Joseph Knollenberg: “we have to pass trade promotion authority now. If we do not, we will let down America's world-class workers, farmers and…”

“we have to pass trade promotion authority now. If we do not, we will let down America's world-class workers, farmers and businesses. The global marketplace is increasingly competitive. Without TPA, America will lag behind. Our foreign competitors have negotiated some 130 preferential agreements while we, absent TPA, have negotiated exactly three. We need to get back in the game. International trade is an essential and growing source of economic expansion. Exports accounted for over 25 percent of all U.S. economic growth over the last decade and support an estimated 12 million jobs. If we do not pass TPA, we risk losing our competitive edge to other nations who will continue to negotiate deals while we sit on the sidelines. With trade promotion authority, we can level the playing field. Mr. Speaker, U.S. companies, workers, and farmers are second to none. We need TPA to make sure the rules are fair. The companies, the workers and the farmers will do the rest.”