US-Singapore FTA Business Coalition

1101 17th Street NW Suite 411
Washington, DC 20036
Tel (202) 289-1911
Fax (202) 289-0519

U.S.-Singapore FTA Business Coalition Enthusiastically Endorses Trade Deal; Pledges to Work Hard for Congressional Approval

For Immediate Release

For more information:
Contact the Coalition's Co-Chairs:
Robert Haines, ExxonMobil - (202) 862-0245
Selina Jackson, UPS - (202) 675-3394
Bob Bauerlein, Boeing - (703) 465-3505

Washington, DC, January 16, 2003 - Members of the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Business Coalition (USSFTA) signaled their strong support for the just-concluded free trade agreement between the United States and Singapore. The negotiations, which lasted for over two years, reached conclusion when the final unresolved issue dealing with capital controls was worked out.

"This free trade agreement sets new standards for open trade,” said Coalition Co-Chair Selina Jackson, public affairs manager for United Parcel Service, speaking on behalf of the U.S.-Singapore FTA Business Coalition. “It will create jobs and improve the economies of both Singapore and the United States. It will bolster business opportunities for not only large corporations, but also for millions of small companies in both markets.”

The Coalition, made up of companies and business organizations from across America, has been an enthusiastic and vocal supporter for free trade with Singapore. With the negotiation of a final agreement, the Coalition will work to inform Congress about the merits of the accord, and build overwhelming, bipartisan support for its approval.

"Singapore is an excellent place for American companies to do business, and with this agreement in place, we can expect expanded trade and investment opportunities and closer ties between the two countries," said Coalition Co-chair Robert Haines of Exxon Mobil Corporation.

"USTR has done an impressive job adhering to the standards set out under trade promotion authority. This is a good trade agreement that truly is in America's best interest,” said Bob Bauerlein, vice president of International Operations for The Boeing Company, which is a co-chair of the Coalition.

The US-Singapore FTA Business Coalition is a group of approximately 100 leading U.S. companies and trade associations that support the passage of a US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. The Coalition includes The US-ASEAN Business Council, The US Chamber of Commerce, The Business Roundtable, the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, the Coalition of Service Industries and an expanding list of other companies and organizations.

For more information, please contact the coalition secretariat via John Phipps at the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council 202-416-6711 (jphipps@usasean.org) or Erin Pham at the US Chamber of Commerce 202-463-5615 (epham@uschamber.com).

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