[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 161 (Monday, December 15, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2407-E2408]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               FAST TRACK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 13, 1997

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is unclear whether the House will vote 
on H.R. 2621, the Reciprocal Trade Agreement Act, this session. I want 
to reiterate my strong support for the passage of this legislation to 
permit the negotiation of trade agreements that would then be brought 
back to the Congress for approval or disapproval.
  Some of my colleagues have said that granting this negotiating 
authority to the U.S. Trade Representative will inevitably lead to a 
loss of American jobs. This argument is not supported by the facts. In 
fact, trade agreements to open foreign markets will lead to more and 
better jobs and help sustain a strong economy.
  Obviously, the degree to which any bilateral or multilateral trade 
agreement affects American jobs will depend on the type of agreement 
reached and on many external economic factors, such as productivity. 
But to assert that trade agreements that might be negotiated under this 
authority will lead to fewer American jobs just doesn't hold up. Since 
1993, more than a third of our economic growth has directly come from 
exports, and the number of export-related jobs has increased by 1.7 
million. We have to remember that last year the United States created 
more new jobs than the other major industrial countries combined. And, 
jobs related to international trade on average pay 15 percent more than 
non-trade-related jobs.
  My own State, Ohio, is the eighth largest exporter in the country 
with exports totaling $25 billion in 1996. The products exported from 
our State, including industrial machinery, cars, electronic equipment, 
plastic, and agricultural equipment, support many of our high-skilled, 
high-paying jobs at home. Ohio is the 12th largest agriculture 
exporting State, shipping $1.6 billion in agricultural exports in 1996. 
In the Cincinnati region alone, we exported $4.8 billion of merchandise 
over the last year. By adopting fast track, we will be able to sustain 
growth by further leveling the playing field and opening new markets to 
American products.
  Mr. Speaker, opening foreign markets through bilateral or 
multilateral agreements is vital to maintaining a strong economy. 
Europe, China, Japan, and others are forging preferential commercial 
alliances with emerging markets, which puts American exports at a 
disadvantage. These trade alliances also play a vital role in defining 
strategic relationships between countries and regions. The alternative 
is to paralyze the ability of the United

[[Page E2408]]

States to negotiate such agreements and jeopardize our leadership role 
in the world. I support H.R. 2621 because I am deeply concerned about 
the long-term damage this would cause to our economy and to jobs in my 
district and around this country. Passage of this important legislation 
would help us ensure we remain leaders in the global economy.

                          ____________________