Interviews
Dump Prez call for TPA extension, AMTAC to Congress
01 Feb '07
2 min read
The American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC) urged Congress to reject the President's call for renewed Trade Promotion Authority (TPA).
“Congress should reject TPA. TPA is the blank check Congress gives to the Executive Branch to offshore entire U.S. industries, said AMTAC Executive Director Auggie Tantillo.
“Under TPA, Congress restricts itself to a superficial review of trade agreements instead of engaging in close scrutiny. With a 'hear no evil, see evil' approach to trade oversight under TPA, it is no surprise that three million U.S. manufacturing jobs have been lost since 2001,” Tantillo continued.
When a trade agreement is negotiated using TPA (often called “Fast Track”), the President submits implementing legislation to Congress. The Congress cannot amend this legislation and it must bring it up for a vote within 90 days. No filibusters in the Senate are in order under TPA.
“TPA is Congress's way of passing the buck to avoid accountability. By stifling meaningful debate and all amendments, TPA perverts the legislative process by effectively preventing negatively affected industries and interests from airing their concerns in Congress,” Tantillo added. “Such an outcome only serves to promote the special interests who write the biggest campaign checks at the expense of the will of the majority of the American people.”
“Every trade agreement under TPA has resulted in the maximization of imports at the expense of domestic production. If America is to regain its competitiveness in export sectors, Congress must reengage in the policymaking process. It must address the disadvantage to U.S. producers caused by foreign valued-added taxes."
"In addition, Congress must stop trade-cheats, like China, from manipulating their currency, condoning the theft of intellectual property, and handing out illegal subsidies. Only then will we see significant job creation in sectors of the U.S. economy subject to import competition,” Tantillo concluded.
“Congress should reject TPA. TPA is the blank check Congress gives to the Executive Branch to offshore entire U.S. industries, said AMTAC Executive Director Auggie Tantillo.
“Under TPA, Congress restricts itself to a superficial review of trade agreements instead of engaging in close scrutiny. With a 'hear no evil, see evil' approach to trade oversight under TPA, it is no surprise that three million U.S. manufacturing jobs have been lost since 2001,” Tantillo continued.
When a trade agreement is negotiated using TPA (often called “Fast Track”), the President submits implementing legislation to Congress. The Congress cannot amend this legislation and it must bring it up for a vote within 90 days. No filibusters in the Senate are in order under TPA.
“TPA is Congress's way of passing the buck to avoid accountability. By stifling meaningful debate and all amendments, TPA perverts the legislative process by effectively preventing negatively affected industries and interests from airing their concerns in Congress,” Tantillo added. “Such an outcome only serves to promote the special interests who write the biggest campaign checks at the expense of the will of the majority of the American people.”
“Every trade agreement under TPA has resulted in the maximization of imports at the expense of domestic production. If America is to regain its competitiveness in export sectors, Congress must reengage in the policymaking process. It must address the disadvantage to U.S. producers caused by foreign valued-added taxes."
"In addition, Congress must stop trade-cheats, like China, from manipulating their currency, condoning the theft of intellectual property, and handing out illegal subsidies. Only then will we see significant job creation in sectors of the U.S. economy subject to import competition,” Tantillo concluded.
American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition
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