Don C. Brunell: A lot riding on NAFTA

In 1993, President Bill Clinton was pictured holding a Washington state apple while promoting the virtues of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). That photo only underscored the importance of the agreement and our trade with Mexico and Canada.

Washington is the most trade dependent state in the nation. The Puget Sound Business Journal (PSBJ) reported last November, Washington state exported at least $134.5 billion worth of goods to Canada and Mexico since the agreement was signed.

The dust-up over NAFTA focuses on Mexico, from which we import more than we export. PSBJ figures Washi...