Ayotte pushes for passage of Trade Promotion Authority

U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) last week toured Mercury Systems in Hudson, New Hampshire, where she discussed her support for pending bipartisan legislation that will refresh the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA)

“I appreciated the opportunity to visit workers at Mercury Systems, where I heard firsthand about how the trade bill would help give their company fair and equal access to sell their goods and services in new markets, thereby creating more jobs in New Hampshire,” Ayotte said. “I fully support renewing Trade Promotion Authority in order to increase American trade and create jobs in New Hampshire, and I’m hopeful the Senate will approve the bill… .”

If passed, the TPA legislation will give Congress a more significant role in developing trade negotiations, increasing trade and creating jobs throughout the nation.

Many legislators agree that TPA is a useful tool that improves the negotiating power of the United States in international trade deals by creating more transparency and elevating the role of Congress in the negotiation process.

Since TPA expired eight years ago, presidential administrations have been able to act independently, negotiating trade agreements on any terms without being checked by Congress or receiving any direction.

The 100,000-square-foot Mercury Systems facility in Hudson opened just more than a year ago and has seen significant growth, employing  170 of Ayotte’s constituents. The company designs and constructs electronic systems for defense and commercial use, with products such as radar, sonar, electronic warfare and signals intelligence.