Political Quotes

“I rise today to congratulate my colleagues on the recent introduction of legislation to promote trade promotion authority. Increasing free trade levels the playing field for U.S. companies. We all know that. It increases competition. We know that too. It also increases access to foreign markets, with all the attendant benefits. U.S. businesses stand the best chance to see gains in accessing foreign markets through bilateral and regional free-trade agreements. Given the complexity of these agreements, the consultation process and the expedited consideration provided by TPA is really the only way to go. According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the United States is ``the world's largest economy and the largest exporter and importer of goods and services.'' We exported more than $2.2 trillion in goods and services last year. For those of us who represent border States, the issue hits very close to home. In recent years Mexico has become America's third largest trading partner and our second largest export market. According to the Arizona-Mexico Commission, Arizona's ports of entry serve as gateways for $26 billion in U.S.-Mexican trade annually. Arizona benefits from more than $13 billion in bilateral trade with Mexico every year. Given the benefits of vibrant export markets and access to low-cost imports, it is difficult to overstate the importance of getting trade agreements in place. A U.S.…”