AAPA joins U.S. exporters in praising trade legislation effort

As the unified and recognized voice of Western Hemisphere seaports, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) applauded introduction of The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015), which is bipartisan legislation to modernize and renew U.S. Trade Promotion Authority (TPA).

AAPA believes this legislation will help open the door to new markets for American goods and services, boost U.S. economic growth and support well-paying jobs nationwide. Logistics Management has long been a champion of this exporting revival.

“AAPA supports trade liberalization on a fair and equitable basis,” said Kurt Nagle, AAPA president and CEO. “We thank Senators Orrin Hatch and Ron Wyden, as well as Congressman Paul Ryan, for their efforts to craft a bill that is bipartisan and will help sell more American-made products to overseas markets.”

AAPA has partnered with The Trade Benefits America Coalition to encourage passage of TPA legislation. The Coalition correctly points out that trade is vital to the American economy, supports nearly 40 million U.S. jobs and helps U.S. companies of all sizes, as well as farmers, grow their businesses.

“Under the U.S. Constitution, the president and the Congress share authority on international trade. TPA helps define this relationship in a way that creates a strong partnership between the two,” said Nagle. He added that TPA gives U.S. negotiators guidelines to pursue and complete new, market-opening trade agreements while enhancing congressional input through development of negotiating priorities and process oversight.

According to David Thomas, president of The Trade Benefits America Coalition, the TPA legislation introduced this week is more important than ever as the United States actively pursues three significant trade agreements: the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), and the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA).

TPA was last enacted in 2002 and expired in 2007.

“Given the ambitious trade deals already under negotiation, Congress and the president urgently need to enact TPA legislation to help complete strong agreements that open foreign markets and set enforceable rules for trade with other countries,” said Mr. Thomas.

Noting that more than 97 percent of the 300,000 U.S. companies that export their products are small- and medium-size businesses, Nagle pointed out that these firms generate more than one-third of U.S. merchandise exports. 

“The new trade agreements will level the playing field and help U.S. manufacturers export more of their products, which in turn will create more U.S. jobs,” he said.