This morning, local organizations representing small businesses, farms, ranchers, and workers all across the country have written to congressional leaders calling for the passage of the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act introduced last week. The nearly 300 groups signing the letter underscore the reality that job-creators and workers in local communities will fall behind if we’re not advancing strong free trade agreements. The letter, addressed to congressional leaders, is below and can be found here.
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Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Speaker Boehner, Democratic Leader Reid, and Democratic Leader Pelosi:
We are writing to urge swift action to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) on behalf of the nearly 300 undersigned organizations. Our chambers of commerce, manufacturing organizations, and farm bureaus represent millions of companies, workers, farmers, and ranchers from every sector of the economy and every state in the union.
Trade agreements negotiated and concluded under TPA help drive economic growth and job creation here at home. They enable manufacturers, service providers, farmers and ranchers across the country to reach the 95 percent of the world’s customers who live outside our borders. One in four manufacturing jobs in the United States depends on exports, and one in every three acres of farmland is planted for consumers overseas. More than 97 percent of the 300,000 U.S. companies that export are small and medium-sized businesses.
However, the international playing field often is tilted unfairly against businesses and workers in the United States. While our market generally is open, U.S. exports face significant barriers abroad. Trade agreements tear down these barriers and create a level playing field. They help firms in this country and the millions of workers they employ compete successfully overseas. America’s 20 existing trade agreement partners represent just 10 percent of the global economy, but purchase nearly half of all U.S. exports.
To expand these benefits, the United States is negotiating new trade agreements with some of the world’s largest and fastest growing economies, including with Europe and 11 Asia-Pacific nations. The United States also is pursuing multilateral deals that would reduce barriers to trade in services and environmental goods worldwide. However, to realize the potential of these agreements for U.S. jobs, economic growth and competitiveness, Congress must pass Trade Promotion Authority.
TPA is a longstanding and proven partnership between Congress and the President that enables Congress to set negotiating objectives and requires the executive branch to consult extensively with legislators during negotiations. We urge you to act on this essential legislation as soon as possible this year.
Sincerely,
Alabama
Alexander City Chamber of Commerce
Birmingham Business Alliance
Manufacture Alabama
Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce
Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce
South Baldwin Chamber of CommerceAlaska
Greater Fairbanks Chamber of CommerceArizona
Arizona Chamber of Commerce
Arizona Farm Bureau Federation
Arizona Manufacturers Council
Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce
Chandler Chamber of Commerce
Gilbert Chamber of Commerce
Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce
Mesa Chamber of Commerce
Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
Mesa Chamber of Commerce
Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce
Tempe Chamber of Commerce
Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Arkansas
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas
California
California Business Roundtable
California Chamber of Commerce
California Manufacturers & Technology Association
Camarillo Chamber of Commerce
Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce
Cerritos Regional Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce of the Santa Barbara Region
Chambers of Commerce Alliance of Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties
Corona Chamber of Commerce
Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center
Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce
Fresno Chamber of Commerce
Fullerton Chamber of Commerce
Gateway Chambers Alliance
Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce
Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce
Indio Chamber of Commerce
Irvine Chamber of Commerce
Irwindale Chamber of Commerce
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce
Murrieta Chamber of Commerce
North San Diego Business Chamber
Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce
Orange County Business Council
Oxnard Chamber of Commerce
Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce
Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
Pasadena Chamber of Commerce & Civic Association
Port Hueneme Chamber of Commerce
Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce
Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
San Bruno Chamber of Commerce
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce
Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce and Convention-Visitors Bureau
Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce
South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce
Southwest California Legislative Council
Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce
Valley Industry and Commerce Association
Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
Colorado
Colorado Association of Commerce & Industry
Colorado Business Roundtable
Colorado Competitive Council
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation
South Metro Denver Chamber
Connecticut
Connecticut Business and Industry Association
MetroHartford Alliance
Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce
The Bridgeport Regional Business Council
Delaware
Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce
Delaware State Chamber of Commerce
Florida
Associated Industries of Florida
Central Pinellas Chamber of Commerce
Florida Chamber of Commerce
Gainesville Area Chamber – Advanced Manufacturing Council
Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce
JAX Chamber
West Orange Chamber of Commerce
Georgia
Cobb Chamber of Commerce
Georgia Association of Manufacturers
Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce
Hawaii
Chamber of Commerce Hawaii
Kauai Chamber of Commerce
Idaho
Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce
Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry
Illinois
Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce
Canton Area Chamber of Commerce
Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce
Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Partnership
Hoopeston Chamber of Commerce
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Illinois Farm Bureau Federation
Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
McLean County Chamber of Commerce
Northcenter Chamber of Commerce
Rolling Meadows Chamber of Commerce
Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce |
Illinois/Indiana
Quad Cities Chamber of CommerceIndiana
Indiana Chamber of Commerce
Indiana Farm Bureau Federation
Indiana Manufacturers Association
Indy Chamber
Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce
St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce
Wabash County Chamber of CommerceIowa
Ames Chamber of Commerce
Greater Des Moines Partnership
Iowa Association of Business and Industry
Iowa Business Council
Iowa Chamber Alliance
Iowa Farm Bureau Federation
Mason City Chamber of Commerce
Kansas
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce
Kansas Farm Bureau Federation
The Kansas Chamber of Commerce
Kentucky
Commerce Lexington Inc.
Greater Louisville Inc.
Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Louisiana
Chamber Southwest Louisiana
Committee of 100 Louisiana
Jeff Davis Chamber of Commerce
Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
Monroe Chamber of Commerce
Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce
New Orleans Chamber of Commerce
Maine
Maine Chamber of Commerce
Maryland
Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce
Maryland Chamber of Commerce
Massachusetts
Associated Industries of Massachusetts
Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Metro South Chamber of Commerce
United Regional Chamber of Commerce
Michigan
Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan
Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce
Michigan Chemistry Council
Michigan Farm Bureau Federation
Michigan Manufacturers Association
Minnesota
Dakota County Regional Chamber
Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce
International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation
St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce
TwinWest Chamber of Commerce
Mississippi
Mississippi Manufacturers Association
The Chamber and Economic Development Center of Washington County
Missouri
Associated Industries of Missouri
Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Missouri Farm Bureau Federation
St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce
St. Louis Regional Chamber
Montana
Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Montana Chamber of Commerce
Montana Farm Bureau Federation
Montana Manufacturing Council
Nebraska
Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce
Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce
Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Nevada
Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce
Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce
Nevada Manufacturers Association
The Chamber of Reno, Sparks, and Northern Nevada
New Hampshire
Business & Industry Association of New Hampshire
New Jersey
Morris County Chamber of Commerce
New Jersey Business & Industry Association
New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce
Newark Regional Business Partnership
New Mexico
Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce
New York
Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber
Buffalo Niagara Partnership
JFK Airport Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association
Manhattan Chamber of Commerce
North Country Chamber of Commerce
Partnership for New York City
Rochester Business Alliance
The Business Council of New York State
The Chamber of Schenectady County
North Carolina
Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce
Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
North Carolina Chamber
North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation
Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
North Dakota
Greater North Dakota Chamber
North Dakota/Minnesota
The Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce |
Ohio
Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce
Columbus Chamber of Commerce
Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce
Licking County Chamber of Commerce
Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce
Ohio Chamber of Commerce
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association
Willoughby Western Lake County Chamber of Commerce
Oklahoma
The State Chamber of Oklahoma
Tulsa Regional ChamberOregon
Associated Oregon Industries
Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce
Hermiston Chamber of Commerce
Klamath County Chamber of Commerce
Oregon State Chamber of Commerce
Portland Business Alliance
Wilsonville Area Chamber of CommercePennsylvania
Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry
Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Pennsylvania Business Council
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Federation
Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association
Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce
Rhode Island
Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce
Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce
Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce Coalition
South Carolina
Fountain Inn Chamber of Commerce
Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce
South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
South Dakota
Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Tennessee
Clay County Chamber of Commerce
Greater Memphis Chamber
Johnson City Chamber of Commerce
Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce
Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Texas
Dallas Regional Chamber
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce
Greater Houston Partnership
Lewisville Area Chamber of Commerce
North Texas Commission
Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce/Tourist Bureau
San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
Texas Association of Business
Utah
Salt Lake Chamber
Utah Manufacturers Association
Vermont
Associated Industries of Vermont
Vermont Chamber of Commerce
Virginia
Dickenson County Chamber of Commerce
Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce
New Market Area Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Manufacturers Association
Washington
Association of Washington Business
Bellevue Chamber of Commerce
Bonney Lake Chamber of Commerce
Economic Alliance Snohomish County
Ferndale Chamber of Commerce
Greater Pasco Area Chamber of Commerce
Greater Spokane Incorporated
Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce
Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce
Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce
Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce
Washington Council on International Trade
West Virginia
West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
West Virginia Manufacturers Association
Wisconsin
Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce
Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce
Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce
Wyoming
Campbell County Chamber of Commerce
National
American Farm Bureau Federation
Business Roundtable
National Association of Manufacturers
National Black Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Chamber of Commerce |
