Ayotte Votes to Start Debate on Bipartisan Trade Legislation

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) today voted to start debate on bipartisan legislation that would renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), a tool that would improve U.S. negotiating power when it comes to trade deals, increase transparency, and protect and elevate Congress' role in the trade negotiation process. Sixty votes were required to start debate, and today's procedural motion failed by a vote of 52-45.

TPA expired in 2007 and has not been renewed since. Without TPA, any administration can negotiate a trade agreement on their own terms without clear direction from Congress. The TPA legislation was previously approved by the Senate Finance Committee on a bipartisan basis.

"I've heard from dozens of New Hampshire businesses that Trade Promotion Authority will help give them fair and equal access to sell their goods and services in new markets, thereby creating jobs in New Hampshire," said Ayotte. "Increasing American trade and creating jobs in New Hampshire is an issue that deserves a full and open debate, and it's unfortunate that Senate Democrats refused to allow a debate on this legislation."

Peter McNamara, president of the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association, said, "The New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association supports free trade. In this competitive world market, the U.S. needs the TPA. America drives the world economy, but outside our borders are markets that represent 80% of the world's purchasing power, 92% of its economic growth, and 95% of its consumers."

Mark Gary, Vice President and Manchester Site Manager of Texas Instruments, said, "Texas Instruments strongly supports TPA-2015 and urges its swift approval. Renewing TPA provides an opportunity for American companies and their workers to secure 21st century rules to govern international trade. Innovation is the Granite State's greatest asset. New Hampshire's high tech companies, start-ups, and universities are generating breakthrough innovations and technologies. High tech companies now represent 8.6% of the state's economy and pay 92% more than average wages. TI Manchester is the heart of TI's largest power management business unit. The designs flowing from Manchester translate into thousands of different devices that ship around the world. Those technologies reduce energy consumption in electronic devices and household appliances, and improve energy efficiency in data center, automotive and industrial applications. TPA is critical for TI to secure market access, maintain a competitive global supply chain, and support our high value-added design jobs here in New Hampshire."

Silvia Linares, Director of Engineering and New Hampshire Site Leader at Intel in Merrimack, said, "Passing TPA will arm U.S. trade negotiators with a clear set of principles and objectives that support our nation's economic, social and technological interests. These rules have never been more important. In Merrimack, NH we have a very specialized design team that stand to benefit from these rules - rules around intellectual property theft, forced technology transfer and compromised encryption standards. At Intel, we conduct roughly three quarters of Intel's advanced manufacturing and R&D right in the U.S., investments which are supported by the more than three quarters of our revenue from sales elsewhere in the world. We are proud to be part of the New Hampshire tech community by spending more than $5 million annually with approximately 50 suppliers in the state."

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