AF&PA calls on Senate to pass legislation authorizing permanent normal trade with Russia, says failure to pass would put US businesses at disadvantage against other WTO members
Kendall Sinclair
WASHINGTON
,
December 5, 2012
(press release)
–
American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman issued the following statement ahead of expected a Senate vote on legislation authorizing permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Russia.
"We support final congressional passage of legislation that will extend PNTR to Russia and encourage both Senate approval and swift presidential action to allow U.S. businesses to take advantage of Russia's recent entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO). If Congress fails to act, U.S. businesses will not gain the full benefits of concessions that Russia made as part of its WTO accession commitments, putting them at a disadvantage against all other WTO members competing in the Russian market."
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The American Forest & Paper Association is the national trade association of the forest products industry, representing pulp, paper, packaging and wood products manufacturers, and forest landowners. Our companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources that sustain the environment. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 5 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP. Industry companies produce about $190 billion in products annually and employ nearly 900,000 men and women, exceeding employment levels in the automotive, chemicals and plastics industries. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states. Visit AF&PA online at www.afandpa.org.
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