Oregon Lawmakers Launch Bipartisan Trade Caucus to Boost International Business

Reps. Daniel Nguyn, D-Lake Oswego, and Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany, have formed a new bipartisan caucus to promote trade, business development, and international economic policy. The Trade Caucus aims to unify Oregon's approach to domestic and international trade, leveraging the state's unique location between major ports in Seattle and Los Angeles. Oregon has a trade surplus, sending more goods abroad than it receives, with a rate of exports per capita that ranks sixth in the nation.

Key Takeaways:

• The Trade Caucus is a bipartisan group of lawmakers aiming to promote trade, business development, and international economic policy in Oregon.
• Oregon has a trade surplus, with $34 billion worth of products exported in 2024, mostly computers and electronics, transportation equipment, machinery, chemicals, and agricultural products.
• The caucus is a response to the uncertain impact of fluctuating tariffs and trade policies under the Trump administration, as well as federal funding losses and their potential effects on the economy and Oregon businesses.
• Most Oregon businesses anticipate negative impacts from tariffs, citing supply chain disruptions, increased costs, and increased prices for customers, according to a survey by Business Oregon.
• The caucus has its roots in Rep. Nguyn's bill to direct some lottery funds to Business Oregon to promote trade, which died upon adjournment, but will serve as a new venue for lawmakers to discuss trade policy impacts on business owners.
• Rep. Boshart Davis, a member of the caucus, has experienced firsthand the challenges of trade policies while running her company, Bossco Trading LLC, which exports agricultural products.

Statistics:

• Oregon exported $34 billion worth of products in 2024, mostly computers and electronics, transportation equipment, machinery, chemicals, and agricultural products.
• Oregon imported $28.2 billion in goods from other countries in 2024, with most goods coming from Japan, Taiwan, Canada, China, and South Korea.
• Oregon has the sixth-highest rate of exports per capita in the nation.
• 290 businesses participated in an informal survey by Business Oregon, anticipating negative impacts from tariffs, with concerns about supply chain disruptions, increased costs, and increased prices for customers.

Sources:

• Oregon Capital Chronicle: (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Rep. Daniel Nguyn, D-Lake Oswego, left, speaks with Rep. Hai Pham, D-Beaverton, on the House floor at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023.
• Oregon Business Oregon: Anticipated Impact of Tariffs by Oregon Businesses, June 13, 2025.
• Oregon Capital Chronicle: Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany, talks with Rep. Virgle Osborne, R-Roseburg, on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Laura Tesler/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
• Port of Portland: Port Notifies Shippers of Oct. 1 Discontinuation of Container Service.