Washington, DC – Today, Ed Black, President & CEO of the Computer & Communications Industry Association joined other leading high-tech association heads in calling for passage of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA).
Black said: “It is clear that one of the most effective ways to stimulate the economy is through free trade. Our industry is the largest merchandise exporter in the United States, accounting for 29% of all U.S. merchandise exports in 2000. We need to jump start this sector and the rest of the economy, and free trade is an important tool to help.”
“For too long, America has been on the sidelines watching countless regional and bilateral deals established worldwide,” Black continued. “We don’t begrudge other nations for doing this, they recognize the benefits of free, fair, and open trade. It is time however, for the U.S. to reclaim its leadership position and get on board in negotiating free trade agreements. The only way to do this is to give the President the authority to negotiate agreements on behalf of the U.S. with Congress retaining the prerogative to approve or disapprove of any final deal.”
Black concluded by saying, “We recognize that TPA can only be passed if it commands bi-partisan support. We certainly appreciate all the hard work that Senators Baucus, Grassley, Graham, and Murkowski have done to accomplish this goal. We look forward to a speedy and consensus-based approach to resolving all outstanding issues and giving the President this long overdue tool to ensure our nation’s economic strength.”