Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA)
Member, Committee on Ways and Means

Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) has been extremely successful at opening markets abroad, bringing down trade barriers, and helping level the playing field for America's growers, manufacturers, and service providers. U.S. consumers have enjoyed more choices and better prices. And through free trade agreements (FTAs), we've increased transparency and promoted the rule of law overseas, a key to increased investment.

However, unless we act soon, this important negotiating authority will expire on July 1, 2007. 

Such an outcome would be devastating to America's economy and the competitiveness of our workers and producers. The European Union, China, Japan, and other nations continue to pursue trade agreements that will lock U.S. goods and services out of their markets. When the president's authority lapsed between 1994 and 2002, we fell behind in negotiating trade agreements and lost market share.

Thanks to TPA, we've implemented FTAs with 10 nations, reducing our trade deficit by more than $5.5 billion. Exports to our recent FTA partners account for an amazing 42% of our annual exports, even though these countries make up only 7.3% of world GDP. These exports have grown twice as fast as those to the rest of the world.

America also needs TPA to continue leading the push for a successful Doha round of multilateral trade negotiations and aggressively pursue additional bilateral and regional FTAs. If we do not, American producers will find fewer export opportunities and consumers will face higher prices at home. 

It's critical that you let your senators and representatives know you support TPA reauthorization now.

Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA)
Member, Appropriations Committee

Since 1974, Congress has given every U.S. president the authority to negotiate free trade agreements (FTAs), which help the U.S. meet foreign policy, security, and economic objectives.

If we read most polls on trade, one would believe that the U.S. sees little benefit from FTAs. On the contrary, America is the world's greatest beneficiary of more liberalized trade. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, more than 97% of exporters are small or medium-size enterprises, and their annual export sales have doubled since 1992, topping $200 billion in recent years. These enterprises depend on foreign markets to stay in business. 

Moreover, trade agreements foster and reinforce democratic processes and the rule of law because the prosperity they generate depends on greater transparency and accountability in governance. FTAs are also the best tool at our disposal to fight corruption and illicit trade and further our foreign policy goals and democratic principles.

Democrats want to pursue a trade policy that expands the "winner's circle" of those benefiting from trade. We believe that if trade agreements promote international core labor standards and ensure strong enforcement of trade obligations, we can rebuild the bipartisan consensus that once existed in support
of trade.

I am convinced that Democratic leaders are committed to that goal. I strongly urge the business community to work with Democrats to restore bipartisan support for trade. Allowing this authority to lapse would shut the door on agreements that promise to open overseas markets and expand U.S. economic growth.