August 27, 2002 -- In a momentous public policy victory, NPES The Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies applauds President George W. Bush and Congress for enactment of The Trade Act of 2002, which was signed into law on August 6 in a White House East Room ceremony. Representing the Association and industry, NPES Government Affairs Director Mark J. Nuzzaco and Government Affairs Representative Gerrie Benedi attended the event along with other proponents of the legislation, including business leaders, Bush Administration officials and congressional supporters. Marking the importance of the occasion, NPES Chairman, David Reny, Vice President and Managing Director, Standard Finishing Systems, Andover, Massachusetts, stated "the Association and its members have worked very aggressively for passage of the new trade law, with the goal of greatly expanding export opportunities for NPES members." NPES is a long-time supporter of global free and fair trade. It has been nearly eight years since the President of the United States has had Trade Promotion Authority (formerly known as Fast Track Authority). The absence of this executive trade tool has placed the United States at a huge disadvantage among other trading nations that have been negotiating trade deals worldwide. "The United States is long overdue in passing trade negotiating authority for the president. Now more than ever, the United States needs this authority to help strengthen the current U.S. leadership in global commerce, and strengthen our domestic economy," commented Reny. Summarized, the new law: - gives the President Trade Promotion Authority (expiring in June 2005) to negotiate trade agreements with other countries; - requires Congress to either accept or reject proposed trade agreements without amendment; - helps workers who lose their jobs because of trade by providing an expanded 10- year, $12 billion Trade Adjustment Assistance program; - renews low tariffs with Colombia and three other Andean nations; and - extends the Andean and General Trade Preferences. In 2001, NPES member companies’ export sales were $2.5 billion, representing more than 40 percent of total U.S. production and sales of printing, publishing and converting technology. TPA is vital to the continued growth of exports from the printing, publishing and converting technologies industry, especially to the developing markets of Asia, Latin America, and Eurasia. For example, increased access to these markets is expected to lead to 20 percent to 30 percent export growth in the Latin American and China markets respectively. NPES President Regis J. Delmontagne called upon all NPES members and their employees to thank President Bush for his leadership and congressional supporters for their votes in support of the economic well being of manufactures and their employees and communities. "Trade promotion authority for the President will help level the playing field, and assist U.S. companies in competing more effectively in international markets," said Delmontagne. "For many this bill was an especially hard vote that required weighing and balancing numerous competing interests in their districts and states, including commercial, environmental and labor concerns," observed NPES Government Affairs Director Mark Nuzzaco. "A commitment to free and fair trade prevailed, resulting in the restoration of Trade Promotion Authority, a powerful tool that enables the President to negotiate trade deals in the best interest of U.S. workers and consumers, as well as those of our trading partners," he noted. NPES is a U.S. trade association representing more than 460 companies engaged in manufacturing and importing for sale or distribution of machinery, equipment, systems, software and supplies used in every printing, publishing and converting process from desktop design and image generation and processing to multiple output options and targeted dissemination systems. NPES is a co-sponsor of PRINT, GRAPH EXPO and CONVERTING EXPO“, the leading expositions of printing, publishing and converting technologies in the Americas, and the regional exhibitions GRAPHIC ARTS THE CHARLOTTE SHOW in North Carolina; THE GUTENBERG FESTIVAL in Long Beach, California, and the VUE/POINT Conference in Washington, DC. Complete information about the Association, its programs and its member companies is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.npes.org, by e-mail at [email protected], by telephone at 703/264-7200, or by fax at 703/620-0994.