Amid a series of trips to build international trade relationships, Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire found time this week to visit Alaska, reportedly the first visit there by a Washington governor in more than 25 years.

Relations have been frayed between politicians in natural resource-using Alaska and more urban Washington. But there’s this fact from the AP story: “Ninety-seven percent of Alaska’s goods pass through Washington, 70 percent through the Port of Tacoma and the rest through Seattle and private docks.”

Regardless of politics, treating Alaska as a trading partner recognizes reality. Gregoire’s other trade trips have been to Japan, Korea, China, France, Germany, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. Mexico comes next month.