“The NFTC welcomes President Obama’s remarks on enhancing U.S. competitiveness and job creation, specifically through the pursuit of comprehensive trade agreements with nations around the world and immigration reform.
“We applaud the President’s announcement that the United States will continue to work toward completion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and launch trade negotiations with the European Union.
“While the U.S.-EU talks will not be easy, they are critically important. In the integrated world market we now have, trade is neither optional nor a lagniappe. It is a necessity if we are to remain competitive, and there is no better partner than Europe where we already have longstanding economic relationships and substantial investment already flowing across the Atlantic in both directions.
“Beyond trade, if we are to truly harness the United States’ economic growth potential, the President and Congress must also work together to reform our broken immigration system to ensure America attracts and retains the world’s best and brightest talent. This too will not be easy, but the proposals the President and bipartisan groups of Members of Congress are putting forth are certainly a good start.”
