For Immediate Release
July 17, 2008 |
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Cullen Schwarz
Office: 202.225.4961
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Chairmen Rangel and Levin Introduce Trade Enforcement Bill |
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H.R.6530 would help to ensure that trading partners play by the rules |
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(Washington D.C.)- House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) and Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Sander L. Levin (D-MI) today introduced legislation to promote an effective trade agenda by ensuring that U.S. workers, farmers, and businesses are getting a fair shake in the global marketplace and that U.S. consumers have confidence that the products they buy are safe. Specifically, H.R.6530 will actively open markets by eliminating foreign barriers to U.S. goods and services exports, combat counterfeiting and piracy, restore rights under U.S. trade remedy laws and strengthen the U.S. ability to address unfair and illegal trade practices.
“The American public is skeptical about U.S. trade policy in part because the public does not believe that our trading partners are playing by the same rules as the United States,” Chairman Rangel said. “Our trading partners need to open their markets to U.S. exporters. They need to stop providing trade-distorting subsidies, and to stop dumping their products in our market. They need to protect intellectual property rights, and they need to ensure that their exports to the United States are safe. The Trade Enforcement Act of 2008 will help to regain confidence in U.S. trade policy.”
“For international trade to work for U.S. workers, farmers and businesses, we must be sure that trade is a two way street,” said Chairman Levin. “We need to start enforcing the agreements that have been reached, rather than passively accepting their breach. We need a more assertive approach to the enforcement of our international agreements and trade laws. The Trade Enforcement Act of 2008 is a major step in the right direction.”
Background
In each of the past seven years (2000-2007), the U.S. trade deficit exceeded any trade deficit the United States experienced before 2000. Each year, the deficit has exceeded 3.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), and, in 2007, the deficit exceeded five percent of GDP (at more than $711 billion). Before 2000, the largest U.S. trade deficit since World War II occurred in 1987. That deficit was 3.2 percent of GDP.
During the Clinton Administration, the United States filed an average of eleven WTO cases each year to open foreign markets for U.S. goods and services exports. Under the Bush Administration, the United States has filed an average of three WTO cases each year.
In March 2007, Chairmen Rangel and Levin, along with other House Democrats, offered a “New Trade Policy for America”. That new policy included working to ensure that our trading partners play by the rules.
Click here to view bill text of H.R. 6530.
Click here to view a short summary of the bill. Also, please click here to read a recent opinion piece by Chairman Levin detailing the need for stronger enforcement of trade laws.
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To Contact Congressman Levin: -
Email Congressman Levin In Michigan: 27085 Gratiot Ave, Roseville, MI 48066 | (586) 498-7122 | (248) 968-2025
In Washington: 1236 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 | (202) 225-4961
