Category: Press Releases and Statements

NFTC Welcomes House Action on TPA, Preference Programs; Calls for Passage of Critical TAA Legislation

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Washington, D.C. – Today, National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Bill Reinsch applauded members of the House of Representatives for passing legislation renewing Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and trade preference programs for African nations and Haiti. The NFTC also strongly urged the House to support Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) legislation when it returns to the House floor for a vote.

“We thank members of the House for supporting TPA and the trade preference programs, taking a much-needed step in the right direction for the U.S. economy and American businesses, farmers and workers. If it is enacted, TPA will not only ensure that congressional objectives are met as negotiations on agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership advance, but it also gives negotiators the authority needed to complete the best deals possible for America.

“However, the House’s action in rejecting the Trade Adjustment Assistance program is a historic mistake its members will come to regret. TAA is one of the few programs we have that helps our workers cope with the transition to a globally integrated economy, a transition that is going to continue regardless of Congress.

“Competing in this more challenging environment means trade agreements that promote market access for our farmers, manufacturers and service providers and create rules that provide for a level playing field, but it also means taking steps at home to make sure our workforce is prepared for the agility a more competitive global environment requires.

“Trade Adjustment Assistance is the best tool we have to do that, and the House’s action today not only steps away from the bargain we struck with labor more than 50 years ago, it abandons the best resource we have – our workers – and leaves them at the mercy of our foreign competitors. It is for these reasons that we strongly urge members of the House on both sides of the aisle to show their support for American workers by passing TAA when it is brought before the chamber again.”


About the NFTC
Serving America’s Global Businesses Since 1914 – The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules- based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.

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NFTC and USA*Engage Welcome Support for Cuba Trade Act

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Washington, D.C. –The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and USA*Engage today congratulated Senators Jerry Moran and Angus King for co-sponsoring the Cuba Trade Act of 2015, which will move the United States toward normal trade relations with Cuba.

“Restoring normal trade and diplomacy between the United States and Cuba serves our strategic interests in the hemisphere and can only benefit the Cuban people and support human rights and individual liberty on the island,” said Bill Reinsch, President of NFTC and Co-Chair of USA*Engage.

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About USA*Engage
USA*Engage (www.usaengage.org) is a coalition of small and large businesses, agriculture groups and trade associations working to seek alternatives to the proliferation of unilateral U.S. foreign policy sanctions and to promote the benefits of U.S. engagement abroad. Established in 1997 and organized under the National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org), USA*Engage leads a campaign to inform policymakers, opinion leaders, and the public about the counterproductive nature of unilateral sanctions, the importance of exports and overseas investment for American competitiveness and jobs, and the role of American companies in promoting human rights and democracy worldwide.

About the NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for Nearly A Century- The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.

NFTC Stresses Importance of TAA

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Reinsch Calls on Representatives to Support Both TAA and TPA on House Floor

Washington DC – Today, National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Bill Reinsch urged members of the House of Representatives to vote in support of both the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) provisions included in H.R. 1314, the Trade Act of 2015.

In a letter sent to all representatives this morning, Reinsch emphasized the importance of TAA, writing:

“Trade adjustment assistance began in the Kennedy Administration as part of an implicit bargain with organized labor –they would acquiesce in what was at the time modest trade liberalization, and workers who were adversely affected would receive assistance in retraining and finding new work. The program has not always been as comprehensive or as successful as some would like, but its underlying principle remains intact and valid: if workers lose their jobs because of trade, the government has some responsibility to help them transition to new careers.

“… TAA is designed to address those problems by giving unemployed workers the opportunity to acquire new skills and identify new job opportunities, and then help with relocation if necessary. In the process, it provides hope for workers who want to rejoin the workforce but are not adequately prepared to do so, and it repairs the holes in our social fabric that are caused by rapid economic change. Its program for small businesses does the same for companies that find themselves unable to cope with the changes they are experiencing, and by doing so, saves thousands of jobs that would otherwise have been lost.

“TAA is one of the few programs we have that is intended to help our population cope with our transition to a world of globally integrated supply chains.”

Read the full letter here.

 

About the NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for Nearly A Century- The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.
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NFTC Applauds House Action to Repeal COOL Requirements; Calls on Senate to Follow

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Washington DC – Today, the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) released the following statement applauding the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act of 2015 (H.R. 2393), which repeals country of origin labeling (COOL) requirements for beef, pork and chicken.

“The NFTC is encouraged by the swift action taken by the leaders and members of the House of Representatives to repeal COOL laws following the final ruling at the World Trade Organization (WTO), deeming COOL laws in violation of our international treaties with Canada and Mexico.

“Repealing COOL requirements ensures the United States maintains its commitment to the multilateral trading system set up by the WTO. Compliance with the recent WTO rulings against U.S. COOL laws will ensure retaliatory tariffs are not pursued by Mexico and Canada, and will enforce the legitimacy and effectiveness of the WTO Dispute Resolution Body, which more often than not results in rulings favorable to the United States.

“We urge the Senate to follow the action of the House and repeal COOL as soon as possible, before retaliatory tariffs are enacted by Canada and Mexico.”

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About the NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for Nearly A Century- The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York.
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NFTC Calls on House to Pass TPA-2015

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Reinsch Says ‘Legislation Opens Clear Path to Completion of Market-Opening Trade Agreements’

Washington DC – Today, National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Bill Reinsch urged members of the House of Representatives to vote in support of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015).

In a letter sent to all representatives this morning, Reinsch wrote:

“This legislation opens a clear path to completion of market-opening trade agreements that will increase economic growth and well-paying jobs here in the United States. This legislation breaks new ground in several important ways. It will enhance the required consultations by the Executive Branch with Congress on trade negotiations, ensuring that Congress sets the priorities for trade agreements. At the same time H.R. 1314 increases the transparency of those negotiations to better reflect the interests of the Congress and the public. Importantly, the bill requires USTR to post the text of trade agreements online at least 60 days before they are finalized. H.R. 1314 also stipulates important negotiating objectives for trade negotiations. These objectives enable Congress to give direction to U.S. negotiators, and they provide the Congress with a template by which to evaluate agreements submitted to them.

“Negotiating objectives include increasing market access for American exports and strengthening international rules for trade and investment. The negotiating objectives also include significant provisions to protect and preserve the environment, to protect worker rights and raise labor standards, to afford small businesses equal access to international markets, to recognize the significance of the Internet as a platform for international trade, and to take into account religious freedom. Simply put, H.R. 1314 enables Congress to ensure that trade agreements comport with American values and take full account of the rapidly changing modalities of international trade.”

Read the full letter here.

 

About NFTC
Serving America’s Global Businesses Since 1914! Details at www.nftc.org The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York. Follow us on:

 

 

NFTC Applauds Senate Passage of TPA Bill – Calls on House to Approve the Legislation

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Washington DC – Today, National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President Bill Reinsch issued the following statement applauding members of the Senate for passing the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015).

“We are encouraged by today’s Senate passage of TPA-2015, which moves the bill one step closer to the President’s desk. We applaud Senate leadership and the leaders and staff of the Senate Finance Committee for their tireless efforts to push this legislation across the finish line.

“As U.S. trade negotiators continue to press forward on the Administration’s robust trade agenda, it is vital that we have Trade Promotion Authority in place to ensure all agreements meet congressional negotiating objectives and provide the most benefits for the U.S. economy and American businesses, farmers and workers.

“Now that the Senate has taken action, we call on the House to follow suit by debating and voting on TPA-2015 as soon as possible.”

About NFTC
Serving America’s Global Businesses Since 1914! Details at www.nftc.org The National Foreign Trade Council (www.nftc.org) is a leading business organization advocating an open, rules-based global trading system. Founded in 1914 by a broad-based group of American companies, the NFTC now serves hundreds of member companies through its offices in Washington and New York. Follow us on: