Reichert, Export Council, Meet with President; Urge Approval of Pending Free Trade Agreements
“Opening new markets is essential to create and preserve American jobs”
Washington,
Sep 16 -
Congressman Dave Reichert (WA-08), a member of the House Ways & Means Committee and the President’s Export Council (PEC), today participated in the first meeting of the nation’s principal advisory committee on international trade to discuss the President’s National Export Initiative and offer policy recommendations. Reichert is one of only five Members of the U.S. House of Representatives selected to serve on the Council.
“It’s an honor to serve on the Export Council alongside distinguished public servants and leaders of some of America’s largest companies. I appreciate the opportunity to work with the many views represented and to offer my own ideas to the President and his team on trade policy,” Reichert said. “Plain and simple: Exports mean jobs. My top priority on the Council is to advocate for new market access for American goods and services, which is absolutely essential to create and preserve American jobs. Inaction on trade is not an option – the failure to act while competitors like the European Union, China, and India race ahead will cost us jobs, and America’s economy, workers, and leadership in the international community will suffer as a result.
“I will continue to work in my role on the Council to emphasize to the Administration the critical importance of approving pending trade agreements and pursuing new ones, especially in the Asia-Pacific region,” Reichert continued. “The President set an ambitious goal in his National Export Initiative of creating 2.1 million jobs by doubling exports in the next five years, but that goal cannot be achieved without opening new markets. Swift action to resolve differences and approve pending free trade agreements is the first step, beginning with Korea. I applaud the President’s timeline to resolve issues with the Korea FTA by the G-20 summit in November. The Korea FTA is vital to job creation, our strategic and national security interests, and to supporting a close friend and ally of the United States that has a strong record on labor rights and environmental protection. We must get this deal done, and soon.”
Established in 1973 by President Richard Nixon, the PEC advises the President on government policies and programs that affect U.S. trade performance; promotes export expansion; and provides a forum for discussing and resolving trade-related challenges among the business, industrial, agricultural, labor, and government sectors. More information can be found on the Council’s Web site.
BACKGROUND
Republican Leader John Boehner recognized Reichert’s advocacy when appointing him to serve on the PEC: “Congressman Reichert has been a tireless and vocal advocate for opening new markets and approving pending free trade agreements – especially with Korea – that are critical to creating American jobs. Coming from a state where one in every three jobs is connected to trade, Congressman Reichert’s understanding of this issue will undoubtedly be of remarkable value. The President’s Export Council will be well-served by having Congressman Reichert’s credible presence at the table, speaking to the need for America to continue to engage new markets and to define and lead in the global economy.”
Reichert, a long-time, vocal advocate for free trade, has led the fight in Congress in his role on the House Ways & Means Committee, the Trade subcommittee, and as a member of the Trade Working Group to urge the passage of pending free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama. Reichert founded the bipartisan U.S.-Korea FTA Working Group to broaden support for the agreement, and teamed up with Adam Smith (WA-09) to garner the bipartisan support of 88 Members of Congress in urging the Obama Administration to bring the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) before Congress for consideration. 44 Democrats and 44 Republicans from all regions of the country signaled their support for preparing the trade deal for a vote, which has not been approved by Congress since its signing on June 30, 2007.
Reichert was recently honored with the 2010 Trade and Investment Leadership Award by the Emergency Committee for American Trade (ECAT) for leading the fight to open new markets to trade, ensuring America’s continued prosperity. In 2008, Reichert traveled to Colombia with a bipartisan congressional delegation to meet with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and other stakeholders to discuss the Colombian agreement. Upon his return to the U.S., Reichert circulated an emergency letter urging his colleagues join as one voice and urge Democratic leadership to reconsider plans to stop a vote on the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. Further information on Reichert’s trade advocacy is available here.
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