June 05,2015

Press Contact:

Aaron Fobes, Julia Lawless 202-224-4515

It’s About Jobs

Bipartisan Trade Tool Promotes Stronger Economy, Higher-Paying Jobs

Today, a majority of Americans support new trade agreements. According to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, “56 percent of Americans support new trade deals to promote the sale of U.S. goods overseas, with just 13 percent opposed.” And, a survey by the Pew Research Center said that 58 percent of Americans believe “trade agreements with other countries have been a good thing for the U.S.”

This should come as no surprise given that America’s efforts to tear down barriers to trade have helped to boost American exports. In fact, exports accounted for 13.4 percent of the American economy in 2014 and export supported jobs that include better pay, providing up to 18 percent higher wages.

So, what about jobs?

11.7 million American jobs are supported by trade exports:

Ensuring American-made goods and services have access to overseas markets has helped to strengthen the economy and support better, higher-paying jobs here at home. 

Congress is currently debating bipartisan legislation to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), a critical tool that will help America effectively negotiate and bring home more high-standard trade agreements that will further increase market access for American-made products.

Given the economic opportunities that domestic exports are currently providing American workers and job creators, imagine what our nation can do with TPA back on the books.

###