Amendments ‘pose grave danger’ to TPA and the Doha Agenda, says Reinsch
Washington DC – In his testimony to the House International Relations Committee (HIRC), Bill Reinsch, President of the National Foreign Trade Council, applauded the Bush Administration for its 2002 National Export Strategy report and urged swift and full implementation of the strategic measures outlined in the report.
“The measures outlined in the National Export Strategy are critical if we are to compete successfully against Japan, Germany, Korea and the many other countries whose governments view exporting and strengthening their companies as their top priority,” said Bill Reinsch, President of the National Foreign Trade Council. “We commend Secretary Evans and the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee for recognizing the vital role of the U.S. government in promoting U.S. exports and the need to strengthen, improve and make more customer-oriented the tools and agencies that are key to U.S. exporter success in the global marketplace,” stated Reinsch.
The 2002 National Export Strategy outlines the way forward in a number of key areas. It emphasizes the importance of opening up new markets for U.S. exporters and ensuring that they have access to high quality programs and services. The National Export Strategy also focuses on developing a true partnership between the U.S. government and companies that manufacture or sell their goods and services. Among the important new proposals contained in the report include early project development assistance, stronger use of Export-Import Bank’s (Ex-Im) tied aid warchest, better coordination among key finance agencies, and U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) funding for Front-End Engineering and Design work. In addition to supporting these important new initiatives, Reinsch stressed the essential role of financing and agencies like Ex-Im, Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and TDA, in U.S. exporters ability to compete in successfully in emerging markets.
Moreover, the changes called for in the National Export Strategy will help the U.S. regain lost ground to foreign-made goods, according to Reinsch. It will also lead to more efficient and competitive U.S. government export promotion policies and tools, and will proactively counter foreign competition that is strongly backed by foreign government financing and advocacy.
“The National Export Strategy states clearly and unequivocally that the U.S. government recognizes its critical role in promoting U.S. exports and trade as the key to a stronger U.S. economy and the survival of its small, medium, and larger companies,” said Reinsch.
