Seattle (April 30, 2020) – The Washington State China Relations Council’s (WSCRC) new sister organization, the Washington State China Relations Fund (WSCRF), this week received a shipment of 10,000 N95-equivalent masks donated by the City of Hangzhou. Acting on behalf of the final recipient, the City of Seattle, the WSCRF, as a charitable organization, was able to import the masks duty free under new rules recently implemented by the Customs and Border Protection Agency. WSCRF’s involvement in this transaction helped to expedite the shipment and ensure that the masks could meet immediate needs.

The masks were delivered this week to the warehouse of the Fire Department of the City of Seattle. The masks will be used by fire and police personnel.

The City of Seattle signed an MOU with the City of Hangzhou in 2016. Hangzhou, home to Alibaba, was one of several cities visited by a recent Washington trade delegation coordinated by the WSCRC. During the visit, the delegation conducted very productive discussions with the Deputy Mayor of Hangzhou, visited Zhejiang University, and met with a number of technology companies with interests in investing in the Seattle area. Hangzhou had planned to send reciprocal delegations to Seattle to explore further collaboration opportunities between the two cities in February and May respectively, but was forced to postpone these trips due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Mayor Durkan expressed the City’s appreciation to the City of Hangzhou, noting that this gesture further strengthens the bonds of friendship between the two cities. The Mayor also commended the Washington State China Relations Council for its efforts to foster this important relationship over the years. Despite the ongoing challenges in U.S.-China relations, this act of benevolence from Hangzhou illustrates the strong, resilient ties between cities on both sides of the Pacific, and offers a way forward for strengthening commercial, scientific, and public health collaboration. The WSCRC will continue to play a pivotal role in these efforts.

The WSCRF plans to assist the City with future donations of imported PPEs from China.

To learn more about WSCRC, please visit www.wscrc.org.

April 13, 2020

The Washington State China Relations Council, a 501(c)(6) organization, announced today that it has created a new sister organization, the Washington State China Relations Fund (WSCRF). The new entity is a 501(c)(3) organization, able to accept tax-deductible charitable donations.

The new entity was founded to provide more solid financial grounding for the Council’s educational programs. The Council runs many programs focused on business, cultural and educational topics that impact the relationship between Washington state and China. The Council hopes that by providing an opportunity to make tax-deductible contributions, both long-term supporters and other interested parties will help contribute the resources needed to expand the Council’s efforts to improve ties between Washington state and China.

The establishment of WSCRF could not come as a more opportune time as U.S. Customs has recently ruled that 501(c)(3) organizations are able to import donated personal protective equipment (PPE) from abroad duty free. The WSCRF has quickly filed the required documents and will act as the importer of record for a shipment of masks donated to the City of Seattle by the City of Hangzhou, which are due to arrive in Seattle next week. The Washington State China Relations Fund is also working with entities in China as well as local organizations to facilitate additional imports of PPE for Washington’s medical community.

We are extremely pleased that this entity is able to quickly transition to a role as an importer of PPE.  Although the long term plan for the WSCRF is to provide educational programs focused on improving our relations with China, we are glad that WSCRF is able to tangibly assist in the fight against COVID-19.

To read about the new ruling from the U.S. Customs Bureau regarding duty free imports of PPE, click here.

For more information about the Washington State China Relations Fund, or to make a donation, please contact:

Nor Coquillard   email: ncoquillard@wscrc.org

Man Wang         email: manw@wscrc.org