Boozman, Cotton In Senate Majority On Trade Bill

A bill that would give Trade Promotion Authority to the executive branch of the federal government cleared an important hurdle Wednesday in the United States Senate.

Sens. John Boozman, R-Ark. and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., voted yes in the 60-38 vote to approve the legislation for a six-year period.

A new bill dealing with Trade Adjustment Assistance, which helps people who have lost their jobs due to trade, is now expected to go back to the House, Washington, D.C. publication Roll Call reported Wednesday.

As for Trade Promotion Authority, both Boozman and Cotton said the program will provide opportunities for businesses and individuals around the state.

“International trade supports over 340,000 jobs in Arkansas. That’s one in every five jobs,” said Boozman. “That number will continue to rise as we open new markets for Arkansas’s agricultural producers, small businesses and globally engaged workforce. When we trade our goods and services with other nations, we improve market access for American exports, grow our economy and create jobs at home. That is why we have a responsibility to pursue the strongest free and fair trade agreements that we can negotiate. TPA helps bring our potential trading partners to the table while maintaining Congress’s important role in the process.”

“To say that Congress is giving the current president, or the next, the ability to unilaterally enter into any agreement is not accurate. TPA creates transparency in trade negotiations. The president must consult closely with Congress before, during and after negotiations. The American people would have ample time to comment as the president must wait 60 days before sending a proposed trade agreement to Congress. Any commitments not disclosed to Congress before trade agreements are introduced will have no force of law. Similarly, any provision of a trade agreement that is inconsistent with US federal or state law has no effect,” Boozman added.

Cotton said the plan will provide more markets for businesses and their products.

“Trade Promotion Authority is a win for our state economy. Expedited consideration of trade agreements will yield greater access to world markets for products produced or grown in Arkansas. Our exports will grow exponentially, resulting in both higher revenues and more jobs for the Natural State. This legislation also contains important safeguards to ensure the President’s trade negotiations occur in a transparent manner and that Congress retains oversight of the administration’s negotiations. Rest assured, I will fight back against any misuse of this economic tool,” Cotton said.

The vote Wednesday also drew the support of Gov. Asa Hutchinson and the Arkansas Farm Bureau, one of the largest advocacy groups for agriculture in the state.

“I congratulate Congress for getting this trade authority passed so that we as a state can continue forward as a global competitor on a more level playing field. During my recent trade mission to Europe, I heard first-hand how this country’s lack of a better trade agreement with Europe is costing us jobs and business, especially in the auto industry,” Hutchinson said in a statement. “This trade authority is good for the United States and good for Arkansas. It will create jobs here, and I strongly support it.​”

“We stand firmly behind our support for Trade Promotion Authority,” said Randy Veach, president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau. “It is good for Arkansas and American agriculture, and we believe it will open up markets for a number of U.S. products. We believe this is an economic issue, not a political issue, and we thank Sens. Boozman and Cotton for their support and understanding of the issues surrounding TPA.”