Washington Container Fee

Alaska depends heavily on goods shipped through ports in Washington state, which has long been a gateway to this state. In 2003, Alaska was the Puget Sound's 5th largest trading partner. The close economic connection between Alaska and Washington is responsible for at least 103,500 jobs and over $4 billion in labor earnings.

Currently there is a bill before the Washington State Senate that proposes to create a Freight Congestion Relief Account and taxation structure. A fee will be imposed on marine terminal operators at the rate of $50 per twenty-foot equivalent unit. The terminal operator will be allowed to keep 10% of the fee as compensation for accounting costs, but must remit the rest back to the state which will then go into this account.

With shipping fees in Alaska already astronomical this additional tax could be devastating to the flow of goods to and from this state. HJR 8 brings this negative impact to the attention of the Washington State Legislature and asks that the Washington State Legislature find some other means to fund infrastructure improvements to the ports of Washington. I strongly urge your support of this resolution.