[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 13165]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1045
                 EMBRACE TRADE OPPORTUNITIES WITH ASIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, earlier this summer Democrats and 
Republicans came together to pass a trade authorization bill that set 
the standards for any trade deal that the United States negotiates with 
other countries.
  It guarantees oversight by Congress, it guarantees transparency for 
the public, and it guarantees that our negotiators have the opportunity 
to get the best deal for our workers, our farmers, our ranchers, and 
our employers.
  This week trade negotiators from 12 different countries around the 
Pacific Rim are meeting in Hawaii for negotiations with the Trans-
Pacific Partnership. It is a deal that will open doors for American 
businesses to sell their products overseas and create jobs right here 
at home.
  Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is this: 95 percent of the 
world's consumers live outside of the United States; 80 percent of the 
world's purchasing power is outside of the United States.
  We need to allow our American companies to compete and to be able to 
sell their products and goods and services or we will fall behind.
  In addition, these negotiations will allow America to act as a 
counterweight to the growing influence of China in the region.
  If the United States doesn't write the rules for the global economy, 
China will step in and write them, and it won't be to the benefit of 
American workers and businesses.
  Mr. Speaker, while Congress and the American people should and will 
vet any deal that results from the current Trans-Pacific Partnership 
negotiations, it is important to understand what a successful agreement 
will mean here at home.
  For starters, it means boosting pay and higher wages. That is because 
jobs that rely on trade pay 18 percent higher than those jobs that 
don't. It also means boosting job growth right here in America. That is 
because one in five jobs are tied to trade.
  In Minnesota, Mr. Speaker, 775,000 jobs are currently supported by 
trade, and new trade with Asia will enhance and support that 
opportunity to build on new success.
  It also means boosting our country's small- and medium-sized 
businesses. In Minnesota, 90 percent of these small businesses are the 
companies that export goods and services.
  Now, that being said, there is still a lot of work that needs to be 
done by our negotiators to make sure they reach an agreement that is 
best for the American people. We need cooperation from the other 
countries that are involved in these negotiations.
  Canada needs to step up to the plate on tariff and quota issues 
dealing with their dairy and their egg industries. Japan needs to step 
up on agriculture issues.
  Progress still needs to be made to ensure that American intellectual 
property is protected. However, with commitment from our trading 
partners, I am confident that we can overcome these remaining hurdles.
  Mr. Speaker, we need trade deals where everyone benefits and everyone 
follows the rules. We live in an interconnected world, and we should be 
embracing opportunities that open more markets for American goods and 
services.
  It is time to show the world that America will continue to lead the 
way in the 21st century global economy.

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