Bill Barrett: “Nebraska needs more export opportunities abroad in order to attract and retain businesses and jobs. Nebraska needs fast…”

“Nebraska needs more export opportunities abroad in order to attract and retain businesses and jobs. Nebraska needs fast track. From 1987 to 1996, Nebraska's exports increased almost 646 percent. Our top exports in 1996 were food products at $1.4 billion, followed by agriculture and livestock at $229 million, industrial machinery and computers, $193 million, electronic equipment at $131 million, and so on and so forth. Last year our top exporting partners were Japan, Canada, Korea, and Mexico. Without fast track, any of the export gains that we have made could be wiped away as our trade competitors negotiate anti-U.S. trade deals. It simply makes no sense to me why some want the United States to unilaterally disarm itself at the trade bargaining table. I encourage my colleagues to examine their own States' trade history to see how exports have helped create jobs at home. If your State's history is anything like mine, the answer will be pretty obvious. The United States needs fast track.”