Release Date: May 14, 2002Contact: 888-249-NEWS


U.S. Chamber Urges Progress on Trade Bill


WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Chamber of Commerce today joined Senator Charles Grassley and business leaders to urge the Senate to pass the recent compromise on Trade Promotion Authority (TPA).


"With the compromise made by the Senate and the White House, we're in the final stretch, but not home yet," said Thomas Donohue, Chamber president and CEO. "We will continue to work with the Senate to defeat any and all killer amendments to this compromise."

The Chamber will continue to build support for passage of TPA through a variety of efforts, primarily outside the Beltway, including: trade education events with state and local chambers and with small businesses; lobbying fly-ins by Chamber members; grassroots and grasstops activity; issue ads; and other communication efforts.

"Without trade promotion authority, the United States is rapidly losing its edge on free trade agreements to its competitors," Donohue continued. "Although we would prefer this legislation to be a clean trade bill, we are pleased to be one step closer to giving our companies, workers, and farmers the ability to compete in the global marketplace."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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