Orrin Hatch: “I would like to take a few minutes to underscore the importance of trade and trade promotion authority to the American…”

“I would like to take a few minutes to underscore the importance of trade and trade promotion authority to the American manufacturing industry. Despite some claims to the contrary, U.S. manufacturers have been among the principal beneficiaries of our existing free-trade agreements. One in four U.S. manufacturing jobs depends on exports. On average, the wages of those in export-supported manufacturing jobs are 18 percent higher than those of other factory workers. Furthermore, since the last TPA bill passed through the Congress in 2002, U.S. goods exports have more than doubled, reaching $1.6 trillion in 2013 alone. While we hear a constant drumbeat decrying our trade deficits, the United States enjoys a nearly $60 billion yearly manufacturing surplus with our 20 existing partners to the free-trade agreements. Consumers and businesses in those 20 countries purchased $658 billion of U.S. manufactured goods in 2013 alone, which represents nearly 48 percent of all exports produced by the 12 million Americans employed in manufacturing. Clearly, in places where we have free-trade agreements, where our manufacturers can compete on a level playing field, they are winning. We need to build on that track record of success and enact more high- standard, 21st-century free-trade agreements. That is yet another reason why we need TPA. It is no wonder, then, that our TPA bill is supported by manufacturers throughout the country.…”