| February 12, 2007 | For Immediate Release |
Contact: J.P Fielder
(202) 637-3089 Doug Goudie (202) 637 3078 |
Manufacturers Account for Two-Thirds of All U.S. Exports and Need Open Markets
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 12, 2007 – The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) today joined with other business groups to launch Trade For America, an umbrella group of companies, associations and other organizations working to secure extension of presidential Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), which expires June 30, 2007. The NAM will serve on the coalition’s steering committee.
"Members of Trade For America are a powerful force in support of renewing TPA, which is the key to knocking down foreign barriers," said NAM President John Engler. "By playing a central role in this effort, the NAM will amplify the voice of U.S. manufacturers. Since manufactured goods are two-thirds of America’s total exports of goods and services, we have a huge stake in TPA renewal.
“The President’s TPA authority expires in less than five months and we can’t afford to let the Doha Round and bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Korea and Malaysia slip away because the window of opportunity is closed,” Engler continued. “This is why the NAM was one of the first organizations calling for an extension of TPA last year.
“Without TPA, it’s not possible to get these market-opening agreements through Congress,” he said. “These free trade agreements allow America’s manufactured goods to be exported duty-free, compared to the 14 percent duty that is imposed, on average, in countries without an FTA.
Under TPA, Congress consults with the Administration while negotiations are going on and then votes the agreements up or down, but cannot amend them. “TPA is the key to negotiating trade agreements to get foreign barriers down,” Engler said. “Other nations will not negotiate with us if they have to negotiate once with the Administration and then a second time with the Congress.”