Arlington – EIA President Dave McCurdy called today’s passage of Trade Promotion Authority a firm commitment to the American principles of democracy, free trade and open markets and a tremendous victory for the technology industry.

McCurdy said:

"The technology community has made Congress well aware of their beliefs in the power of open markets and the necessity of granting Trade Promotion Authority to the President of the United States. It is a defining issue for our industry.

"International trade is one of the main focuses of the Electronic Industries Alliance. In 2000, more than one-third of what the U.S. electronics industry produced was exported overseas -- over $200 billion in goods. More than a third of the 1.8 million employees who work for U.S. electronics companies depend on exports for their jobs. Access to open markets is a key component of our industry’s success.

"We recognize that this was a difficult vote for many people and we commend the bipartisan effort responsible for granting the President the right to negotiate trade agreements around the world.

"We applaud President Bush, the House Republican leadership and the Republican majority for their tireless work in developing and advocating a balanced, substantive bill and in working to gain a bipartisan consensus. We also applaud the leadership of Congressmen Dooley, Tanner and Jefferson for their unwavering belief in free trade. They recognize Trade Promotion Authority represents the fundamentals we believe in as a nation: improving the quality of life for all Americans through higher-skilled, higher-paying jobs, reducing poverty, spreading democracy and stabilizing regions currently festering with alienation and despair.

"Passing TPA sends a very positive signal to the global community that we are committed to standing behind the principles of free trade."

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