For decades, we’ve fought to secure a series of trade programs that have delivered results at home and around the globe. This week, Congress will consider whether or not to continue these programs that help bring people out of poverty, create new opportunities for developing countries to grow, and help retrain American workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.
The Trade Preferences Extension Act, which the Administration has worked on closely with Congress, will not only expand and improve Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), which helps laid-off U.S. workers get back on their feet, but will also extend programs that help support jobs and economic growth in developing countries. These programs include the African Growth & Opportunity Act (AGOA), Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), and Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act.
Combined, these improved trade programs present a unique opportunity to both support American workers and help create jobs in the developing world.
Here is a look at key provisions of the Trade Preferences Extension Act that Congress is considering this week: