U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell Holds Trade Summit
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Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-Alabama) is stressing the importance of Alabama exports and pushing for more trade between Alabama and other countries.
Representative Sewell says Alabama’s exports create jobs and bring the state money. She brought a prominent trade representative from Washington to make her case.
Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield says the state is making waves when it comes to trade.
“Some of the original staples of Alabama’s economy that have been around since our economy began, which are agricultural and forest products remain very important today but we’re certainly more diversified today than we ever have been.”
United States Trade Representative Michael Froman, President Obama’s principal advisor on trade, says Alabama is on the right track.
“Alabama produces great autos, auto parts, machinery, steel products, poultry, cotton, soy beans. These are all major exports from Alabama.”
But he says Alabama exports face up to a 70 percent tariff, or tax, something that is hurting the state’s trade.
“If we can get rid of those taxes and we can eliminate those tariffs, right now 62 percent of all Alabama’s exports go to either TPP countries or TP countries, either the Asia Pacific or the European Union. They can do so much more if they get rid of those other barriers and that’s really where our focus is.”
“I think it’s important that, especially in Alabama, where we’ve seen some trade agreements in the past have caused certain companies to close and take up shops overseas,” Sewell says.
Representative Terri Sewell says her focus will be on the workers behind Alabama’s trade relations.
“I just want to make sure that the American workers are not left behind and so one of the big concerns that I had and that some of the local labor unions had was making sure that they had a seat at the table and that the negotiating would take into account their concerns as well.”
There are some who do not support U.S. Trade agreements, saying jobs have actually left Alabama because of exports.
