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“It is the maxim of every prudent master of a family, never to attempt to make at home what it will cost him more to make than to buy . . . . If a foreign country can supply us with a commodity cheaper than we ourselves can make it, better buy it of them with some part of the produce of our own industry, employed in a way in which we have some advantage.”

-Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, 1776

IPI believes the United States should aggressively pursue trade liberalization, which includes a willingness to lower our own trade barriers even when other countries do not respond reciprocally.  Ideally, those efforts include multilateral agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but bilateral agreements can also promote freer trade. 

American consumers bear the brunt of the protectionist impulse through higher prices on consumer goods, and American workers are best served when liberalized trade policies facilitate the export of American products throughout the world.  At a time when protectionist sentiments are growing, it is important to assert that the U.S. and its workers have nothing to fear from trade, and everything to gain.

September 22, 2015

Clinton's Opposition to Keystone XL Hurts Middle Class She Wants To Help

Hillary Clinton’s opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline not only hurts the economy and middle class, but also hinders energy security for both the U.S. and its allies. “Clinton’s opposition to the pipeline is inexplicable if you know the facts behind the issue," said IPI's Merrill Matthews, Ph.D. 

September 17, 2015

Major Victory for U.S. Energy Security As House Committee Approves Crude Exports

Today the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved HR 702, a bipartisan bill eliminating the 1970’s-era export ban on crude oil, which would lead the way to lower energy prices, increased energy supply, and be a boost to U.S. security, but the White House has announced its opposition to the measure.

September 10, 2015

US Crude Exports Clear First Hurdle

A key House panel on Thursday approved legislation to end the 40-year federal ban on exports of US crude oil, and the bill is expected to win further approval in the House and Senate before being passed on to the White House.

September 6, 2015

Sugar Policy

When the maker of Oreo cookies announced it was moving one assembly line from Illinois to Mexico, it said the decision was the result of labor unions, not the price of sugar.

June 24, 2015

IPI Commends Congress For Passing Trade Promotion Authority

IPI commends the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives for finding a way to pass Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), a necessary step toward the successful negotiation of trade agreements such as the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP).

June 10, 2015

Coalition Letter to Congress in Support of TPA

TPA is a necessary step to get Congress moving on a long-stalled trade agenda.

May 31, 2015

Why Republicans Should Give Obama Trade Promotion Authority

Republicans don’t trust President Obama.  Can’t fault them for that.  But that distrust is driving many of them to oppose trade promotion authority (TPA) legislation, also known as “fast track.”  That’s the wrong conclusion.  If distrust is the issue, then Republicans should support TPA rather than oppose it.

May 13, 2015

Let's Defund Terrorism By Ending the Oil Export Ban

It won’t happen overnight, but if we want to defund terrorism, we should start by undermining extremists’ primary funding source: energy.

May 5, 2015

If the Trade Deal Fails Blame President Obama and His Legacy of Mistrust

President Obama's Trans Pacific Partnership agreement and Trade Promotion Authority legislation are in trouble, but it's less because of the merits of TPP and TPA and more because he can't be trusted to live by his promises.

April 16, 2015

Giovanetti: Fast Track Authority for Trade Agreement Good News for U.S. Economy

It’s good news that there appears to be an agreement among Senate leaders for Congress to pursue fast track trade promotion authority, which would revitalize trade negotiations such as the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other agreements.

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