Press Release: CPA Met with US Trade Ambassador and Commerce Secretary

Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) leadership met last week with United States Trade Ambassador Robert Lighthizer and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to discuss the Trump administration’s plans on trade.

“We are very happy with the leadership of Secretary Ross and Ambassador Lighthizer who are focused upon reducing the trade deficit and enforcing trade laws,” said Dan DiMicco, Chairman of CPA. “With their leadership, we have a chance to fix past mistakes and craft a strategy to grow American manufacturing and agriculture rather than accept decline.”

DiMicco and Michael Stumo, CEO of CPA, met with Secretary Ross and Ambassador Lighthizer in separate meetings. The Department of Commerce recently held a hearing on “Significant Trade Deficits” as part of a process to prepare an omnibus report to the President. Six CPA members testified in that hearing. Ambassador Lighthizer was only recently confirmed as the US Trade Representative and is now putting his stamp on the agency he leads.

“Already we are seeing far more aggressive investigation and enforcement directed at unfair foreign trade practices in a break from past administrations’ reluctant enforcement efforts,” said Stumo. “We had deep discussions about currency manipulation and misalignment as well as the different problems America faces from from the strategic trade nationalism of China, Japan, Germany and other counties.”

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative will hold a hearing on the administration’s NAFTA renegotiation plans on June 27, following a public comment period that will end on June 12.  CPA will be actively engaged in the effort to determine whether and how a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement can serve US economic interests.

The Coalition for a Prosperous America is a nonprofit organization representing the interests of 2.7 million households through our agricultural, manufacturing and labor members.

Contact: Paola Masman, Media Director 
202-688-5145 ext 2, [email protected]

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