Creating American Jobs by Expanding Free and Fair Trade
Trade Benefits U.S. Workers, Farmers, and Families
12 million American workers and farmers depend on trade for their jobs (Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and International Trade Administration).
1 in 5 factory jobs depends on exports, and 1 in 3 acres on American farms is planted for hungry consumers overseas (U.S. Foreign Agriculture Service). Isolationism runs the risk of putting these Americans out of work.
As American families work to make ends meet, trade provides lower prices and more choices when they shop.
Trade Agreements Offer a Fair Deal for American Workers
95% of consumers of American goods live outside of the United States, and they love American products. Booming exports generated more than a quarter of U.S. GDP growth in 2007, helping counter the downturn in the housing and finance sectors (U.S. Office of the Trade Representative).
Many foreign countries still impose steep tariffs on U.S. exports, while the U.S. market is already open to imports. For American workers and farmers, that’s just not fair.
New trade agreements are the solution to this problem. By eliminating foreign tariffs and other barriers to U.S. exports, trade agreements create a level playing field for American workers and farmers.
The U.S. Chamber—Working to Win Support for Trade
Congress must pass trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea, and Panama.
Until these agreements are approved, American workers and farmers will be forced to compete on an unfair playing field in these growing markets.
The U.S. Chamber is also working to ensure that the worldwide Doha Development Agenda trade negotiations are creating new markets and more jobs for U.S. workers.
The University of Michigan has estimated that Doha could raise the income of the average American family by $2,500 a year (U.S. Office of the Trade Representative).
The U.S. Chamber continues to build support for trade throughout the nation. Its TradeRoots program is the only sustained, national trade education program dedicated to raising public awareness about the importance of international trade in local communities.
Chamber Assets Dedicated to Trade
International Division
From Beijing to Brussels to Brasilia, the International Division is fighting to build bridges for global commerce, to tear down the walls that keep our companies out of lucrative international markets, and to secure the future prosperity of the United States--as well as that of our friends and allies around the world.
International trade is an essential part of our national and local economies. Yet, trade is often misunderstood and misrepresented. The U.S. Chamber's TradeRoots program is dedicated to raising public awareness of international trade on a local level..
Speech by U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue on March 20 in Lansing, Michigan
Center for International Private Enterprise
The Center for International Private Enterprise is a non-profit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy. CIPE has supported more than 1,000 local initiatives in over 100 developing countries, involving the private sector in policy advocacy and institutional reform, improving governance, and building understanding of market-based democratic systems. CIPE provides management assistance, practical experience, and financial support to local organizations to strengthen their capacity to implement democratic and economic reforms. CIPE programs are also supported through the United States Agency for International Development.
VoteForBusiness
The Chamber leads a two-front battle to knock down trade barriers abroad and keep our markets open at home. Trade is no longer a luxury. It is in the vital self-interest of our nation. One-third of our economy is now trade dependent. Ninety-five percent of the world's consumers live outside the United States. Free trade critics are right on one score: too many markets abroad remain unfair and closed to American goods and services. Our intellectual property is being stolen, and our products are being pirated and counterfeited. But the answer isn't to close our markets it's to open theirs and instill the rule of law.
