Press Release: CPA Members Impacted Congress and the White House Last Week

“We are very supportive of the administration’s requirements that any new trade deals do three things: increase economic growth, reduce the trade deficit, and grow our manufacturing and production base,” said Michael Stumo, CEO of CPA.

 

(from left: National Trade Council Director Peter Navarro, Michael Stumo)

One of our key issues was eliminating our massive trade deficit. We demonstrated how trade deficits kill jobs and growth. We urged Congress to establish a national goal to eliminate the trade deficit.

(from left: Bill Parks, Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), Pat Mulloy, Stan Sorscher)

Another key issue was border adjustable consumption taxes. After 40 years of multilateral tariff reduction, other countries replaced tariffs with VATs but the US did not. We urged Congress to implement a VAT and the proceeds should be credited against payroll taxes paid by all workers and businesses.

(from left: Dana Marshall, Jeff Ferry, Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ-7), Jason Cooper)

Our message echoed not only in the congressional halls but also in the White House. We had the privilege to meet with Dr. Peter Navarro, Director of the National Trade Council in the Executive Office Building. Dr. Navarro firmly assured how important these issues are to the White House and how President Trump plans to act on them.

CPA’s meeting with Dr. Navarro’s was very engaging and lasted longer than originally scheduled. He asked CPA members about the trade issues they are facing in their businesses. Everyone had the opportunity to ask a question or address a specific concern.

(from left: Bill Bullard, National Trade Council Director Peter Navarro)

With over 100 congressional meetings, we had a very successful week persuading a large portion of the US Congress. We laid out the trade competitiveness needs of America’s manufacturers, farmers, ranchers and workers.  We are already harvesting fruit from the seeds that were planted. Below you can find all of our issue flyers that were passed out in every meeting.

(from left, Burl Finkelstein, Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA-10), Bill Bullard)