Michael Bryant, Co-Founder of AIR802 Corporation, was invited to and participated in a meeting with senior Administration officials at the White House to discuss international trade policy. This was a unique opportunity that few individuals ever get to experience; giving Michael a chance to expand upon his extensive knowledge of international trade policies affecting small and medium sized U.S. businesses such as AIR802. It was also an opportunity to share his input with senior officials on the new trade partnership: the Trans- Pacific Partnership.
AIR802 strongly supports the new Trans- Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement among 12 Pacific Rim countries. It is a forward looking agreement which for the first time an international trade agreement has specific support for small and medium size companies for exporting their products, which are Made-in-USA. One often hears political commentary that trade agreements have caused manufacturing jobs to shift overseas. The reality is that this will happen with or without a trade agreement. Thus, the real point of trade agreements is glossed over; even without trade agreements foreign companies can import almost anything into the USA at very low tariff rates.
Meanwhile, U.S. companies exporting into these same countries has been difficult due to high import tariffs. With the TPP now removing the tariffs from these trading partners we can compete fairly; which will generate more international sales and thus job growth here in the USA. Buyers worldwide perceive U.S. made goods as quality and desire them. As China is not a member of the TPP the agreement provides a strong partnership that counters China’s growing influence worldwide. Thus, the TPP is an important strategic agreement from both a political and economic perspective. It will greatly benefit small and medium sized American companies, such as AIR802, that are in the business of exporting their products internationally.