Since the Port of Houston's first direct shipment of cotton to Europe in 1919, the 25-mile-long complex of wharfs, refineries and petrochemical complexes has become the busiest port in the United States in terms of foreign tonnage. It's also become a symbol of Texas' role as a national export hub, thrusting the Lone Star State into the middle of another national row over trade that has… Read more »

A bipartisan trio in the Texas congressional delegation is leading the charge to eliminate a 40-year-old ban on putting American crude oil on the international market. It’s a push that pits some oil producers against refineries — two large Texas industries. But the members leading the bid to repeal the law — which allows American companies to export refined petroleum products like… Read more »

Se llevó a cabo la primera de varias reuniones anuales que realiza la Cámara de Comercio de Mission para sus afiliados quienes aprovechan esta ocasión para ampliar su red de contactos y conocer más de lo que pasa en la vida empresarial y política de la ciudad de Mission. De nueva cuenta, la cámara registró un lleno absoluto en el evento que incluyó invitados de la talla del alcalde la… Read more »

Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, announced today that he had a “yellow light” from Republican leadership to push his effort to lift the 40-year-old ban on crude oil exports. Barton said his bill has “an excellent chance to get…passed through the House sometime this year,” though Republican leadership hasn’t committed to a “green light” — giving the measure a floor vote. To get one, Barton… Read more »

Pressure is mounting on the Obama administration to authorize oil exports to Mexico and put the United States' southern neighbor on the same legal footing as Canada. Texas Democratic Reps. Joaquin Castro and Henry Cuellar are among the latest to advocate the move, which would deepen the United States' business and trade relationship with Mexico, while providing another outlet for the… Read more »

Looking out from the sliver of Texas that he represents, running from San Antonio to Laredo and the Mexican border, Henry Cuellar has no doubt about where the economic opportunity lies.   “The world is getting more interconnected and 95 per cent of the global economy is outside our borders,” the congressman says. And for the US economy, and Texas, that means that trade is becoming… Read more »

 In a logical world, President Obama's bid to negotiate a massive trade agreement with 11 Pacific Rim partners would find warm welcome in a Congress dominated by conservatives who, traditionally, embrace free trade in most forms. But a measure giving Obama authority to hammer out such a deal is blowing up normal alliances on Capitol Hill — including within the Texas delegation… Read more »

A bill to end the ban on crude oil exports, which was originally introduced earlier this year by Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), continues to gain supporters. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) signed on as a co-sponsor Thursday morning making the legislative effort bipartisan. Rep. Barton issued the following statement after speaking to Rep. Cuellar: “I am excited to have Congressman Cuellar co-sponsor… Read more »

Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX28) today released the following statement after co-sponsoring the bipartisan, bicameral Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), introduced by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) last week. The legislation would establish rules for international trade… Read more »

 Congressman Henry Cuellar issued the following statement following the introduction of a bipartisan, bicameral Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, Ranking Member Ron Wyden and House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan. The legislation would establish rules for international trade negotiations that will boost exports and grow the… Read more »