| May 11, 2007 | For Immediate Release |
Contact: Brian Kennedy 202-639-5994 |
(Washington, D.C.) – Commenting on a bipartisan agreement on free trade principles that was announced yesterday by the Congressional leadership, Cal Dooley, President and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, made the following remarks:
“The Grocery Manufacturers Association applauds Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab, Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, House Ways & Means Chairman Charles Rangel, and House Ways & Means Ranking Member Jim McCrery for their hard work and leadership in crafting this bipartisan agreement on free trade principles.
“This agreement provides a critical path forward for securing passage of the pending free trade agreements that will offer U.S. companies new possibilities for expanding their businesses both here – through increased access to important raw materials – and abroad – through increased exports of packaged foods, beverages and consumer products.
“Global trade is an essential part of doing business and as the largest trade association serving the food, beverage and consumer products industry in the United States and worldwide, we welcome this agreement and the positive impact it will have on providing new market opportunities for our members’ products.”
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The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) represents the world’s leading food, beverage and consumer products companies. The association promotes sound public policy, champions initiatives that increase productivity and growth and helps to protect the safety and security of the food supply through scientific excellence. The GMA board of directors is comprised of chief executive officers from the Association’s member companies. The $2.1 trillion food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry employs 14 million workers, and contributes over $1 trillion in added value to the nation’s economy.