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If Robert Burns could run for Congress

by Rick Helfenbein - 01/01/15 12:30 PM ET

Born on Jan. 25, 1759, the Poet Robert Burns is regarded as a founder of the Romantic Movement in Scotland. Each year, his birthday is celebrated with a sip (or two) of fine whisky and a serious bite of haggis.

We are reminded of Burns every New Year’s Eve, singing lyrics derived from his poem “Auld Lang Syne.” While we try our best to forget the unproductive 113th Congress, we sing: “Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?”

Yes, it is time to put aside all the things that the 113th Congress didn’t do, and welcome the 114th with open arms and encouraging plans for a productive session. With regard to trade, the rhetoric has already swung 180 degrees, and hope for progress does spring eternal once again.

{mosads}Sure, there is controversy for the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), with some worried that passage would give the president too much power. But in reality, these are talking points, and no one wants to see the trade boat run without a rudder. Expired since 2007, TPA definitely needs renewal.

The Generalized System of Preferences bill (GSP) has been expired since July 2013 and we say enough already — at this point we are only hurting ourselves.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is due to expire in September 2015 and also needs to be immediately renewed in order to keep investments flowing.

If Congress can focus on the above three bills, then we will be in such a better place and the smaller issues will fall in line, or fall by the wayside one by one. Positive movement will be such a breath of fresh air.

If Robert Burns could run for Congress, he would forgive and forget. Just look at the lyrics:

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand of thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
For days of long ago.

For Auld Lang Syne, for old times’ sake — welcome to 2015!

Helfenbein is chairman of the board of the American Apparel and Footwear Association. He is a strong advocate for a robust U.S. trade agenda and lectures frequently on the subjects of supply chain and international trade. Follow him on Twitter @rhelfen.