Sen. Kaine Talks International Trade with VA Business Leaders

RICHMOND, Va (WVIR) - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) started a five-day tour through Virginia on Monday. Sen. Kaine will be discussing jobs, trade and economic development for the commonwealth.

The tour began with the senator and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker holding a round-table hearing with Virginia business leaders

Kaine and Pritzker said the state has seen tremendous growth and job creation from rising exports. The secretary says 93,000 Virginians have jobs from flourishing exports.

However, some business leaders expressed concerns over talks with other countries about Pacific and Atlantic trade agreements.

"So many places around the world that are interested in our product. Our biggest challenge has probably been, you know, the tariffs," said World Art Group owner Lonnie Lemco.

The point of the trade talks is to come up with more universal standards for open and fair international markets.

"You can't allow others to sort of get a competitive edge on our business by hitting lower standards. And that's one of the aspects of this deal that is the most important," Sen. Kaine said.

The secretary says these discussions don't just impact the commonwealth, but all Americans in an increasingly inter-connected world.

"We are globally competitive as a country, but in order to be so we have to have equal access to markets," Pritzker said.

International standards being considered include worker safety, minimum wages and environmental protection. Establishing common requirements could level the playing field for the cost of labor.

Leaders said Monday that we could see the U.S. Senate Finance Committee introduce trade legislation that tackles these issues as early as next week. They believe it's a necessary step toward closing global trade deals.

Sen. Kaine's tour also includes meeting with members of student robotics teams at CS Monroe Technology School in Leesburg, and visiting the U.S. Coast Guard Base Portsmouth.

Kaine will be in Appomattox on Thursday to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Confederate States Army General Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House.

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