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w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g . c o m May 2014 • /insight on manufacturing | 13 invested in the idea of growing globally," Long says. "But it can be the kind of thing where you end up with an export plan in a binder on the shelf, and unless someone is there actively pushing to give it some legs, it may never come to fruition." U.S. officials are examining two trade agreements similar to NAFTA, or the North American Free Trade Agreement, the U.S. entered into with Mexico and Canada. The Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement, or TPP, would join the United States with 11 Pacific Rim nations, including Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and Japan, and would also include Mexico and Canada. A pact with the European Union, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, would allow free trade with those nations. Both pacts would help boost American exports, but discussions also are weighted with issues encompassing organized labor, environmental protection, worker safety/ human rights and the impact overall on the American economy. "I think in general these agreements are beneficial," says Mark Rhoda-Reis, market development director for the Americas and Europe, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Anything that can help U.S. companies overcome trade barriers will help boost exports, Rhoda-Reis says. It's not always about removing tariffs, which aren't necessarily high, he says, but it can be about removing other obstacles to doing business. "Some of it's because of the way their regulations work versus ours," Rhoda-Reis says. "Not that they're trying to toss everything out and make everything unsafe, but it's really more about harmonizing those regulations so that everyone knows the rules of the road." While there's optimism these agreements will be approved, they are complex with a multitude of regulations, all with things the partner countries and the U.S. feel are important. While NAFTA gets some hard knocks, the newer agreements have incorporated some of those earlier concerns about labor and the environment to give everyone a level playing field, Rhoda-Reis says. "Because so many countries are involved, the hard part's going to be reconciling all those differences in some key areas," he says. "But we're optimistic we'll be able to get it done." New trade agreements Since 2007, we've completed over $84 million in design/assist GMP projects. We have provided $2.7 million in savings back to the owner. 800.532.4376 | www.jfahern.com Better by Design 920.810.4617 excaliburedge.com Accelerate your pursuit of business excellence The Edge You Need to Succeed