Arlington, Va. – Dave McCurdy, President of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA), together with the presidents of the member associations of EIA, today sent a letter to all members of the U.S. Senate urging swift passage of Trade Promotion Authority.
The letter said, in part:
“Passage of TPA is the most urgent priority of the high tech community in the 107th Congress. We were extremely disappointed that so many of our allies in the House chose to disregard their free trade beliefs and vote against TPA. We are hopeful that the Senate will do the right thing for the U.S. economy and vote solidly in favor of TPA.”
“Trade negotiating authority for the executive branch has been allowed to lapse for far too long,” the letter added. “Particularly since the tragedies of September 11, TPA has taken on new meaning and new urgency… [E]xpanding the system of global free trade rules remains an essential component of a larger strategy to reduce poverty, spread democracy, and stabilize regions currently festering with alienation and despair.”
President Bush last week called for the Senate to act on TPA by April 22.
Today’s letter was signed by EIA President Dave McCurdy and Alliance sector presidents Matthew Flanigan of the Telecommunications Industry Association; Dan Heinemeier of the Government Electronics and Information Technology Association; John Kelly of JEDEC; Gary Shapiro of the Consumer Electronics Association; and Robert Willis of the Electronic Components, Assemblies and Machineries Association.
To view the letter in its entirety, please click here.
The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) is a national trade organization that includes the full spectrum of U.S. manufacturers, representing more than 80% of the $550 billion electronics industry. The Alliance is a partnership of electronic and high tech associations and companies whose mission is promoting the market development and competitiveness of the U.S. high tech industry through domestic and international policy efforts. EIA, headquartered in Arlington, Va., is comprised of more than 2,300 member companies whose products and services range from the smallest electronic components to the most complex systems used by defense, space and industry, including the full range of consumer electronic products. The industry provides more than 2 million jobs for American workers.
