AIADA Urges Congress to Renew President’s Trade Promotion Authority Measure necessary for future trade deals and America’s global competitiveness

Alexandria, VA (June 29, 2007) - American International Automobile Dealers Association President Cody Lusk today respectfully urged Congress to renew the President’s Trade Promotion Authority, which is set to expire Saturday evening. TPA has been a critical component of U.S. economic growth, and a vital step in ensuring multilateral and bilateral free trade agreements continue to be effectively passed through Congress.

Lusk issued the following statements in support of Congress extending TPA:

“Our dealer members recognize that without TPA – a tool used by every President since 1974 – our trading partners lack the confidence necessary to engage in comprehensive negotiations, and ultimately, our nation’s global competitiveness hangs in the balance,” said Lusk.

“The ability to negotiate and, more importantly, conclude trade agreements efficiently provides the U.S. the opportunity to eliminate barriers elsewhere, opening doors for U.S. interests and providing an avenue for exponential growth in two-way trade for generations to come.

“What’s more, TPA has helped to generate significant growth in the U.S. automotive sector, where nearly half of the annual 16.9 million car buyers are purchasing cars assembled at factories owned by foreign-based automakers. It’s as a result of our nation’s commitment to trade that 11,000 international automobile franchises currently exist, employing some 580,000 Americans. “We strongly urge Congress to reauthorize TPA and ensure our nation remains competitive well into the future.”