85R10819 RMA-D
By: Gutierrez H.R. No. 408
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Since its ratification in 1994, the North American
Free Trade Agreement has produced great opportunities for economic
growth and development in the United States and our bordering
countries; and
WHEREAS, According to the U.S. Census Bureau, American trade
with Canada and Mexico has tripled under NAFTA, reaching an annual
total of $1 trillion in 2015; Mexico is America's third-largest
export market for agricultural products, including corn, soybeans,
dairy, pork, and beef, and each year Texas sends about 36 percent of
the state's total exports to Mexico; and
WHEREAS, NAFTA has significantly benefited American workers
by creating myriad new avenues for employment; a 2014 study
conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce showed that nearly five
million U.S. jobs, including some 350,000 in Texas, are supported
by increased trade from NAFTA; in addition, 90 percent of Fortune
500 companies have investments in Mexico; and
WHEREAS, Any increase in tariffs on Mexican imports would
also raise U.S. prices for American-made goods, because the cost of
parts produced in Mexico and shipped to manufacturing facilities in
the United States would rise steeply; this fallout from a change in
our trade policy would have an especially great impact on consumers
of automobiles and electronics; and
WHEREAS, Through NAFTA, Canada and Mexico have become
America's largest and third-largest trading partners,
respectively, and a major change to this historic agreement would
place the continued growth of our economy at risk; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby respectfully urge Congress to preserve the North
American Free Trade Agreement and work toward expanding economic
opportunity through international commerce for the betterment of
our country; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the chief clerk of the house forward official
copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to
the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of
Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the
members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that
this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a
memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.