With 40 percent of Washington jobs connected to international trade, one would think that policy makers would want to pay special attention to competitive threats to this sector of the economy.

One place they should look is right across the state's northern border to British Columbia. Bruce Agnew, director of the Cascadia Academy, made this point last week in an op-ed penned for the Seattle Times.

Writing about the Port of Vancouver, Agnew notes it is "a nitty-gritty trade competitor capable of eclipsing Puget Sound ports as the preferred Northwest gateway to Asia.​" One reason is that it has great support from provincial and federal government officials—a stark contrast to the ports of Tacoma and Seattle.

A strategic infrastructure investment strategy is needed to preserve and grow Washington jobs.

"State Highways 509 and 167 are unfinished and Interstate 5 is a nightmare," Agnew wrote. "In 2015, Gov. Jay Inslee and the Legislature should make a down payment on a billion-dollar highway-rail separation and port-access plan. Washington ports connect trade, local jobs and communities."

And our ports deserve investment.