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U.S.
Senator Member of the Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs
Committees |
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For Immediate
Release December 4, 2007 |
CONTACT:Stephanie Valencia – 202-228-3630 |
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| Sen. Salazar Statement in Support of Peru Trade Agreement WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the United States Senate approved the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement by a vote of 77 to 18. United States Senator Ken Salazar released the following statement in support of the agreement. “I support the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement because I believe in the benefits of free and fair trade. By expanding access to foreign markets, we can bolster the U.S. economy and, in turn, strengthen our businesses and workers. The PTPA is also an important step in establishing stronger U.S. ties with the Southern Hemisphere, which is critical not just to expanding our economy, but to our national security and to the effort to preserve America's standing in the world. “However, we must be careful not too overlook the consequences of policies that expand trade. We need to ensure the playing field is fair – by doing our best to hold our trading partners to the same environmental and labor standards that American businesses must meet, and by strictly enforcing those standards. The bipartisan May 10 agreement, which has been incorporated into the PTPA, is an important part of that effort. All of us – Democrats and Republicans; businesses, workers, and the environmental community – need to work to build on that progress to ensure that our trade policies can strengthen our economic security and our national security in a way that is fair and that does not hurt workers or the environment. We also need to act now to reauthorize and strengthen the Trade Adjustment Assistance program so that American workers, businesses, and farmers that are adversely affected by our trade policies can receive the assistance they need to be part of the 21st Century global economy. "I believe we can and should move forward on trade in a way that addresses these legitimate concerns without preventing us from expanding opportunities for American businesses in foreign markets, and I believe the PTPA represents a positive step in the right direction.” ###
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