The executive chairman of BNSF railroad, Matt Rose, penned an editorial in the San Antonio Express-News pleading with lawmakers, including Texas Sen. John Cornyn, not to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Leaving NAFTA, wrote Rose, would end the one million jobs in Texas that rely on the trade deal. Rose noted that, in 2015, the Lone Star State exported over $125 million worth of goods to Mexico and Canada.
“The rail industry takes seriously our critical role in the supply chain as we serve our customers and make sure their products move seamlessly throughout the United States. U.S. companies rely on us to get their goods from point A to point B safely and on time. Our business depends on trade as 42 percent of rail carloads and intermodal units are directly associated with international trade. NAFTA has been a key element in growing that percentage.”
Across the U.S., he reported, NAFTA was responsible for almost 12 million jobs in the single year of 2014. And these jobs pay 16 percent more on average than non-export-related jobs.
“Trade with Mexico and Canada has helped Texas build the second largest economy in the country,” wrote Rose, adding, “walking away from NAFTA would create widespread uncertainty.”
Click here to read the full editorial from BNSF Chairman Rose.