David French, Senior Vice President for Government Relations of The National Retail Federation has insisted necessary step toward free and open global economy during the Senate’s procedural vote on Trade Promotion Authority. NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. “This is more than just another routine procedural vote – this is a necessary step towards ensuring a free and open global economy where trade barriers are a thing of the past. Opening up international markets will be a legacy not only for President Obama but for every member of Congress who voted in favor of this measure. We now call on senators to pass TPA in the final vote,” David said. Retail is the US’s largest private sector employer, supporting one in four US jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing US $ 2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy.
