Today, Ambassador Katherine Tai joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Congressman Chris Pappas [NH-01] for a small business tour and roundtable discussion on the importance of lowering costs for New Hampshire families, strengthening our trade relationships, and helping the United States maintain its global competitive advantage.
Ambassador Tai’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below:
Good afternoon, everyone.
I want to thank Congressman Pappas and Senator Shaheen for inviting me today, Pease Development Authority for hosting us, and all of you for joining us. I recently learned that, when the original Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth opened in 1923, it was the first of its kind. I also learned that it is owned 50-50 by New Hampshire and Maine.
And I must say—I like the New Hampshire side more.
All kidding aside, I am thrilled to be here to talk about how the Biden Administration, in collaboration with our partners in Congress like Congressman Pappas and Senator Shaheen, is delivering concrete results for workers and businesses in New Hampshire.
From day one, President Biden has fought to grow the economy from the bottom up and the middle out. He knows that the best way to deliver inclusive, equitable economic prosperity is by investing in our workers and our businesses.
It is fitting we are at the Portsmouth International Airport today because under President Biden’s leadership, we are making the largest investment in our nation’s infrastructure since the creation of the Interstate Highway System under the Eisenhower Administration.
For decades, infrastructure in New Hampshire has suffered from a systemic lack of investment.
This law changes that.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Act provides $1.4 billion for infrastructure projects across the Granite State over the next five years to repair bridges and highways, deliver safe drinking water to all communities, and provide reliable and affordable internet. Already, more than $400 million has been announced for local and statewide projects.
These investments will create good-paying jobs and boost the state’s manufacturing industry.
We know that countries around the world are investing in their infrastructure. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will ensure that we can maintain our competitive advantage in the global marketplace, and help all of you compete on a level playing field in the 21st century and beyond.
But this legislation is just one piece of a broader economic agenda that invests in our workers, lowers costs for families, and enables us to be a leader in the development of cutting-edge technology.
Thanks to the hard work of Representative Pappas and Senator Shaheen, President Biden recently signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law.
This law tackles inflation by lowering costs for New Hampshire residents and reducing the deficit.
We are making the largest investment in our nation’s history to address the climate crisis by creating good-paying jobs in wind, solar, and electric vehicle manufacturing.
We’re also investing in our supply chains to improve our resilience and strengthen our competitiveness.
These historic investments complement our efforts at USTR to fight for you.
Over the past 18 months, my team and I have been working hard to ensure that you all can deliver your products to consumers around the world.
We have repaired relationships with our trading partners, made important progress in enforcing and implementing existing agreements, and launched exciting new initiatives – including plurilateral frameworks with partners in the Indo-Pacific as well as bilateral efforts with the European Union, Kenya and Taiwan.
Through these initiatives, we are fostering fair and healthy cooperation that lifts up small businesses and working families.
Lastly, I want to emphasize something that is important to me. We want to do trade the right way, and that is only possible by speaking with you and hearing your priorities.
So today, I want to hear from you on how our trade agenda can support you and the businesses you represent.
Once again, thank you for inviting me today, and I am excited to have a productive and engaging discussion with all of you.
Thank you.
