Trade & Immigration

Trade & Immigration. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Last week President Obama assured immigration advocates frustrated by the wait for a promised overhaul of U.S. immigration laws that he remains committed to fixing a system he has said is broken. What remains unclear is whether Congress will send him a bill this year. The President also unveiled plans to double U.S. exports over the next five years in hopes of spurring job growth, an ambitious goal that may rekindle the battle over free-trade policy. OBAMA: And that's why, for the first time, the United States of America is launching a single, comprehensive strategy to promote American exports. It's called the National Export Initiative, and it's an ambitious effort to marshal the full resources of the United States government behind American businesses that sell their goods and services abroad. As the President stressed the importance of expanding trade he did not fail to include the importance of jobs for American workers. OBAMA: Now, there's no question that as we compete in the global marketplace, we've got to look out for our workers. But to look out for our workers, we've got to be able to compete in the global marketplace. It's never been as important an opportunity for America as it is right now. He promises that when it comes to exports, they will step up to the plate promoting American products abroad. OBAMA: But another obstacle that our exporters face is that the federal government frankly just hasn't done a good enough job advocating for them abroad -- at least compared to the advocacy that other countries are engaging in. And that's why, as the second part of the National Export Initiative, the United States of America will go to bat for our businesses and our workers. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.