Partners in Prosperity: Secretary Pritzker Promotes Manufacturing and TPP in California

Last week, Secretary Penny Pritzker traveled to California to participate in several events highlighting the Department of Commerce’s efforts to help create the conditions for U.S. businesses to compete and succeed in the global economy. On Wednesday, Secretary Pritzker joined Representative Jim Costa (D-Calif.) in Fresno, CA for a roundtable discussion with California agricultural leaders focused on opportunities to promote agricultural exports.

After the agricultural roundtable, Secretary Pritzker and Rep. Costa were briefed on California’s water systems by regional water authority administrators. The roundtable discussion highlighted the challenges California has faced with respect to water management in California over the past four years of drought.

Following her visit to Fresno, Secretary Pritzker traveled to San Diego, where she delivered remarks at the “Trans-Pacific Partnership: Partners in Prosperity” event, hosted by World Trade Center San Diego and Qualcomm. There, she discussed how the San Diego economy is poised to benefit from TPP. Secretary Pritzker cited the city's high-tech industries and skilled workforce as key factors contributing to San Diego’s global competitiveness. She noted that San Diego’s burgeoning mobile tech and internet industry will benefit from TPP, especially due to intellectual property protections contained in the agreement.

Secretary Pritzker assured San Diego business leaders that TPP, which eliminates more than 18,000 foreign tariffs imposed on American products and promotes the free flow of data across borders, is a chance for communities to grow and succeed by allowing companies greater access to the Asia-Pacific market. She thanked business partners, such as Qualcomm, for their continued support for TPP and encouraged San Diego businesses to push for trade agreements that will aid support an innovative and fair economy. 

The Secretary completed her California trip on Thursday with a visit to the Taylor Guitars facility in El Cajon, taking part in a business roundtable with Representative Susan Davis (D-Calif.) and local business leaders. They discussed the importance of manufacturing to the U.S. economy, a sector that employs more than 12 million Americans and accounts for 75 percent of private sector R&D. Secretary Pritzker highlighted Department of Commerce manufacturing initiatives such as the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI), which brings together industry, academia and federal partners to increase U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, by promoting a robust and sustainable manufacturing R&D infrastructure.

Secretary Pritzker closed the discussion by inviting companies to participate in Manufacturing Day, a celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers.