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US economic strength is integral to our nation's security
and worldwide leadership. In an integrated, globalized economy,
positive US economic engagement -- including the ability of
American farmers, workers and businesses to compete in emerging
markets -- is central to our own economic prosperity and to
the worldwide growth of democracy, freedom, and human rights.
America has a vital interest in being a reliable supplier
of cutting-edge technology, infrastructure, manufactured products,
services, agricultural commodities, and food products throughout
the world. America's economic, diplomatic and strategic interests
are compromised by the imposition of unilateral economic sanctions
for foreign policy reasons without full consideration of:
- the costs to our nation's economy;
- the damage to our security, commercial, and human rights,
objectives;
- the adverse impact on US ties with our closest allies,
whose long-term cooperation and assistance are essential
to building effective multilateral coalitions, in a crisis;
and
- the damage to US global competitiveness and investment
policy arising from secondary boycotts and extra-territorial
sanctions.
Concerned organizations, companies and individuals work together
through USA*Engage to assure that unilateral sanctions initiatives
are examined rigorously to determine the potential for accomplishing
their stated objectives and for damaging US competitiveness
and jobs. The coalition promotes responsible alternatives
which advance US security, diplomatic and economic goals.
USA*ENGAGE is a broad-based coalition representing Americans
from all regions, sectors and segments of our society concerned
about the proliferation of unilateral foreign policy sanctions
at the federal, state, and local level. Despite the fact that
unilateral sanctions rarely achieve our foreign policy goals,
they continue to have political appeal. Unilateral sanctions
give the impression that the United States is "doing something,"
while American workers, farmers and businesses absorb the
costs. Even now, well-organized activists are lobbying to
further restrict US companies and farmers from doing business
in major overseas markets.
Unilateral sanctions threaten our future by ceding America's
fastest-growing export markets to our foreign competitors
and damaging the reputation of US manufacturers and farmers
as reliable suppliers. When the government takes US business
and agriculture out of a market, it provides foreign suppliers
a huge unearned advantage. Equally damaging are recent laws
restricting overseas operations of US companies and imposing
secondary boycotts on our allies. These actions can put American
companies in a position where it is impossible to comply with
both US and host country law.
While working Americans pay the price, America gets hardly
anything in return. In fact, sanctions take away American's
best tools for advancing human rights and democracy -- US
political and economic engagement. At the same time, secondary
boycotts have angered our closest allies, who support our
security, foreign policy, and human rights goals, but object
to such measures as serious infringements of their sovereignty
and violations of international law. Ultimately, these sanctions
discredit American diplomacy and leadership.
American values are best advanced by engagement of American
business and agriculture in the world, not by ceding markets
to foreign competition. Helping train workers, building roads,
telephone systems, and power plants in poorer nations, promoting
free enterprise -- these activities improve the lives of people
worldwide and support American values. Unfortunately the real
difference made by American companies and workers through
such day-to-day activity is lost in the emotion of political
debates, where there is pressure to make a symbolic gesture,
even if it won't work.
USA*ENGAGE has lead a campaign to inform policy-makers, opinion-leaders,
and the public about the counterproductive nature of unilateral
sanctions, the importance of exports and overseas investment
for American competitiveness and jobs, and the role of American
companies in promoting human rights and democracy world wide.
USA*ENGAGE promotes responsible alternatives to sanctions
that actually advance US humanitarian and foreign policy goals,
such as intensified US diplomacy and multilateral cooperation.
Prior to the creation of USA*Engage in 1997, there had been
no organized voice urging careful examination of sanctions
proposals. Congress, the Administration, and state and local
governments had adopted sanctions without thinking hard about
the cost to American companies, workers, and farmers, the
likelihood that sanctions won't work, or potential alternatives.
Building A Broad-Based Coalition - USA*ENGAGE brings
together Americans from all regions, sectors and segments
of our society to speak out for a more effective foreign policy.
Even though a large number of American companies, farmers,
and workers are hurt by sanctions that take away US export
markets and undermine our international competitiveness, Congress
and the Administration cannot hear from only activists promoting
a narrow sanctions agenda. A large coalition provides the
voice to ensure that American policy-makers listen to all
interested parties, including those who oppose sanctions.
Developing the Case - USA*ENGAGE explains the benefits
of economic engagement for American leadership and values,
the ineffectiveness of past sanctions initiatives and the
high cost of sanctions for American exports, investment, and
jobs. We propose responsible alternatives that advance American
values and foreign policy goals and provide our nation's leaders
with effective tools.
Education - USA*ENGAGE has effectively recast the
political debate on sanctions. We recruit respected foreign
policy and economic experts to speak out against sanctions,
actively engage the media, and provide outreach to key target
states and Congressional districts.
Contacting Government Officials - USA*ENGAGE directly
contacts Congressional, Administration, state and local officials.
We reach out to Members of Congress by making them aware of
the cost of unilateral sanctions for constituents in their
districts, the ineffectiveness of sanctions in achieving American
goals, and the role of alternative diplomatic tools.
Browse Our Current Members
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