Trade For America - Jobs. Growth. Engagement. Prosperity.
Free and Fair Trade is Essential to Keep Our Economy Strong and Growing in 2007
| Resources: | |
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FTA Partners Are a Tiny Portion of Our Trade Balance  |
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U.S trade Deficit With NAFTA is Driven by Oil and Gas, Not Manufactured Goods |
| Why Free Trade Agreements Work for America's Manufacturers | |
| The Facts About Modern Manufacturing | |
| To The Point: Talking Points for Manufacturers | |
| Renewing Trade Promotion Authority is a Must | |
- While the U.S. market is the most open in the world, U.S. companies continue to face tariffs and other barriers in other countries.
- In order for U.S. manufacturers to compete globally, we must bring down foreign barriers to our exports. To help level the international playing field it is essential that Congress pass bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) and ensure the successful conclusion of the Doha Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations.
- Most American workers have a very large stake in issues affecting trade. In fact, one out of every five manufacturing jobs is tied to exports.
- Millions of Americans work for companies that are not directly involved in trade but supply companies who are global market leaders.
- Companies that export create jobs nearly 20 percent faster than non-exporting companies and pay, on average, 15 percent more than other companies.
- It is a plain fact that 98 percent of the world’s population live outside the United States; therefore, we need to redouble our efforts to increase our competitiveness in the global marketplace.
How Congress Can Help:
- Renew TPA so the Doha Round and new FTAs can be negotiated.
- In 2007, pass pending FTAs with Columbia, Panama and Peru, and support the negotiation of new FTAs. This will open new markets, eliminate tariffs, protect intellectual property, and create two-way trade for U.S. manufacturing.
- Support and pass the Miscellaneous Trade Bill.
- Support and pass legislation that would provide WTO-compliant remedies to counter subsidies from non-market countries like China.
Bottom Line:
The NAM will continue to work with Congress this year to cut domestically imposed costs, seek to ensure market-driven exchange rate policies with our major trading partners, reduce the U.S. trade imbalance and strengthen the domestic economy. To that end, the NAM and its members will work to:
- Opening foreign markets to U.S. Exports through free and fair trade agreements;
- Conclusion of the WTO’s Doha Round of trade negotiation, which will help allow American manufacturers to increase international sales;
- A end to government intervention in currency markets;
- Streamlined trade rules to reduce the barriers to trade;
- More effective enforcement of trade and compliance rules to ensure our foreign competitors play by the rules
| U.S. Manufacturing Employment and Wages | |
| Manufacturing Employees, December 2006 Manufacturing Employees, 2000 |
14,150,000 17,181,000 |
| Manufacturing Businesses, 2005 | 365,351 |
| Average Manufacturing Compensation*, 2005 National Average Worker’s Compensation*, 2005 *includes wages and benefits |
$66,414 $54,362 |
NAM Resources:
For more information on the NAM’s Trade Policy, please go to: www.nam.org/trade.
For more information on specific issues, please contact:
- Free Trade Agreements & WTO: Christopher Wenk
- Currency: Patricia Mears