(Journal of Commerce Online – Alan Field)
NAM economist says pragmatic agenda could benefit group
The National Association of Manufacturers is backing the Obama administration’s Trade Policy Agenda, released March 2 by the office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The agenda “is a pragmatic agenda and one we believe could benefit America’s manufacturers,” says Frank Vargo, vice president for international economic affairs at the National Association of Manufacturers. “All of us at the NAM are eager to roll up our shirtsleeves and work with the president’s new trade team and the Congress for an effective export policy,” Vargo said.
He said the Obama administration “is reaching out to all stakeholders in framing its agenda, and since manufacturers account for over 90 percent of America’s non-petroleum merchandise trade, we are looking forward to working with the Administration for an agenda that will benefit America’s manufacturers and their workers.”
Vargo added that the new agenda “talks about improving trade agreements rather than reopening them, and it calls for greater emphasis on seeing that small and medium-sized firms can become more effective exporters and competitors in the global economy – a very important goal for the NAM, the majority of whose members are small and medium-sized firms.” Read more here.
