Category: Press Releases and Statements

NFTC Applauds Signing of FTAs, TAA/GSP Legislation

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Calls for Swift Implementation

Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today released the following statement welcoming the President’s signing of the implementing legislation for the U.S. free trade agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, as well as legislation to extend the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).

“The NFTC and our member companies applaud the signing of the FTAs and TAA/GSP legislation. All four trade bills are essential to growing the U.S. economy, American jobs and the competitiveness of our exporters, be they farmers, small- and medium-sized businesses or large American companies with worldwide operations.

“We applaud the Administration and Congress for working together over the past several months — and if we go back to the signing of the FTAs, years — to make today a reality.

“The benefits of the FTAs can only begin to flow when each enters into force, and so we call on key players in both the U.S. government and the governments of our FTA partner nations to work together to ensure swift implementation.”

 

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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 Welcomes Issuance of First U.S. Permit Under U.S.-Mexico Cross-Border Trucking Program

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Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today welcomed news that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued its first permit under the U.S.-Cross Border Trucking Program. According to the Mexican Government, three U.S. trucking companies have also been granted permits in recent months. The NFTC released the following statement.

“This news is important for two equally significant reasons. FMCSA’s issuance of the first permit under the program signals that after reaching a resolution on the cross-border trucking issue in March, the U.S. and Mexican governments are committed to making the program work, to the benefit of trucking companies and exporters in both countries.

“As this step forward continues the process of U.S. compliance with its international obligations under NAFTA, it gives the Mexican Government the assurance it needs to lift remaining retaliatory tariffs facing U.S. exporters in a wide range of industries – allowing them to regain their competitive edge and sustain and create U.S. jobs supported by bilateral trade.”

 

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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 Welcomes Advancement of U.S. Trade Agenda

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Applauds Approval of FTAs and Renewal of TAA and Key Preference Programs, Looks Ahead to New Market-Opening Initiatives

Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today applauded Congress and the Administration for working together to approve the free trade agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, and to renew Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA). The NFTC released the following statement.

“We are very pleased with the outcome of today’s votes, and applaud Congress and the Administration for working together to advance the U.S. trade agenda through approval of the FTAs with Colombia, Panama and South Korea, as well as the renewal of TAA, GSP and the Andean trade preferences. These agreements and programs will boost the U.S. economy and create and support thousands of American jobs,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “We urge Congress and the Administration to work together with the Colombian, Panamanian and South Korean governments to ensure that each agreement is implemented as soon as possible.”

“Today’s votes — which should indeed be celebrated after the more than four-year journey from the signing of the FTAs to approval — are just the first step toward ensuring that U.S. companies, farmers and workers have an opportunity to regain lost market share, increase their competitiveness and strengthen longstanding commercial ties with each FTA partner. Swift implementation is critical to realizing the benefits of each agreement. Nations around the world will not let up in efforts to seal and implement deals with these three trade partners, and the United States cannot afford to either,” said NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Initiatives Chuck Dittrich.

“It is also our hope that today’s outcome is just the beginning of an effort to further open markets for U.S. goods and services. With the FTAs approved, we now must keep the momentum going with an eye toward advancing the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations and the Trade and Investment Partnership Initiative for the Middle East and North Africa, and developing a strategy to get meaningful world trade talks back on track,” said Reinsch.

 

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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Leading Business Associations Say “Buy American” Provisions in the American Jobs Act Put Job Creation, U.S. Economy in Jeopardy

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Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) and 22 other leading business associations today sent a letter to House and Senate leaders, calling on them to oppose the “Buy American” provisions in the American Jobs Act.

The associations wrote:

“As companies and associations accounting for millions of employees across the U.S. economy, we strongly share your objective to promote economic recovery and job growth in the United States. To achieve that recovery and job growth, however, we strongly urge against the imposition of onerous new Buy American provisions in the American Jobs Act that are counterproductive to your and our nation’s job-growth goals.

“…The massive expansion of Buy American requirements proposed in the American Jobs Act is, however, out of step with a balanced U.S. procurement policy and will undermine the United States’ ability to grow our exports and our jobs through accessing foreign markets… There are numerous examples of these damaging ‘backfires’ on U.S. exporters and their workers. The inclusion of the same Buy American provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in 2009 led countries in Europe, Asia, Latin America and elsewhere to impose additional restrictions on the purchase of U.S. goods and services.

“…At this critical juncture, the United States must lead the world out of protectionism, not into it. The proposed expansions of already robust Buy American laws send the wrong message at the worst possible time to our trading partners around the world and to markets nervous about rising trade barriers.”

 

NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Issues Chuck Dittrich said, “While the American Jobs Act is intended to address an urgent and critical issue, the ‘Buy American’ provisions included in it are counterproductive and shortsighted. Some may view the provisions as a possible shot in the arm for the U.S. economy. However, the reality is that in the near and long term, they will jeopardize our trade partnerships around the globe, likely lead to retaliatory actions by other nations, raise costs for American consumers and slow down job creation – counter to what the Act itself is intended to do – create jobs and boost the U.S. economy.”

To read the full text of the letter, click 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 Statement on House Ways and Means Markup

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Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today commended the House Committee on Ways and Means for quickly advancing the implementing legislation for the free trade agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, Korea and Panama, and urged Congress to ratify the agreements without delay. NFTC released the following statement:

“We welcome the House Ways and Means Committee’s favorable reporting out of implementing legislation for the pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Korea and Panama. All three agreements will help to give our economy a needed boost, both in terms of job creation and increased exports.

“We also applaud Chairman Camp for scheduling today’s markup so soon after the President’s submission of the trade agreements on Monday. We look forward to a House floor vote and action in the Senate as soon as possible.”

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 Administration for Submitting FTAs, Urges Congress to Approve ASAP

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Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today applauded the Obama Administration for submitting implementing legislation for the free trade agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, Korea and Panama, and urged Congress to ratify the agreements without delay. NFTC President Bill Reinsch and Vice President for Regional Trade Issues Chuck Dittrich released the following statement:

“With all three agreements inked more than four years ago, we welcome the Administration’s submission of the trade agreements to Congress for approval,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “These agreements are critical to boosting the U.S. economy, creating and supporting jobs, and the President’s submission today signals the Administration’s commitment to seeing them all approved. The NFTC urges Congress to approve these agreements as soon as possible in the next couple of weeks as means to stimulate the U.S. economy, increase exports and create more American jobs.”

“With other countries, like Canada, the European Union and others, entering into trade agreements with these countries, the United States is losing critical market share. It’s time to turn that situation around,” said NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Issues Chuck Dittrich. “Today’s announcement brings us one step closer to ensuring that the U.S. remains competitive and maintains market share in these growing, dynamic economies.”

“Great progress has been made on the U.S. trade agenda in recent weeks. We encourage Congress to keep up the momentum and pass the FTAs and renew the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, the Generalized System of Preferences and the Andean trade preferences without further delay,” Reinsch concluded.

 


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 Forum Brings Together Business and Government Leaders in Dialogue on how Ohio, Kentucky Companies Can Tap into Global Markets

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Senator Brown, Department of Commerce manufacturing official join business leaders
and educators to discuss the importance of international markets for U.S. jobs and innovation

Cincinnati, OH – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) Foundation hosted a forum on September 30 in Cincinnati on the growing impact of international trade, foreign investment and innovation on the U.S. economy. The event, held at Cincinnati-based process and production improvement consultancy TechSolve, brought together a wide range of innovation stakeholders – from representatives of small- and medium-sized enterprises and multinational corporations, to local and national government officials – and focused on the link between global markets and export growth and job creation in Ohio and Kentucky.

“International customers, entrepreneurs, investors and researchers are increasingly important to the success of businesses and workers in the United States,” said NFTC Vice President for Global Trade Issues Jake Colvin. “By bringing together public and private sector leaders, this event provided an opportunity to advance a discussion about the ways companies in Ohio and Kentucky can create and support American jobs through interacting with the global economy and how Washington can help even the smallest businesses leverage those resources.”

The discussion included a luncheon on, “Global Demand for U.S. Innovation: How the United States Can Encourage Job Growth and Remain the World’s Innovation Leader,” featuring keynote remarks by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Peter Perez, Deputy U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing.

“Our state’s entrepreneurs and workers, world-class universities and research institutes have solidified Ohio’s legacy of innovation. Ohio leads our nation in industries like aerospace, agriculture, biosciences, clean energy and manufacturing. And that’s why Ohio can emerge from the recession better positioned than in the past,” Senator Brown said. “As a member of the President’s Export Council, I’m working to ensure Ohio’s small businesses are connective to resources to expand into new markets. We can boost our economy and rebalance our trade deficit by tackling currency, enforcing existing trade laws, and tapping resources like the Export-Import Bank, and the Small Business Administration to boost exports.”

A variety of senior corporate representatives, experts, educators and public policy leaders from Ohio, Kentucky, and Washington, DC participated in the dialogue, including: Gregory Kenny, President & CEO of General Cable; Dale Carleson, Executive for Advanced Engine Systems for GE Aviation; Terry Segerberg, CEO of Mesa Industries; Robert Koopman, Chief Economist, U.S. International Trade Commission; TechSolve President & CEO Gary Conley; NFTC President Bill Reinsch; and David Thomas, Director, Business Roundtable. At a private dinner the evening before the conference, University of Cincinnati President Gregory Williams and former Ohio Governor Bob Taft joined participants to discuss how educators are helping to equip students with an international mindset and compete in the 21st century global economy.

Business leaders honed in on several areas related to the scope of international trade and investment in the U.S. economy, whether current measures of trade are sufficient to reflect increasingly complex global supply chains, and how public policies can grow jobs and help the United States remain the world’s innovation leader.

The workshop was held in partnership with the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Dayton Development Coalition, European-American Chamber of Commerce and TechSolve. Over the past several years, the NFTC Foundation has hosted a series of innovation forums around the country, from Research Triangle Park Headquarters in North Carolina to GE’s advanced manufacturing research facility outside Detroit to the Googleplex in California. These discussions are made possible in part thanks to a grant from the General Electric Foundation and are meant to elicit advice and input from senior business and community leaders to help guide public policies on international trade and investment.

About NFTC and the Global Innovation Forum
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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The Global Innovation Forum is a project of NFTC’s educational arm, the NFTC Foundation. NFTC established the Global Innovation Forum to create a greater understanding of how the innovation ecosystem and public policy can improve the lives of workers, families and communities around the world. Through educational events and workshops, the Global Innovation Forum brings together diverse groups of innovation stakeholders to bridge differences, build consensus and create solutions. Its aim is to arrive at public policy solutions that support entrepreneurism, investment, development, trade, transfer and deployment of innovation and enable solutions to common challenges.


 

NFTC Says Senate TAA/GSP Bill Vote Clears the Path for Submission and Approval of FTAs

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Washington, DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today welcomed Senate approval of legislation to retroactively renew the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and continue an effective Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. The NFTC released the following statement:

“We applaud the Senate leadership and trade champions on both sides of the aisle for working together to make today’s vote a success – helping to clear the way for submission and approval of the free trade agreements (FTAs) with Colombia, Panama and South Korea. The NFTC has long supported the TAA and GSP programs, as both are critical elements of not only the U.S. trade agenda, but also efforts to create and support American jobs.

“We are encouraged by this vote and hope that the spirit of bipartisanship and commitment to shoring up the U.S. economy and creating jobs through trade legislation, will continue following the recess. It is our expectation that in early October, additional progress will be made on the trade front, including through the Administration’s submission of the FTAs and votes in the House on TAA and the lapsed preference programs. Our economy, exporters and workers cannot afford further delay.”
 


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 Senate Vote on GSP, TAA, Urges Senators to Approve Bill Without Amendments

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Calls Tonight’s Vote Critical to Floor Votes on FTA, TAA, Preference Programs in Coming Weeks


Washington DC – The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) tonight applauded the U.S. Senate for a favorable vote on the motion to invoke cloture on legislation to retroactively renew the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. Though the Senate is scheduled to begin voting on amendments to the bill tomorrow afternoon, the NFTC called on Senators to pass the bill without amendments, as agreed to in the bipartisan compromise, to ensure the swift passage of the pending free trade agreements (FTAs), TAA, GSP and the Andean trade preferences.

The NFTC released the following statement:

“We welcome news that the Senate has taken the first procedural step in considering the renewal of GSP and TAA before the upcoming recess. Both programs are important to U.S. competitiveness and U.S. economic growth, as GSP affords our manufacturers access to low-cost inputs and TAA provides U.S. workers impacted by trade with the benefits and training they need to get back on their feet and back to work. We applaud Senators Reid and McConnell for working together to ensure that both programs will be renewed soon.

“Tonight’s vote not only signals movement of these two programs, but also the broader trade agenda, which has been waiting in the wings for action for far too long. With this vote and subsequent votes in the Senate this week, we will be one step closer to passage of the long-stalled trade agreements with Colombia, Korea and Panama. While we expect that amendments will be offered on the GSP/TAA legislation, we call on the Senate to pass the bill as soon as possible without amendments to ensure that the FTAs, TAA and preference programs are approved or renewed without further delay.

“The next few weeks will be critical on the trade front, and it is good to see that the ball is finally rolling. The NFTC strongly urges Congress and the Administration to stay on course and continue working together in a bipartisan manner to renew faith with American workers and our trading partners around the globe.”

 

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About 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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USA*Engage, NFTC Honor Congressman Kevin Brady for Leadership on International Trade

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Washington, DC – USA*Engage and the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) today honored Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) for his leadership on international trade and U.S. global engagement issues. During the 14th annual USA*Engage luncheon, Congressman Brady was recognized for his commitment to the U.S. trade agenda through advocacy of legislation to further open markets abroad to U.S. goods and services and “smart sanctions,” in his role as House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman.
 
“USA*Engage has since its founding stressed the political, economic and security benefits of a U.S. government and a U.S. business community that are actively engaged around the world,” said USA*Engage Co-Chair Del Renigar, who also serves as Senior Counsel for International Policy & Trade at General Electric. “This is why it is so important and such an honor to be here today with Congressman Kevin Brady. He understands that American economic engagement abroad is what helps make America great and he knows what it takes to get there – free trade. He is leading the fight for the Colombia, Panama and Korea free trade agreements and is pushing for more trade and more U.S. exports around the world.”

 

During his acceptance of the USA*Engage/NFTC Annual Award, Rep. Brady delivered the following remarks regarding the U.S. trade agenda:
 
 
“International trade provides new and expanding markets for our goods and services and increases the competitiveness of our companies and workers through global supply chains. Trade also allows consumers to get the most value and variety for their hard-earned dollars. I am glad that we are finally getting off the sidelines and moving forward with a proactive trade agenda. Since January, we have made more progress on the trade front than in the prior four years.

“…The need to act is urgent. Colombia, Panama and South Korea are negotiating and completing agreements with other countries. Unless we pass and implement our agreements soon, we know that America and our farmers, ranchers and workers will be left further behind. We have already lost market share because of our delay, particularly in Colombia…. Trade officials and business people from around the world have told me that the United States and this Administration in particular will simply not be credible on trade until the three trade agreements are passed.”

 

Rep. Brady concluded his remarks by discussing the importance of “smart sanctions,” stating “We need to work together to promote smart sanctions that achieve our desired ends….We must make sure that the understandable desire to punish a rogue regime is not acted on without understanding the consequences – in particular the impact on U.S. policy and stakeholders as well as on our efforts to change behavior through multilateral pressure.”
Annually, USA*Engage recognizes a lawmaker who has enhanced America’s national and economic security by promoting active global engagement and multilateral solutions to some of the most challenging foreign policy and trade issues facing the United States. Past honorees include Reps. Jim Moran (D-VA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Sens. Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Mike Enzi (R-WY), then-Sens. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE), and former Reps. Lee Hamilton (D-IN) and Cal Dooley (D-CA).
 
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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 world wide.

About 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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