Freight intermediaries applaud progress on TPP

The Airforwarders Association (AfA), representing 360 companies and more than 300,000 employees who move air cargo through the supply chain, today applauded the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement at the ministerial meeting in Atlanta.

“The record on trade agreements is clear.  They allow American businesses to sell products, produce and servicesto the 95 percent of consumers who live outside the United States,” said AfA’s executive director, Branson Fried in an interview.

“Increasing trade helps businesses large and small grow and hire more people.  One in five American jobs is supported by trade.”

The agreement includes a series of member agreements to lower tariffs, modernize their customs border clearance and ensure a level playing field for competition.

“Lowering tariffs and streamlining customs border clearance operations are music to our ears as this will spur increased trade both to and from the United States,” said Michelle Halkerston, CEO of Hassett Express and Airforwarders Association Board President. “As freight forwarders, we recognize that liberalized trade agreements are critical to business both large and small that seek to expand their markets,” added Halkerston.

Once approved by the Senate, this agreement will cover approximately 40 percent of the global marketplace and will substantially accelerate the flow of goods through supply chains in a region with the world’s fastest growing economies. Halkerston noted that more than one in five U.S. jobs depends on exports and imports, and that trade-dependent jobs have more than tripled over the past two decades as a series of bilateral, regional and multilateral trade agreements have been implemented. 

The Airforwarders Association has consistently advocated for free trade and strongly supported giving the President trade promotion authority earlier this year. AfA urges Congress to expedite its review of the agreement so that business can benefit from expanded access to these growing economies.