“We commend Senators Crapo, Kerry, Stabenow and Wyden for strongly supporting the swift conclusion of a comprehensive green trade agreement and raising attention to this issue,” said NFTC President Bill Reinsch. “Lowering tariff and non-tariff barriers to green trade is essential to advancing U.S. competitiveness and global environmental goals.”
“Currently U.S. exporters selling green goods and services face disproportionately high tariffs and non-tariff barriers that are even more daunting,” said NFTC Vice President for Global Trade Issues Jake Colvin. “Removing green trade barriers through a comprehensive agreement is important to level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers, increase U.S. exports and generate green collar jobs.”
“A comprehensive Environmental Goods and Services Agreement is an unequivocal ‘win-win’ for the economy and for trade,” said Jeremy Preiss, Vice President, Chief International Trade Counsel for United Technologies Corporation and Chair of the NFTC’s Trade and Climate Working Group. “These senators are to be applauded for recognizing that and championing this important initiative.”
In July, the NFTC joined other leading trade associations in sending a letter to President Obama strongly urging the Administration to lower green trade barriers and pursue a green trade agreement “through all appropriate international economic and environmental forums,” including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The associations also suggested the Administration consider the Forum on Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as forums to help secure interim commitments in advance of a WTO agreement.
About the NFTC
Advancing Global Commerce for 95 Years – The National Foreign Trade Council 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.
