Expanding trade and investment supports broader national objectives. It stimulates economic growth and development, which provides countries with the means to address other important objectives besides alleviation of poverty and basic economic survival. It improves workers lives. For example, affiliates of American companies abroad provide higher average wages and better benefits such as health care and housing. It improves the environment by incorporating higher environmental standards in new plants, by exporting environmentally advanced technologies, and by eliminating harmful subsidies, particularly in the agricultural sector.
Trade deserves much greater credit as a positive force for building better civil societies.
For decades, America has been the world's most powerful and articulate advocate of an open, rules-based trading system. Today, however, many have begun to doubt America's commitment to open trade. Uncertainties about U.S. trade policy threaten to undermine many of the opportunities expanded trade could create for American business and workers. For example, the Administration's trade negotiating authority has lapsed. Our relationship with our fourth-largest trading partner, China, continues to be the subject of acrimonious debate every year.