America’s Business Leaders Urge Swift Congressional Approval of TPA Legislation to Advance U.S. Trade Agreements

Washington – Business Roundtable, representing CEOs of U.S. companies from every sector of the economy, today commended Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) for their introduction of a bipartisan bill to update and renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). Approval of legislation to modernize TPA is a top priority for Business Roundtable.

“The United States is currently pursuing one of the most robust and diverse trade agendas in many years, so we urge Congress and the President to work together to enact TPA legislation as soon as possible,” said Tom Linebarger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Cummins Inc., and Chair, Business Roundtable International Engagement Committee.

“Trade Promotion Authority strengthens the hands of U.S. negotiators and will help ensure the best possible outcome in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, Trade in Services Agreement and future trade deals. These trade agreements provide enormous benefits to the United States by increasing the number of consumers for the products made in our country.”

Updating the 2002 TPA law also provides an important opportunity for Congress and the President to work together to shape a strategic vision and goals for U.S. trade policy.

“Creating opportunities for American companies to reach customers through 21st century trade agreements can help fuel our economy and keep the United States globally competitive,” Linebarger said. “Passing TPA as soon as possible is critical to helping create new trade and growth opportunities for the U.S. economy, supporting jobs for American workers and farmers and strengthening communities across the United States.”

As part of its TPA advocacy efforts, Business Roundtable leads theTrade Benefits America Coalition, a broad-based alliance of more than 250 business and agricultural associations and companies dedicated to the pursuit of U.S. trade agreements and passage of modernized TPA. To learn more, visit www.tradebenefitsamerica.org.

Business Roundtable released an economic growth agenda earlier this year that includes tax reform, expanded trade opportunities, immigration reform, fiscal stability and infrastructure investment. Learn more about the Business Roundtable position on Trade Promotion Authority here and our 2015 growth agenda here.

The Business Roundtable has found that the U.S. is Far Behind in the Race for Global Talent.

Based on a comprehensive examination of 10 advanced economies to identify and evaluate the best immigration policies to promote economic growth, the United States ranked 9th out of 10 competitor countries, ahead of only Japan, a country historically closed to outsiders.

This analysis found that America’s near-bottom ranking among major advanced economies is due to U.S. laws and regulations that impose unrealistic numerical limits and excessive bureaucratic rules on hiring workers that the country’s economy needs.

For example, while Germany has a high approval rate for skilled foreign workers, the US limits the number of H-1B visas so much so that they run out almost immediately. In fact, starting today, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services agency starts assigning H-1B visas for the year. By next week, the full 65,000 cap will be reached. Demand far outpaces supply.

This morning in the Wall Street Journal, Gary Beech writes about the issue. He, like many people on both sides of the political spectrum, is advocating for the removal of the H-1B visa cap. Start learning more about the arguments for and against this action by reading his full article here: http://blogs.wsj.com/cio/2015/04/01/remove-the-h1b-visa-cap/

It's a bipartisan opinion: let skilled, hardworking employees and entrepreneurs build their businesses here in America.

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