Advocacy to Host NAFTA Modernization Meeting for Small Businesses in Milwaukee

Advocacy to Host NAFTA Modernization Meeting for Small Businesses in Milwaukee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, March 15th, the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration will host a NAFTA Modernization Meeting in Milwaukee for small business owners and stakeholders to attend and give input. The event will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Tommy G. Thompson Youth Center, 640 S 84th St., Milwaukee, WI 53214. SBA Administrator Linda McMahon will be in attendance.

In early 2016, Congress passed the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act (TFTEA), establishing a new role for the Office of Advocacy: to facilitate greater consideration of small business economic issues during international trade negotiations. On May 18, 2017, the President notified Congress of the intent to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This triggered Advocacy’s obligations under TFTEA, including a report for Congress on the views of small business on the potential economic effects of a renegotiated NAFTA.

For this report, Advocacy is hosting outreach meetings across the country to hear from small businesses affected by international trade with Canada and Mexico. The purpose of Advocacy’s outreach efforts is to hear directly from small businesses on their priorities, opportunities and challenges in a renegotiated NAFTA.

“A renegotiated NAFTA could have a profound impact on small businesses across the country,” said Major L. Clark, III, acting Chief Counsel for the Office of Advocacy. “It’s important for small businesses to take advantage of this unique opportunity to provide input directly to Advocacy before any changes to the agreement go into effect.”

In order for this outreach effort to be successful, we need small business participation. This meeting will be an opportunity for small business leaders to educate Advocacy and federal agencies through first-hand accounts of how they have been impacted by NAFTA.

Follow this link for more information and to register for this event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sba-advocacy-nafta-modernization-outreach-meeting-milwaukee-wi-tickets-43640003425