Carter Acts to Bring Transparency, Accountability to Trade Negotiations
Press Release
Congressman Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (GA-01) today joined a bipartisan majority in voting to assert Congress' role in and bring transparency and accountability to international trade negotiations. The Trade Act, HR 1314, would establish Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), a process by which Congress lays out requirements for trade agreements to receive expedited consideration.
"With two of the busiest and fastest growing ports in the nation, international trade is a critical factor in the economic prosperity of the First District and all of Georgia," said Carter. "Unfortunately, America is falling behind. Since 2007, there have been more than 100 trade agreements signed around the world and we were party to none. We just can't afford to let that continue. In order to create more opportunity and more jobs all across America, we need to open more markets to American-made products that will be exported through our ports like Savannah and Brunswick. TPA will expedite these much-needed agreements while giving the American people a voice in ensuring any deal benefits the American people."
TPA has three main components: a list of nearly 150 congressionally-prescribed negotiating objectives that sets priorities for the administration to follow; robust consultation and transparency requirements that give Congress adequate oversight of negotiations and give the public a full understanding of what an agreement would mean including a 60 day public review period for any deal; and a streamlined procedure to vote on a trade agreement if the administration meets its TPA obligations.
"We need to expand trade opportunities but we can't harm working American families in the process," Carter said. "Right now, trade agreements are being negotiated behind closed doors with no transparency and it cannot stand. I voted for TPA today to hold President Obama accountable and ensure any trade agreement is available for everyone to review. Like many, I don't trust the President and that is exactly why I voted for this legislation today."
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