Along with other New York business leaders, I was asked to contribute to a Business Forward* press release discussing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) ahead of the New York primary on April 19. This is a follow-up to my participation in the White House Business Briefing on International Trade last January. The quote is below.
Paul Lashmet at the White House Business Briefing on International Trade
“A free trade agreement or partnership that breaks down barriers of entry with member countries and creates a competitive advantage over non-member countries is compelling. It is compelling because it should allow small businesses to diversify and grow their client base, both domestic and international,” said Paul Lashmet, Business Integration Architect at North Castle Integration LLC in Armonk.
“However, until economies are free to grow at a decent clip, what is the point? The barriers broken down by an agreement are only replaced by another called, ‘protect your own.’ This perspective won’t be dispelled until there is a strong sense of mobility, so any jobs that are lost will be replaced with better ones.”
*About Business Forward: www.BusinessFWD.org.