CONTACTS: John Reid/Karen Gaither
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GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The United States Chamber of Commerce today continued its push to promote international trade opportunities for American companies during a conference in Grand Rapids featuring Congressman Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) and the Chamber’s Senior Trade Advisor Leslie Schweitzer.  The morning event also stressed the importance of Congress passing the U.S.- Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement to level the playing field for all U.S. companies.

 

“Eighty-eight percent of the 12,100 Michigan businesses that sell their products overseas are small to medium-sized companies and it is important to note they are all employed by Michiganders,” said Leslie Schweitzer.  “Worldwide trade means more jobs for local communities and great choices for consumers throughout the United States, including those in Michigan.”

 

Today’s event put on by the Chamber’s grassroots-level trade education program TradeRoots, and the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce looked at ways Michigan businesses can successfully expand and stay competitive in today’s global market and examined the current international market climate and outlook.  Government and business representatives also discussed how the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement will remove barriers to U.S. service providers doing business in the country; provide a secure, predictable legal framework for U.S. investors; and effectively enforce labor and environmental laws.

 

“The U.S.-Colombia FTA is important because America’s market is already open to imports from Colombia and 92% of Colombia imports enter the U.S. duty free,” added Schweitzer.  “If this agreement is enacted, over 80% of U.S. goods exported to Colombia will enter duty-free immediately.  Why should U.S. products have tariffs when sold in another country, but products from a foreign country enter the U.S. duty-free. The answer is simple-they shouldn’t.”

 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing more than three million businesses of every size, sector and region.