Reaffirming the Economic Partnership Between the United States and the Caribbean Nations and Recognizing the Need to Strengthen Trade and Investment Between the United States and the Caribbean Nations, Our ``Third Border''

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1168.

I thank Dr. Wenstrup and Representative Plaskett for their work on this bipartisan resolution. This measure affirms the importance of U.S. economic partnerships in the Western Hemisphere and, more specifically, with nations in the Caribbean region.

Over the last two decades, economic partnerships and trade programs have created job opportunities for Caribbean workers and innovators, provided incentives for nations to strengthen the rule of law, and provided new market opportunities for American businesses.

While this resolution highlights the importance of existing trade programs in the region, it also encourages further enhancements to these trade programs.

I have said it before, and I will say it again: If we are not proactive in engaging with our trading partners in the region and around the world, others who do not share our values, our respect for economic freedom and the rule of law, or our interest in regional stability and growth, will.

By engaging and fostering trade with our Caribbean neighbors, we will strengthen and make the Western Hemisphere more competitive as a region as China tries to seize even more of the global market share.

I look forward to working with the sponsors to use trade as a key tool in strengthening the region.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source