Shippers press Capitol Hill for renewed TPA

A group of more than 200 shippers and industry groups are urging the passage of trade promotion authority legislation before the end of the year.    A group of more than 200 shippers and industry groups sent a letter this week to the leaders of both the U.S. House and Senate urging passage of trade promotion authority (TPA) legislation before the end of the year.
   TPA eases the White House’s burden in negotiating and pursuing free trade agreements. The authority expired in 2007 and the Obama administration has sought its renewal since 2012.
   “Congressional action on TPA is needed to help ensure high-standard outcomes in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, which the United States and 11 other Asia-Pacific countries are striving to complete. By passing TPA, Congress will also help ensure strong outcomes in the other ongoing talks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, the Trade in Services Agreement, and an agreement to eliminate tariffs on environmental goods,” the shippers and groups wrote.
   “History has shown that TPA is a critical tool for helping complete ambitious U.S. trade agreements and getting them passed by Congress.  With 95 percent of potential customers outside the United States and more than one in five American jobs supported by trade, we need to seize on opportunities — such as ongoing and future U.S. trade agreements — to expand U.S. commerce with other countries,” they added.