TPA/TPP Must Work for American Manufacturers and Workers
Congress “must take aggressive steps” to ensure that future trade agreements don’t send jobs overseas and that free market principles are upheld, Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) President Scott Paul writes in a letter sent to congressional leaders on Tuesday.
As the debate over the Trans-Pacific Partnership and trade promotion authority continues, Paul writes that all trade agreements – and legislation to facilitate their approval – must guarantee a level playing field for American manufacturers and workers.
Paul writes:
“The President has made it clear that the United States – and not countries like China – should be the one writing this century's rules for the world's economy. We couldn’t agree more. And, to ensure that America’s free market principles prevail rather than China’s beggar-thy-neighbor policies, future trade agreements – and any legislation to facilitate their approval – must take aggressive steps to ensure that U.S. companies and workers have a level playing field. At the same time, domestic trade laws should be strengthened so that they remain an effective tool for responding to unfair trade.”
A smart trade agenda should enforce U.S. rights under trade agreements; strengthen enforcement and administration of U.S. trade laws; deter currency manipulation; enforce trade at the border; and address global overcapacity.
Read the full letter for further details on AAM’s trade priorities.
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