Port Association Pushes House to Quickly Act on TPA to Seal TPP, TTIP

House lawmakers should rally together to pass Trade Promotion Authority legislation to lock down pending free trade agreements and boost U.S. exports, said the American Association of Port Authorities in a May 27 letter to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. The U.S. economy is “inextricably entwined” with global commerce, and both the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership will help open international markets for U.S. products, said AAPA President Kurt Nagle in the letter. “Ports are ready to address the increased trade brought on by these trade agreements,” said Nagle. “We strongly urge you to make passage of the Trade Promotion Authority legislation a top priority.” The Senate passed its version of TPA, along with Trade Adjustment Assistance, on May 22 and sent that legislation to the House (see 1505260014). Nearly one-third of Senate Democrats, 14 in total, supported the package. The percentage of House Democrats likely to endorse TPA is expected to be far less (see 1504270008). Nagle emphasized the U.S. reliance on transportation infrastructure for economic growth.