The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
On behalf of the more than 310 undersigned state and local chambers of commerce from across the United States, we are writing in support of your efforts to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Business leaders across the country know first-hand that trade with Canada and Mexico has created American jobs, boosted economic growth, and strengthened local economies, but we know we can do even more to seize the benefits of trade with our North American neighbors.
As our country’s top export markets, trade with Canada and Mexico supports 14 million American jobs, including tens of thousands of jobs in every single state and more than 100,000 in 35 U.S. states. Each and every day, over $3.3 billion, or $1.2 trillion annually, is traded between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. In fact, half of all Canadian and Mexican imports are “made-in-the-USA.”
NAFTA has been especially beneficial for America’s farmers and ranchers. Agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico have quadrupled from $8.9 billion in 1993 to $38 billion in 2016, generating big benefits for rural America. In addition, Canada and Mexico are the top two markets in the world for U.S.-made manufactured goods, with purchases of nearly half a trillion dollars last year — a sum that tops the next ten largest markets combined. Our North American neighbors are also booming markets for U.S. services exports. In fact, the U.S. last year recorded a trade surplus of $11.9 billion with its NAFTA partners when manufactured goods and services are combined. Among the biggest beneficiaries of this commerce are America’s small and medium-sized businesses, 125,000 of which sell their goods and services to Mexico and Canada.
We’ve thus been pleased to see your Administration insist that we must, first, “do no harm” in the NAFTA negotiations. We agree that we should move quickly to modernize this trilateral agreement and continue working with Congress in accordance with the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015.
We look forward to working closely with you and your Administration to grow the economy and create jobs through free and fair trade. To help facilitate that growth, we urge you to support America’s workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses of all sizes by protecting and preserving the deep economic ties and benefits the United States continues to enjoy under NAFTA.
Sincerely,
Alabama
Birmingham Business Alliance
Business Council of Alabama
Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce
Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce
Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce
Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Information
Shoals Chamber of Commerce
Alaska
Alaska State Chamber of Commerce
Arizona
Ambos Nogales Hispanic Chamber
Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce
Chandler Chamber of Commerce
Douglas Hispanic Chamber
Gilbert Chamber of Commerce
Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce
Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce
Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce
Marana Chamber of Commerce
Mesa Chamber of Commerce
Nogales-Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce
Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce
Sierra Vista Hispanic Chamber
Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce
Tempe Chamber of Commerce
The Dolan Springs Chamber of Commerce
Tucson Hispanic Chamber
Tucson Metro Chamber
Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce
Yuma County Chamber of Commerce
Arkansas
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce
Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce
Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce
California
Azusa Chamber of Commerce
Brea Chamber of Commerce
California Chamber of Commerce
Camarillo Chamber of Commerce
Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce
Cerritos Regional Chamber of Commerce
Chambers of Commerce Alliance of Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties
Escondido Chamber of Commerce
Fresno Chamber of Commerce
Gateway Chambers Alliance
Goleta Chamber of Commerce
Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce
Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce
Greater Merced Chamber of Commerce
Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce
Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce
Hueneme Chamber of Commerce
Inglewood Airport Area Chamber Commerce
Irvine Chamber of Commerce
Lodi Chamber of Commerce
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
Murrieta Chamber of Commerce
North Orange County Chamber
North San Diego Business Chamber
Ojai Valley Chamber of Commerce
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Orange County Business Council
Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce
Oxnard Chamber of Commerce
Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce
Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce
Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
Pasadena Chamber of Commerce
Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce
Regional Chamber of Commerce - San Gabriel Valley
Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership
Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce
Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce
Solvang Chamber of Commerce
South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce
Southwest California Legislative Council
Sunnyvale Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber of Commerce of the Santa Barbara Region
The Silicon Valley Organization
Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce
Valley Industry & Commerce Association
Vista Chamber of Commerce
Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce
Colorado
Aurora Chamber of Commerce
Colorado Association of Commerce & Industry
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association
South Metro Denver Chamber
Westminster Chamber of Commerce
Connecticut
Connecticut Business & Industry Association
MetroHartford Alliance
Delaware
Delaware State Chamber of Commerce
Florida
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce
Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce
JAX Chamber
Georgia
Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce
Georgia Chamber of Commerce
Milledgeville-Baldwin County Chamber
Newnan-Coweta Chamber
Robins Regional Chamber
Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce
Hawaii
Chamber of Commerce Hawaii
Kauai Chamber of Commerce
Idaho
Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce
Caldwell Chamber of Commerce
Greater Idaho Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Illinois
Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce
Bolingbrook Area Chamber of Commerce
Chamber630
Chicagoland Chamber of commerce
Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce
Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Partnership
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
McLean County Chamber of Commerce
Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce
Rolling Meadows Chamber of Commerce
Winnetka-Northfield Chamber of Commerce
Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce
Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce
Indiana
Indiana Chamber of Commerce
Indy Chamber
South Bend Regional Chamber
Southwest Indiana Chamber
Spencer County Regional Chamber of Commerce
Iowa
Ames Chamber of Commerce
Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance
Clear Lake Area Chamber
Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce
Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce
Greater Burlington Partnership
Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber
Greater Des Moines Partnership
Iowa Association of Business and Industry
Iowa Chamber Alliance
Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce
Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce
Mason City Chamber of Commerce
Shelby County Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Kansas
Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce
Kansas Chamber of Commerce
Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce
Overland Park Chamber of Commerce
Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce
Kentucky
Commerce Lexington Inc.
Greater Louisville Inc.
Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Louisiana
Bossier Chamber
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana
Jeff Davis Parish Economic Development Tourist Commission and Chamber of Commerce
Jefferson Chamber of Commerce
Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
New Orleans Chamber of Commerce
River Region Chamber of Commerce
St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce
Chamber Southwest Louisiana
Maine
Maine State Chamber of Commerce
Maryland
Maryland Chamber of Commerce
Massachusetts
Associated Industries of Massachusetts
Metro South Chamber of Commerce
Michigan
Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce
Detroit Regional Chamber
Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition
Lansing Regional Chamber
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce
Minnesota
Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce
Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce
International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce
MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce
Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce
TwinWest Chamber of Commerce
Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
Mississippi
Choctaw County Chamber of Commerce
Covington County Chamber of Commerce
Missouri
Columbia Chamber of Commerce
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry
St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce
St. Louis Regional Chamber
Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce
Montana
Billings Chamber of Commerce
Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Montana Chamber of Commerce
Nebraska
Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce
Greater Omaha Chamber
Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce
Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce
Nevada
Carson City Chamber of Commerce
Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce
Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce
Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce
White Pine Chamber of Commerce
New Hampshire
Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire
New Jersey
African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey
Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey
Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce
Hudson County Chamber of Commerce
Meadowlands Regional Chamber
New Jersey Chamber of Commerce
New Mexico
Espanola Valley Chamber of Commerce
New Mexico Association of Commerce & Industry
New York
Buffalo Niagara Partnership
Business Council of New York State
North Country Chamber of Commerce
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce
North Carolina
Greater Fayetteville Chamber
North Carolina Chamber
North Dakota
Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce
Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce
Greater North Dakota Chamber
Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce
Grand Forks-East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce
Ohio
Columbus Chamber of Commerce
Darke County Chamber of Commerce
Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce
Lima Allen County Chamber of Commerce
Ohio Chamber of Commerce
Wyandot Chamber of Commerce
Oklahoma
Ardmore Chamber of Commerce
Edmond Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce
Greater Shawnee Area Chamber of Commerce
State Chamber of Oklahoma
Tulsa Regional Chamber
Oregon
Hillsboro Chamber
Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce
Oregon Business & Industry
Oregon State Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County
Pennsylvania
Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce
Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce
Rhode Island
Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce
South Carolina
Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce
Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce
Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce
Greenville Chamber
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce
Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
South Dakota
Brookings Area Chamber of Commerce
Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Tennessee
Johnson City Chamber of Commerce
Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Tennessee Manufacturing Association
Texas
Allen Fairview Chamber of Commerce
Amarillo Chamber of Commerce
Austin Chamber of Commerce
Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce
Frisco Chamber of Commerce
Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce
Granbury Chamber of Commerce
Greater Angleton Chamber of Commerce
Greater Houston Partnership
Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce
Greenville Chamber of Commerce
Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce
Lamesa Area Chamber of Commerce
Laredo Chamber of Commerce
Longview Chamber of Commerce
Lubbock Chamber of Commerce
McAllen Chamber of Commerce
North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
North Texas Commission
North Texas Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Chamber of Commerce
Rio Grande Valley Partnership
San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
Sherman Chamber of Commerce
South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce
Texas Association of Business
The Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce
United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce
Utah
ChamberWest
Davis Chamber of Commerce
Salt Lake Chamber
Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce
Vernal Area Chamber of Commerce
Vermont
Vermont Chamber of Commerce
Virginia
ChamberRVA
Hampton Roads Chamber
Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance
Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Washington
Association of Washington Business
Bellevue Chamber of Commerce
Economic Alliance Snohomish County
Ferndale Chamber of Commerce
Greater Spokane Incorporated
Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce
Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce
Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce
Pasco Chamber of Commerce
Pullman Chamber of Commerce
Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce
West Virginia
West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Wisconsin
Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce
Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce
Greater Green Bay Chamber of Commerce
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce
Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce
Wyoming
Wyoming State Chamber of Commerce
CC: United States Congress
