The 34th Annual Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) Summit took place July 20–24, 2025, bringing together over 600 leaders from across the U.S. and Canada in Bellevue, Washington. Renée Sunde, President & CEO of the Washington Retail Association, proudly served on the event’s Host Committee.
This year’s summit was held at a pivotal time for cross-border relations, with escalating trade tensions threatening long-standing economic partnerships in areas like agriculture, automotive, and tourism. Canadian and U.S. delegates, including elected officials, business leaders, and diplomats, used the event to tackle urgent trade issues and advocate for policies that support a resilient and mutually beneficial regional economy.
Key discussions included:
- The future of North American beef trade, which is under threat from proposed tariffs.
- Rising diplomatic strain, highlighted by sharp comments from U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, and calls for de-escalation from regional leaders.
- Maintaining cooperation on critical industries like potash, tech, and mineral exports, and ensuring frictionless border travel ahead of events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Despite national-level tensions, the PNWER Summit served as a vital platform for collaboration, innovation, and problem-solving, reinforcing the Northwest’s deep economic interdependence and commitment to building a stronger, unified future.
Sunde joined 24 other attendees on an exclusive tour inside Microsoft’s Cybercrime Center. The experience offered a compelling look at the vast and rapidly evolving landscape of cybercrime, both nationally and globally.
“The tour was absolutely eye-opening,” said Renée Sunde. “Witnessing firsthand the scale and sophistication of cyber threats—and the technologies being deployed to fight them—was both staggering and inspiring. It underscored just how critical cybersecurity is to every aspect of our modern lives.”
