David Thomas: “I wish to focus on what I believe to be the more critical issue, and that is the Trade Promotion Act. This is often…”

“I wish to focus on what I believe to be the more critical issue, and that is the Trade Promotion Act. This is often called fast track. It is designed to give us a system to bargain, if you will, and negotiate treaties with other countries, hopefully to the benefit of the United States. I believe it is very critical to our economic future. While other nations are negotiating treaties--and have been for some time--to open markets and strengthen their economies, the United States during these negotiations has been on the sidelines. Of the 134 free trade agreements in force, the United States is only party to 3. Mexico has signed 28 agreements. One-third of the world's exports are covered by the European Union's trade and customs agreements, where ours is less than 11 percent. Since the authority for the President expired in 1994, the rest of the world has gone forward seeking to make trade agreements that are favorable to their countries.”