Extending Trade Preference
Overview
A non-U.S.
As a result of a strained bilateral relationship, the U.S. government was not supporting an extension of the Trade Preference Act. Additionally, as the strained bilateral relationship grew more difficult, numerous members of Congress began to question whether the Act should be extended at all and many withdrew their support. Equally challenging was the fact that without an extension, the company would have to shed thousands of jobs in a country where unemployment had already reached 80\%.
Strategic Recommendations
In an effort to change the momentum Blue Star Strategies, LLC professionals developed and implemented a strategy that engaged the U.S. government across many departments, the U.S. Congress on both sides of the aisle and the leading public policy institutions and non-governmental organizations. The client had a terrific story to tell: it employed thousands of workers, it was responsible for the growth of hundreds of small enterprises and it was one of the government’s largest taxpayers. To get the company’s story out to the many stakeholders and decision-makers, the Blue Star Strategies, LLC team organized several key fora across Washington, DC’s think tank community and asked the company’s CEO to come to Washington every month for 3-5 days to meet members of Congress and their staff to communicate the company’s story and its challenges.
Program Highlights
After laying the groundwork through a robust education and outreach strategy, our client testified before the powerful Ways and Means Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. Additionally, our client’s presentation before the U.S. Department of State's tribunal was a key component of the Secretary’s overall assessment and subsequent recommendation to extend this trade preference statute. Finally, we were able to persuade the Subcommittee Chair to visit one of the countries that benefited from the trade preference and to give a speech at our client’s factory.
Results
With a great story to tell and our efforts to launch a multi-level campaign ,the Congress approved by a wide margin in the House and in the Senate an extension of the Trade Preference. In fact, Blue Star Strategies, LLC worked for 3 years and achieved an extension each year in which we were engaged.