“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.”
 

“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.”

 

The NFTC released the following statement:

“With all three trade agreements inked more than four years ago, and the lapse of TAA and ATPA in February, and GSP in December, we are pleased the President has recognized the importance of moving the trade agreements forward as part of his jobs agenda. However, it is now time to stop talking about the merits of the agreements – it is time for action. We urge the Administration and Congress to work together in a bipartisan manner to advance the trade agenda in the coming weeks.”

“The FTAs, TAA and the preference programs are important factors in helping to boost the economy and getting Americans back to work. Each piece of trade-related legislation has a significant role to play in increasing U.S. exports and supporting and creating jobs in America. It is due time for action to begin on all of these fronts.”

“Politics have gotten in the way of good policy for far too long and now is the time to do what’s in the best interest of the American people and our economy.”

“We are very pleased with the outcome of tonight’s vote. GSP is an important program that will help boost the U.S. economy and support and create American jobs. As GSP expired nearly nine months ago, it’s critical that the Senate also works quickly to vote to renew the program,” said Reinsch. “We are especially encouraged to see that after only a couple days back in town, Congress is already taking action on trade. Tonight’s vote is a momentum-building occasion, and we hope Congress and the Administration seize the moment and continue working together to pass the pending FTAs, TAA and ATPA as soon as possible in the coming weeks.”

“As President Obama and many Congressional leaders have made clear, it is important to put in place a jobs agenda that will get Americans back to work. GSP is part of the jobs equation, as the program helps provide U.S. businesses, including small- and medium-sized enterprises, with the low-cost inputs they need to manufacture a wide variety of goods – helping to support U.S. competitiveness, export growth and American jobs,” said Dittrich. “Movement on GSP is great news, but this is only the beginning. Passing the free trade agreements with Colombia, Korea and Panama and renewing TAA and ATPA, should also be made a bipartisan priority. As a nation, we’ve allowed all to linger for far too long and we’re already paying the price as Canada and the European Union, among others, step in to take our competitive edge. We have a chance to win back market share, but action must be now. The economic implications of delay are far too serious for further delay.”
 

“The Colombia-Canada agreement was signed in 2008, almost two years to the day after the U.S. signed its agreement with Colombia. As a result of our delay, the United States has put itself at risk of losing even more market share in a growing, dynamic economy, ultimately stunting U.S. economic growth and job creation at a time when we desperately need both,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “To increase our exports and get Americans back to work, politics must be put aside in September and bipartisanship and reason must prevail. Passing the Colombia agreement, as well as the Panama and Korea FTAs, should be the top legislative priority following recess. They are all ready to go, as are the preference programs and TAA, so we urge lawmakers to make them all a reality ASAP.”

“Canada is one of our biggest competitors, particularly with respect to agricultural and machinery, chemical and paper product exports. Canada’s new trade partnership with Colombia will give Canadian exporters an economic advantage in Colombia, putting at risk the gains U.S. companies, farmers and ranchers could be making if the U.S.-Colombia FTA was approved and implemented,” said NFTC Vice President for Regional Trade Initiatives Chuck Dittrich. “The Colombian, Panamanian and Korean markets are all central to the growth of U.S. goods and services exports. As the recent trade balance shows, we are falling behind in exporting to the 95 percent of world consumers who live outside of the United States, so we urge Congress and the Administration to work together to take action on trade immediately after the recess ends.”