FIVE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS THAT SHOULD BE MADE BY THE NATION’S EXPORTERS

The start of the New Year is traditionally a time to project some accomplishments you hope to accomplish during the coming year.  Looking at 2009, I’m hoping that my fellow exporters will make some New Year’s resolutions to help our industry.

RESOLUTION 1
Put pressure on Congress to pass the stalled free trade agreements for South Korea, Panama and Colombia. Instead of languishing in some committee, they could be fueling the economic recovery by creating millions of new jobs.  Since no one in government seems to be willing to promote these agreements, it will up to U.S. exporters and entrepreneurs looking to open foreign markets, to convince Congress that it is in the best interest of the U.S. to pass these vital agreements.

RESOLUTION 2
Starting communicating today with the office of incoming Secretary of Commerce, Bill Richardson.  As one of the few Democrats that support the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), he needs to stay strong as voices around him continue to advance the idea that it needs to re-negotiated. Let him know that he has our support and that it would be disastrous to damage what is the most important free trade agreement negotiated during the past 20 years.

RESOLUTION 3
Stop paying attention to trade unions that advocate that trade agreements translate into American job losses.  It’s never been true and it’s not true today.  A healthy export market of American goodscreates American jobs and improves the economy.

RESOLUTION 4
Help America take a more global perspective to the benefits of free trade. Free trade not only means American jobs, but it plays a critical role in reducing poverty in poor countries and in the U.S.  When countries engage in free trade agreements, all sectors of a population garner benefits.   Another important benefit accrues when U.S. exporters play a role in convincing corrupt governments to stop sacrificing their environment and ecosystems in the name of greed.

RESOLUTION 5
Lead by example.  Employees working for U.S. exporters need to lend their voices to the support of free trade.  Jobs are created and maintained by a robust export industry.  Get involved in the dialogue and make sure Congress knows that we expect them to support America’s leadership in free trade.

By Neal Asbury

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