The U.S. economy
will slow early this year from the pace at the end of 2011, then accelerate and
finish with annual growth of less than 3 percent, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
President Thomas Donohue said as the nation’s largest business group offered
its forecast for 2012.
“America’s most pressing economic challenge is the
lack of sufficient growth to create jobs, expand incomes, reduce government
deficits, and fund essential programs,” Donohue said today in Washington during
his annual speech on the state of U.S. business. [...]
Increased trade could provide more opportunities
for growth, Donohue said. The proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade
agreement with eight other nations can be completed this year, and free-trade
accords are possible with Brazil, Egypt, India and Indonesia, he
said.
U.S.
businesses also will benefit from Russia being
granted permanent normal trade relations after meeting conditions to join the
World Trade Organization. Read more here.
