Max Baucus: “Today we stand on the precipice of passing a monumental expansion of trade adjustment assistance and overdue fast track…”

“Today we stand on the precipice of passing a monumental expansion of trade adjustment assistance and overdue fast track trade negotiating authority for our country. Before the debate closes, I wanted to explain how important this legislation is to my home State of Montana. Montana exports nearly a half billion dollars in products a year. We only have 900,000 people in our State. This includes $260 million in agricultural commodities, $100 million in industrial machinery, $24 million in chemical products, and $37 million in wood and paper products. We export more than $300 million to Canada, $34 million to Mexico and have significant trade with China, Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom. In fact, just last week, Ambassador Moreno from Colombia visited Great Falls, Montana and announced a major wheat and barley purchase, with more trade opportunities to follow. And that is just the beginning--if we are willing to engage the world. This bill helps us do that by allowing the President to negotiate new agreements to open foreign markets which is so necessary to the United States, and brings down trade barriers which is so important to this country.”