Rob Portman: “I want to commend him for coming to a resolution on a very difficult and complex issue, and that is the trade promotion…”

“I want to commend him for coming to a resolution on a very difficult and complex issue, and that is the trade promotion authority and trade adjustment assistance. This has been a long road, Mr. Speaker. Not since 1994 has this country had the ability to navigate world commerce and to be able to open up barriers to U.S. trade. It is time for America to get back in the game. Without this authority, countries are not going to deal with us, and others have disputed that tonight, but the proof is in the pudding. There are now 120 trade agreements out there; the United States is party to three. Since 1990, the European Union has negotiated 20 new trade agreements. These are our competitors. These are people who are competing for jobs with our workers. They are currently in negotiations for 15 additional trade agreements. It is time to get back in the game. It has been long past time. By doing so, we not only open up foreign trade for our goods and our services, we also are able to export our free market economy, which has brought us unprecedented prosperity and has the ability and potential to do that for the rest of the globe, to truly lift all boats.”