WASHINGTON--The United States continues to excel in the world market for one reason--the ability to effectively compete and provide quality goods and services to our worldwide customers at value prices.

Open, free and fair trade is not only the cornerstone of our export policies, but is the key to America's ongoing prosperity and economic growth. To keep that prosperity alive, President Bush needs Trade Promotion Authority to negotiate international trade agreements that not only benefit U.S. producers and consumers, but our customers around the globe.

Under TPA, Congress can vote a trade pact up or down, but cannot makes changes to it. This authority is a critical tool for the president in protecting the country's interests and the quality of life for all Americans.

The numbers speak for themselves. Every $1 billion in exports supports 16,700 jobs in the United States. Twelve million U.S. jobs depend on exports--jobs that pay 13 percent to 18 percent more than other jobs. Nearly one-third of U.S. crops go overseas, and consumer foods account for the largest percentage of the total agricultural products exported by the United States.

In 1975, consumer food exports were 10 percent of total agricultural exports. By 1999, this figure had risen to 42 percent with each dollar of these exports generating an additional $1.57 in economic activity.

With Trade Promotion Authority, these numbers will only get better. When we export, the food, beverage and consumer product industry faces some of the highest tariffs in the world--sometimes taxed at a rate in excess of 100 percent.

Since NAFTA, when import taxes between the United States, Canada and Mexico were substantially reduced, food and beverage exports have almost doubled.

New trade deals such as the Free Trade Area of the Americas and a new round of World Trade Organization talks would slash import taxes, and allow the food and beverage industry to grow and create new jobs. Without this critical negotiating tool, Americans will continue to face unfair import taxes that directly affect those who can least afford to pay.

The poorest households in the United States spend nearly half of their income on food and clothing. Yet these basic necessities are the most highly taxed items imported into the United States, costing the average family of four $1,100 each year. With TPA in place these savings would be akin to a tax cut--almost double the size of the rebate checks arriving in mailboxes across the country.

Our lack of Trade Promotion Authority is also hindering America's ability to be taken seriously as a trade-negotiating partner. More than 130 preferential trade agreements exist today--yet the United States is included in only two. Our trading partners are not standing idly by waiting for us to get our act together. They are moving forward without us.

Canada, Mexico the EU and Latin America are all negotiating new free trade agreements that do not include the United States. While other world leaders are ridding their taxpayers of unfair and regressive import taxes, America is standing on the sidelines.

Trade Promotion Authority could help reduce or eliminate many of these taxes. It would give the president the ability to assure our trading partners that we are serious about trade, and that Congress will not dissect trade agreements negotiated at the bargaining table for political gain. TPA gives the president a negotiating mandate, but only after reaching agreement with Congress on the objectives to be pursued.

Four of the last five presidents had been granted this authority to negotiate international trade agreements. By granting Bush this tool to advance free trade, Congress can help repeal what amounts to a global tax on food.

The first legislative priority this month should be to grant the president Trade Promotion Authority so that he, together with Congress, can assume a leadership role in world trade talks. The future of our economic prosperity depends on this.

C. MANLY MOLPUS is president and chief executive of the Grocery Manufacturers of America. His views are not necessarily those of BridgeNews. OPINION ARTICLES and letters to the editor are welcome. Send submissions to Sally Heinemann, editorial director, BridgeNews, 3 World Financial Center, 200 Vesey St., 28th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10281-1009. You may also call (212) 372-7510, fax (212) 372-2707 or send e-mail to opinion@bridge.com.