Glenn English: “Mr. Speaker, our relationship with Jordan is a strategic one, and that alone is reason enough for this trade agreement…”

“Mr. Speaker, our relationship with Jordan is a strategic one, and that alone is reason enough for this trade agreement to be desirable. But H.R. 2603 is also a model for how we can pursue a balanced trade relationship with a developing country whose legal system and workplace environment is radically different from our own. This trade agreement with Jordan represents the first free trade agreement with an Arab Nation and will give us closer trade ties to the Arab world. Trading with Jordan will be mutually beneficial and strengthen them as our ally. But Jordan also represents a country that plays a critical role in the Middle East peace process. Beyond that, this agreement negotiated by the last administration provides us with a sensible and balanced approach to addressing blue and green issues in trade agreements, discouraging a race to the bottom by countries seeking to attract investment and lure jobs. This agreement will benefit not only Jordanians, but American workers by creating an export market for high value-added U.S. products in a nation that cannot make these products for themselves.”