Fazal: American businesses work, but need a boost from U.S. government
Nearly five decades ago, an African boy trained his ears on the radio as broadcasts trickled in about Americans landing the first man on the moon. Inspired by this incredible feat, the future businessman made his first – and likely most pivotal – of thousands of sales pitches: a demand that his parents send him to America, the land where anything was possible.
When he walked out of the airport in New York, Morty Fazal carried all of $72 in his pocket. More importantly, he carried his American Dream and the same dogged determination found in every newcomer who has powered this country’s success, generation after generation.
Today, a small business born of Morty’s determination and immigrant ingenuity – the Global Export and Marketing Company (GEMCO) – exemplifies American Dream turned American success story. GEMCO uses marketing knowhow and industry expertise to put American food brands on supermarket shelves around the world, along the way supporting thousands of jobs in the United States.
Companies like GEMCO make the U.S. globally competitive and strengthen the economic standing of our country. We create jobs at home and serve as ambassadors abroad.
But we need help.
Unequal regulations, inconsistent support, and barriers to international trade pose significant obstacles to our growth and expansion.
Current Free Trade Agreement (FTA) structures are putting American exporters at a serious disadvantage. U.S. goods are subject to the highest customs and duty rates globally. One such example of the uphill battle American exporters face can be found in Egypt and India, two nations that are significant producers, with Egypt having secured a free trade agreement with the European Union and India currently negotiating toward an agreement. The U.S. needs new, effective FTA’s so we can level the playing field for American exporters.
Here is another area where we