Oregon & Washington Add Jobs & No Movement on Mexico Tariffs

Oregon & Washington Add Jobs & No Movement on Mexico Tariffs. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. Washington Congressman Doc Hastings has been busy trying to get some movement on the Mexico tariff issue but it seems like a rusted nut. Hastings is very frustrated over the issue and doesn't see any movement in the upcoming lame duck session. HASTINGS: A little over a month ago I sent another letter to Secretary Ray LaHood of Transportation and Secretary Gary Locke at Commerce stating the obvious again and pointing out that in the past they've said we're working on it and yet nothing has happened and virtually every week my staff calls over there and asks what's going on. I am very, very frustrated especially when the President is saying we ought to expand trade, well here's a situation that could be remedied and would certainly help our apple crop because Mexico is our largest market. Oregon's increase of 7,600 jobs has surprised a lot of folks. It's the highest jump in 4 years but the state's unemployment rate seems stuck at 10.5 percent. The seasonally adjusted figures released Wednesday came as Washington State announced similar stats: a gain of 5,900 jobs and unemployment holding even at 9.1 percent, a little healthier rate. Now here's today's Washington Grange Report. (GRANGE) That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.