Vern Buchanan Plans to Work With Obama on Free Trade

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., one of the senior members sitting on the U.S. House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, wrote President Barack Obama on Thursday, vowing to work with the White House on free trade agreements. Buchanan supports the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership

"In your State of the Union address you expressed a willingness to work with Congress on expanding international trade opportunities that will help grow the U.S. economy and create American jobs. Offer accepted, Buchanan wrote.

As a senior member of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, I understand that increasing access to foreign markets is critical to restoring Americas rightful standing as the worlds global leader, Buchanan continued. In your words China wants to write the rules for the worlds fastest-growing region.' We cannot allow this to happen.

A pending free-trade deal between the U.S. and 11 other countries, including Japan, offers us a prime opportunity to turbo-charge our economy by eliminating tariffs and expanding American exports. The countries involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) account for 40 percent of global economic output and nearly a third of all world trade, Buchanan added. However, the best way to ensure an open and transparent process where American jobs and companies are protected is by passing Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation. Also known as fast-track authority, TPA allows expedited consideration of trade agreements provided that certain congressionally-dictated safeguards are met. TPA offers the ability to obtain an up-or-down vote on a trade agreement, which is critical to ensure that the U.S. maintains leverage in complex multination negotiations.

But Buchanan pointed out to Obama that most of the opposition to TPA is coming from the left.

Special interests and members of your own party have expressed opposition to TPA, Buchanan wrote. I would encourage you to personally reach out to these factions so we can build support for this critical legislation. A recent poll by the Business Round-table revealed the vast majority more than 80 percent of Americans support the U.S. negotiating trade agreements to expand market access for goods and services around the globe. I believe that increasing global demand for American products will lead to greater growth here at home.

Bipartisan trade agreements could serve as an excellent example of what Washington can accomplish when both parties come together to help create jobs and increase Americas competitiveness in the global marketplace, Buchanan concluded. Lets get to work.