04.14.15

Trade: ‘The Country Needs It’

Trade Benefits ‘Millions of Middle Class Americans’ And Does ‘Incredible Things’ For American Small Businesses

ARIZONA REPUBLIC: “It is insufficient to say that President Obama needs this pending trade deal. The country needs it. The nation's economy… desperately needs the sort of adrenaline rush that an invigorated trade deal would provide.” (Editorial, “Hey, Arizona Dems, Can You Help Obama Out?,” Arizona Republic, 2/21/15)

 

Companies: Trade ‘Vital,’ ‘Trade Has Been The Most Important Driver Of Growth And Hiring’

MARK MARIANI, Chairman and CEO of Mariani Packing Co.: “I am part of the third generation working to help our family business continue to grow — and one reason our future looks bright is because of trade. We produce more than 150 million pounds of fruit each year, and that fruit can be found in more than 40,000 retail locations in the U.S. and 52 other countries.” (“Letter: Trade Promotion Authority Passage Vital For Businesses,” The Reporter, 3/28/15)

  • “We have seen first-hand how access to new global markets can do incredible things for our business. Increased trade has helped our mission to support local agriculture, as Mariani is now the second-largest supplier of California dried plums in the country. It has also enabled us to continue to invest in our company, our 600 employees, and our sustainability efforts.” (“Letter: Trade Promotion Authority Passage Vital For Businesses,” The Reporter, 3/28/15)

MICHAEL MORROW, President of Nutcase, Inc.: “Our company, Nutcase helmets, is one of thousands in Oregon that rely on overseas customers for growth. With support from local economic development agencies and improvements in technology, accessing global markets is becoming less burdensome for small companies…Trade has been good for our company. It's fueled our growth and allowed us to hire more Oregonians who share a passion for our products.” (“Trans-Pacific Partnership Debate: Is It Good For The U.S.? (Letters to the Editor),” The Oregonian, 3/15/15)

ANIL AMLANI, Senior Vice President of SonoSite: “Take our company, SonoSite, a manufacturer of ultrasound systems. Since the day we were founded in 1998, we have steadily grown our business abroad. Our increased international business has allowed us to create more jobs here in the Puget Sound region, where our products are manufactured. Every product we sell overseas helps us hire more Washington-state workers and pay them competitive wages. But Washington must improve international trade policies so that we can continue reaching health care providers and patients all over the world. Right now, it is challenging for us to sell our life-saving medical products in countries that have high tariffs and complicated customs procedures.” (“Why Trade Barriers Must Come Down,” Puget Sound Business Journal, 3/27/15)

TOM LINEBARGER, Chairman and CEO of Cummins Inc.: “International trade has been the most important driver of growth and hiring at Cummins for more than a decade. Cummins exported approximately $3 billion in U.S.-made engines, generators and related products in 2014, and nearly half of our sales were to customers outside the U.S. We export products from plants in Columbus and Seymour, Indiana; Nashville, Tennessee; Charleston, South Carolina; Fridley, Minnesota; and Jamestown, New York. And, like most other companies with international business, as we grow globally, we add more high quality jobs at home.” (“Congress: Don’t Miss Opportunity For TPA,” Inc., 2/12/15)

DREW GREENBLATT, President of Marlin Steel: “Today, we owe 20 percent of our jobs to our exports at Marlin Steel. We're not alone: businesses all across Maryland depend on trade and, like us, have seen the benefits of exporting their goods.” (“Congress: Don’t Miss Opportunity For TPA,” Inc., 2/12/15)

GARRY RIDGE, CEO of WD-40 Co.: “The bottom line is that trade agreements will help the United States compete and maintain its leadership in the world economy. Passing trade promotion authority and the trade deals is a sure way to help California companies like ours continue to grow and employ more people here at home.” (“Two Trade Pacts Would Help Firms Sell Abroad, Support U.S. Jobs,” Los Angeles Times, 3/9/15)

 

‘Unmistakable’ That States Benefit From Trade

COMMERCE DEPARTMENT: “U.S. exports of goods and services tallied a record $2.35 trillion in 2014. That was the fifth consecutive year we achieved record exports.” (Dept. Of Commerce, “Increased Exports And The Jobs Supported By Exports Are Keys To Heightened Economic Confidence,” 3/11/15)

OREGON: “In 2014, Oregon exported $21 billion in products to markets in every corner of the world — a 40 percent increase since the beginning of the recession. It was a record performance.” (“Trade Agreement Would Make Oregon Even More Successful,” Statesman Journal, 3/13/15)

OREGON: “For Oregonians, this debate begins right here at home. Trade creates jobs, supports increased wages and drives economic growth across our state. According to Business Roundtable, trade-related jobs in Oregon grew 4.6 times faster than total employment from 2004 to 2013. As a result, more than one in five Oregon jobs - at large and small companies, on farms, in factories and at company headquarters - are supported by trade.” (“Foreign Trade Is Vital For Oregon (OPINION),” Oregonian, 3/10/15)

KENTUCKY: “Kentucky had $27.5 billion in exports in 2014, up 9 percent from 2013…The largest growth came in the aerospace industry, which exported $7.8 billion worth of parts and products in 2014, up 38 percent from 2013, according to the news release. Motor vehicles, parts, bodies and trailers racked up more than $5.9 billion in exports for the state last year, while synthetic rubber and resin and pharmaceuticals had $1.4 billion and $1.3 billion in exports, respectively” (“Kentucky Exports Hit Record High In 2014,” Louisville Business First, 2/10/15)

WASHINGTON: “By a conservative estimate, 40 percent of jobs in Washington depend on trade. If you can’t move goods, you can’t trade.” (“Editorial: Exports-Dependent Economy On Trade Agenda,” Spokesman-Review, 2/22/15)

VIRGINIA: 90,788 Virginia Jobs Supported By “Goods Exports In 2014” with a value of $19.2 Billion. (“The United States Of Trade,” United States Trade Representative, 4/15)

CALIFORNIA: “Why do the success of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and similar trade agreements matter? International trade supports roughly 4.7 million California jobs, or about 1 in 5. More than 40 percent of the goods that California exports are received by our free trade partners.” (“Put Pacific Trade Deal On The Fast Track,” Sacramento Bee, 2/18/15)

FLORIDA: “The benefits of free trade for Florida are unmistakable. In 2013, for example, Florida exported more than $96 billion in goods and services. These exports supported 2.4 million jobs here in Florida at more than 15,000 companies — large, medium and small. In fact, a full 95 percent of Florida exporters are small or mid-sized businesses of 500 or fewer employees.” (“Our View: Free Trade For Florida, and U.S.,” Panama City News Herald, 2/24/15)

COLORADO: 43,615 Colorado Jobs Supported By “Goods Exports In 2014” with a value of $8.4 Billion. (“The United States Of Trade,” United States Trade Representative, 4/15)

ILLINOIS: “In Illinois, about one in five jobs relies on international trade with that number rapidly growing as our world continues to be more interconnected. Those jobs that are supported by international trade pay almost 20 percent more than jobs that do not, and these jobs are growing faster and than non-trade-dependent jobs.” (“Trade Promotion Authority Would Help Aurora Area Businesses,” Chicago Tribune, 3/6/15)

MARYLAND: “From 2002 to 2012, Maryland saw an increase of goods exports to FTA partner countries of 135 percent. This trade boost has created jobs and helped trade-related businesses grow across the state. What's more, free trade has helped to create well-paying jobs--jobs that pay 13 to 18 percent more than non-trade related jobs.” (“Congress: Don’t Miss Opportunity For TPA,” Inc., 2/12/15)

NEW JERSEY: “Many in New Jersey may be surprised to learn that trade is critical to our economy. Trade supports more than 1 million jobs in our state, which comes out to approximately one in five jobs, and those jobs tend to pay on average 13 percent to 18 percent more than non-trade related jobs. Another interesting fact is that 85 percent of the New Jersey companies that export are small- and medium-sized businesses. So in other words, trade is critical to supporting middle-class jobs and small- and medium-sized businesses in New Jersey.” (“Congress Must Authorize Act To Keep N.J. In The Free Trade Game: Opinion,” Star-Ledger, 2/5/15)

 

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SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

Related Issues: Middle Class, Small Business, Back to Work, Economy, Trade Promotion Authority, Free Trade, Jobs