WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement following a series of votes Thursday related to Trade Promotion Authority (TPA).

“I remain committed to a holistic approach to achieving reasonable and fair trade policies.  I am pleased that Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) are linked. But I believe that all four of the trade bills – TPA, TAA, the customs bill, and the preferences bill – all of which I supported in the Senate Finance Committee, should have been considered together rather than voted on separately. Fair trade can be good for the United States, but only if it is done right — leveling the playing field for all workers. I could not support a motion to proceed in a piecemeal fashion earlier this week, and for the same reasons I do not support the motion today.  I intend to watch the amendment process and floor debate very carefully.”

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