and support Congress granting President Obama fast-track authority on trade agreements, according to a poll ... Follow u
Media Release
OregonJobsThroughTrade.org
Contact: Stacey Dycus Oregon Jobs Through Trade
[email protected] 541-350-2781 Cell
POLL: MORE OREGON DEMOCRATS SUPPORT FREE TRADE THAN OPPOSE IT Oregonians understand that trade is vital to selling Oregon goods abroad
(May 4, 2015 - Portland, OR) – Oregon Democrats believe trade is important to the state’s economy and support Congress granting President Obama fast-track authority on trade agreements, according to a poll released today by a new coalition, Oregon Jobs Through Trade. Oregonians believe that it is vital for Oregon to have access to markets overseas. A recent telephone interview survey of 600 likely Democratic and non-affiliated voters revealed support for trade is stronger than opponents have indicated. • 91 percent of Democrats believe it is important to sell Oregon goods abroad and a majority consider it “very important.” • 14 percent more Democrats support granting fast-track authority to President Obama than oppose it (47 percent support, 33 percent oppose). “Trade in the Asia-Pacific region is critical to Oregon’s economic future,” said John Tapogna, President of ECONorthwest, an economic consulting firm that has been studying the issue in Oregon. “The region is home to a rapidly expanding middle class and a key driver of global growth. The trade plan in Congress opens new markets and opportunities. And it sets enforceable trade rules that protect small businesses in foreign countries.” Oregon depends on trade. Oregon companies that research, design and develop products in Oregon that are sold around the world directly or indirectly support hundreds of thousands of jobs. Though often not included in the data for international trade, research and design firms are vital to Oregon’s competitiveness and support thousands of jobs across the state. With $21 billion in exports annually, over 6,000 Oregon businesses sell goods overseas and nearly 90% of these are small and medium sized businesses. International trade is integral to the creation and preservation of businesses that support Oregon families and their communities. Trade legislation like Trade Promotion Authority and the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement currently being debated in Congress can help ensure Oregon businesses have access to new markets and will compete on a level playing field.
OregonJobsThroughTrade.org
“Trade-dependent jobs helped fuel Oregon’s recovery from the Great Recession,” said Sam Tannahill, owner of A to Z Wineworks, one of the coalition’s founding member businesses. “As one of the nation’s most trade-dependent states, we need strong agreements with our trading partners to create good jobs and improve our communities.” Recent debate on Trade Promotion Authority and the Trans-Pacific Partnership has excluded the voices of many Oregon small business owners and workers who have built their livelihoods on trade. Oregon Jobs Through Trade was formed make more voices heard in the debate over international free trade. “International trade allows small, Oregon businesses like mine to think big. Technology and open borders have allowed my Bend-based business to return $2 million to the local economy by selling to like-minded customers around the world,” said Patrick Kruse, founder of Ruffwear. Oregon Jobs Through Trade is a coalition open to Oregon businesses and workers who understand international trade is integral to the creation and preservation of good jobs that support hard-working Oregon families and individuals. Founding members of the coalition include: A to Z Wineworks; Adelsheim Vineyard; Columbia Sportswear; Country Natural Beef; DePaul Industries; The Greenbrier Companies; NIKE, Inc; Oregon Fruit Products; Puralytics; Roaring Springs Ranch; Ruffwear; Sokol Blosser; SolarWorld; Stash Tea; Straw Propeller Gourmet Foods; Tillamook County Creamery Association; LaCrosse Footwear; Baggallini; Danner; and Yoshida Group/Yoshida Foods International. To learn more, visit Oregon Jobs Through Trade at oregonjobsthroughtrade.org Follow us on Twitter @oregonjobstrade
(Poll memo Enclosed)
TO: Oregon Jobs Through Trade FROM: Pete Brodnitz and Mike Gehrke RE: Oregon Attitudes toward Trade Agreements DATE: April 28, 2015 The results of our recent poll of likely 2016 Democratic and Independent voters in Oregon show that Democrats view trade as an important part of the Oregon economy. Most Democrats support granting fast track authority to President Obama to negotiate trade agreements. Views on Trade • As shown in the table below, 91% of Democrats believe it is important to sell Oregon goods abroad. In fact, a majority believes it is very important. In general, how important do you think it is for the Oregon economy that Oregon companies sell products to other countries? Q5 N=300
Difference Total important Very important Somewhat Important Total not important Not very important Not at all important Don’t Know
Dem
+86 91 59 31 5 3 2 4
On Promotion • A plurality of Democrats (47%) support granting fast-track authority to President Obama to negotiate trade agreements compared to 33% of Democrats who oppose it. Two out of ten Democrats do not hold an opinion. From what you have heard, do you… granting fast-track authority to President Obama to negotiate trade agreements? Dem Q9
Difference Total Support Strongly Support Somewhat Support Total Oppose Somewhat Oppose Strongly Oppose Don’t Know
+14 47 16 31 33 15 18 20
The Benenson Strategy Group conducted 600 total live phone interviews in Oregon with a sample of likely general election voters registered as Democrats or independent or unaffiliated voters. The interviews were conducted March 26 – 28, 2015. The margin of error for overall results is ±4.00% and higher among subgroups. BSG clients include Senators Jeff Merkley (OR), Tim Kaine (VA) and Mazie Hirono (HI), Congressman Tim Walz (MN) and Congressman Adam Smith (WA). Peter Brodnitz, who conducted this survey, was named “Pollster of the Year” by the American Association of Political Consultants in 2007 for his work helping turn Virginia from Red to Purple.
Oregon Trade Poll | 2
