RILA Applauds Senate Action on Trade Legislation
Arlington, VA - The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) applauded Senate action today to renew the Generalized System of Preference (GSP) and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs. The bill passed 70-27. The Senate vote paves the way for the House to approve the package and the President to send the three pending free trade agreements to Congress for passage. Stephanie Lester, RILA Vice President of International Trade issued the following statement.
RILA welcomes the renewal of both GSP and TAA today and applauds Congress for its bipartisan support for international trade, said Lester. “We urge lawmakers and the President to act swiftly in the next few weeks to ratify the free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama. Once the three pending trade agreements are ratified we can all devote more attention to other job-creating trade items, such as the ongoing Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations.
“RILA ( http://www.rila.org ) supports negotiation of a 21st Century TPP agreement that generates new trade and investment opportunities that aid workers, businesses, and families. In particular, we urge modern and flexible rules in all sectors to maximize the benefits for U.S. companies, consumers, and workers, and provide new market access for U.S. exports.
“American merchants and consumers can no longer afford a delay in implementing free trade agreements, which can foster economic growth and job creation to the U.S. We thank Congress and the Administration for their continued bipartisan support and encourage immediate action so that the full benefits of trade agreements can be realized,” concluded Lester.
RILA is the trade association of the world’s largest and most innovative retail companies. RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs and more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers domestically and abroad.
RILA welcomes the renewal of both GSP and TAA today and applauds Congress for its bipartisan support for international trade, said Lester. “We urge lawmakers and the President to act swiftly in the next few weeks to ratify the free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama. Once the three pending trade agreements are ratified we can all devote more attention to other job-creating trade items, such as the ongoing Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations.
“RILA ( http://www.rila.org ) supports negotiation of a 21st Century TPP agreement that generates new trade and investment opportunities that aid workers, businesses, and families. In particular, we urge modern and flexible rules in all sectors to maximize the benefits for U.S. companies, consumers, and workers, and provide new market access for U.S. exports.
“American merchants and consumers can no longer afford a delay in implementing free trade agreements, which can foster economic growth and job creation to the U.S. We thank Congress and the Administration for their continued bipartisan support and encourage immediate action so that the full benefits of trade agreements can be realized,” concluded Lester.
RILA is the trade association of the world’s largest and most innovative retail companies. RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs and more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers domestically and abroad.