U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Act.
The U.S. Chamber strongly supported the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) Act that passed the House, marking the first step in granting the President trade negotiating authority. This important legislation would put American businesses, workers, and consumers back in the game of international trade, and would foster economic growth and employment expansion. TPA makes it easier for a President to negotiate trade agreements with foreign countries and open new markets for American companies. Under TPA, Congress can approve or reject trade agreements, but cannot amend or use procedural maneuvers, such as filibusters, to halt consideration of pending agreements. Since TPA expired in 1994, U.S. businesses and workers have been forced to sit on the sidelines while other countries have woven a web of preferential trade agreements that put American companies at a competitive disadvantage.
For example, there are now more than 130 free trade agreements in force around the world. The U.S. is party to just three. Our foreign competitors are negotiating better access to markets, costing American workers their jobs. American small businesses are particularly harmed since 97 percent of all exporters are small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. The U.S. Chamber led an aggressive campaign to secure passage of TPA in the House. It held hundreds of Congressional meetings, both on Capitol Hill and in Congressional districts, organized dozens of trade events across the nation with state and local elected officials and businesses, broadcasted pro-TPA radio ads across the country, and distributed pro-TPA publications and promotional materials to millions of chamber members. The Senate did not consider TPA legislation in 2001.