NEW ORLEANS – Mayor Mitch Landrieu issued the following statement after President Obama signed the Trade Promotion Authority legislation into law. City Hall reps say TPA paves the way for the President to negotiate trade agreements that will level the international playing field and create jobs by expanding U.S. exports. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for its consideration.
In 2013, the New Orleans metropolitan area was the eighth largest export market in the United States, with merchandise shipments totaling $30 billion. This is up $5.7 billion (23.3 percent) from the $24.4 billion in merchandise exported in 2012.
Statement from Mayor Landrieu:
“With today’s signing of Trade Promotion Authority into law, President Obama now has the tools necessary to negotiate new free trade agreements that will spur economic growth in Louisiana while protecting workers, small businesses and the environment. Few states rely more on trade than Louisiana, where 20 percent of jobs depend on it and exports from Louisiana to free-trade countries grew by 242 percent in the last ten years. I look forward to strong free trade agreements that will open Louisiana businesses to new markets in Asia.”
