Timmons: Success Of Northwest’s Manufacturing Exports Depends On Trade Policy
Posted on Wednesday, March 4, 2015
In an essay for the Olympian (WA) (3/3) jointly written with the Association of Washington Business’ Kris Johnson, NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons argues that a “renaissance” in manufacturing could propel the US to a period of sustained economic growth. Noting that the sector contributes $2 trillion to the national economy, or nearly 12% of GDP, and supports “a million jobs” in Washington state, Timmons and Johnson say the numbers could be even better, mainly through pro-trade legislation in Congress such as the granting of trade promotion authority, or TPA, to the president. This would lead to the opening of “new markets in the Asia Pacific and beyond that will support higher-paying jobs” throughout the Pacific Northwest. Also, “as one of the most trade-dependent states in the nation, Washington specifically must adopt a regulatory environment that encourages exports, rather than limiting them,” the writers add. “Any factor — be it regulatory failure, politics, or trade barriers — that hinders the export of any American goods to the Pacific Rim, ultimately harms workers in Washington [state] and in America,” Timmons and Johnson conclude.
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