet the Washington Export Outreach Team (WEOT)
March 25 | 10am PT | Free
Quickly connect with select organizations that all support different aspects of exporting for small businesses. You’ll learn about programs and resources from each organization, hear real life examples of how they have helped companies like yours, and learn how to get in-depth support specific to your business. We'll also introduce the WEOT Resource Guide. Includes Q&A with panelists at the end.
Register
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Market Spotlight: Mexico!
Doing Business with Mexico: A Practical Guide for SME Exporters
March 25, 2026 | Noon PT | Free
Mexico is a high-growth market for SMEs—but only for exporters who know how to navigate it. Learn the essentials to enter and succeed in Mexico, covering market entry options, legal and tax basics, logistics, payments, and the most common exporter mistakes. Ideal for companies new to Mexico or ready to scale, this session delivers practical insights to help you move faster, avoid pitfalls, and trade with confidence.
Register
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And a whole lot more......
3/10/2026 - Brazil Aerospace and Defense MRO Webinar
3/12/2026 - Partnering with EBRD Webinar Series: Project Procurement
3/18/2026 - Opportunities in Brazilian Broadcast Transformation
3/19/2026 - Partnering with EBRD Webinar Series: Trade and Project Financing
3/19/2026 - Kazakhstan Mining Opportunities Webinar
3/19/2026 - Expanding Global Opportunities for Oil and Gas Industry Webinar
3/24/2026 - AUKUS, ITAR, and the Keys to Australia’s Naval Supply Chain Webinar
3/26/2026 - Operating In Mexico: Risk Intelligence for U.S. Exporters and Investors
3/31/2026 - Energy to Power U.S. Artificial Intelligence Webinar
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Administrative Updates: What's new from the U.S. Commercial Service
The U.S. Commercial Service Rural Export Center (REC) supports rural U.S. businesses through customized market research and international business connections.
Expanded Reach:
- The business is in a community with a population of 150,000 or fewer; or
- The business is located 25 or more miles from a Top 50 U.S. Exporting Metropolitan Area
Find out more here.
Contact our local team today to get started.
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On-Demand
Export Resources:
Country Research
Industry Research
Attend a Trade Event
How-to-Export Resources
Learn About our Export Services
STEP Funds
Grants available to U.S. SMEs looking to Export Internationally
Resolve a Foreign Trade Barrier
International Trade Administration's Visual Data Center
Intellectual Property Resources
Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP)
US Patent & Trademark Office's Free Services
Financial Resources
Trade Finance Guide
Small Business Administration Export Loans
Export Credit Insurance from Export-Import Bank of the U.S.
Have an export question?
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Newsletter Repository
Need to refer back to a previous event we mentioned in a past newsletter?
Stop by our LinkedIn Newsletters Showcase page
Introduce yourself via LinkedIn while you're there!
Questions about this Newsletter?
Have an event you'd like to share?
Contact: thomas.meade@trade.gov
About Us
The U.S. Commercial Service - Washington serves exporters across the state of Washington. As the primary export promotion arm of the U.S. Government, the U.S. Commercial Service is a global network of International Trade Advisors available to provide export counseling, help you find overseas partners, and advise you on a wide range of international business topics and opportunities.
Let Us Connect You to Global Markets!
Diane Mooney - Director diane.mooney@trade.gov
Thomas Meade - Senior Int'l Trade Specialist thomas.meade@trade.gov
James Bledsoe - Senior Int'l Trade Specialist james.bledsoe@trade.gov
Industry Sector Coverage
Web
http://trade.gov/washington-seattle
LinkedIn
US Commercial Service - Pacific Northwest
X (Formerly Twitter):
https://twitter.com/WAstateExports
We Need Your Feedback to Keep the Lights On!
Your feedback is critical for us to continue our critical mission to support U.S. exporters. Congress requires us to demonstrate our value to the U.S. taxpayers that we serve. You can provide this valuable feedback by sharing a recent Export Success, International Challenge, or other Trade-related Anecdote here:
Tell us Your Story
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