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Why are TPA and ATPA so Critical?

Why are TPA and ATPA so Critical?

  • TPA. President Bush has called on Congress to grant him TPA to reassert America’s leadership on trade. The Executive Branch has not had TPA since 1994, and America’s competitors have taken advantage in the interim. The rest of the world is moving forward and signing trade deals that exclude the United States. There are over 150 preferential trade agreements in the world today, and the U.S. is a party to only 3 (the European Union is a party to 31 and Mexico is a party to 10).
  • ATPA. The ATPA program expired last year. This program creates economic alternatives to drug production and gives Andean governments tools to combat narco-terrorism. The duty deferral on ATPA goods implemented in February will expire on May 16 and cannot be extended. Without ATPA, Andean region countries will have fewer tools to create jobs, fight drugs, and reduce poverty.

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