National Association of Manufacturers CEO Calls for China Deal, USMCA Ratification

Trade is critical to manufacturing's success, because only 5 percent of the world population is in the United States, the head of the largest industrial trade group said Feb. 20. "If our economy is going to succeed, if we’re going to stay on top, we need to sell the things Americans make to those people [around the world] -- before someone else does," National Association of Manufacturers CEO Jay Timmons said in Houston on a speaking tour promoting manufacturing careers. "Being part of a strong world economy raises standards of living here at home and reduces poverty around the globe." He said manufacturers are counting on Congress to ratify the new NAFTA, known as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, quickly, because Canada and Mexico are America's most important trading partners. And, he added, "we want to see the administration come to an agreement to hold China accountable. China cheats -- plain and simple. And it hurts us here in America. And the tariffs on their products and on ours? Well, they hurt manufacturers, too. China is the most challenging market in the world -- but it also has big opportunities. So, a trade agreement between the two countries would not only fix those problems and set new rules -- it would be historic."