May 14, 2015
The American Natural Soda Ash Corporation (ANSAC) applauds the May 14 vote in the Senate that allows for the Senate to begin debating the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015, also known as trade promotion authority (TPA). If passed by Congress, TPA would set priorities for U.S. trade negotiators and allow free trade agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), to be brought to a vote in Congress without amendment.
“The vote in the Senate to proceed to TPA legislation is a critical first step in the debate over the future of U.S. trade policy. Allowing Congress to assert its authority over ongoing trade negotiations paves the way for future passage of new free trade agreements. Such agreements are vital for the elimination of foreign market access barriers for soda ash and the continued growth of U.S. soda ash exports,” said Christopher Douville, President of ANSAC.
ANSAC is an export trading company formed in 1983 for three U.S. manufacturers who mine soda ash in Wyoming: Tronox Alkali (Stamford, CT), OCI Chemical Corporation (Atlanta, Georgia), and Tata Chemicals North America (Rockaway, New Jersey). ANSAC was formed to be an integrated organization dedicated exclusively to U.S. natural soda ash exports. Approximately 90% of U.S. soda ash production is located in Wyoming, and over 50% of U.S. soda ash is exported to markets around the world.