WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) today made the following statement at a press conference at the U.S. Department of Agriculture announcing that the United States is bringing a World Trade Organization (WTO) enforcement action to hold China accountable for its domestic price support programs for wheat, rice, and corn.

Chairman Brady speaks at the U.S. Department of Agriculture

On WTO Enforcement Action

“This is an important step, today, to protect the interests of American farmers and workers. We can compete anywhere in the world and win with that level playing field.

“But, for some time, China has ignored WTO rules by providing domestic price supports for wheat, corn, and rice that artificially set prices and distort commodities markets. That’s why we’re taking action today. We have to hold China and our trading partners accountable when they break the rules and seek to gain an unfair advantage over our American agriculture.

“Today’s enforcement action highlights how we can use trade rules to America’s advantage. Strong enforcement of our trade agreements, including WTO rules, ensures that our farmers, businesses, and workers are treated fairly.

“Congress has acted this year, and the President has signed the strongest trade enforcement powers that America has enjoyed in modern history. It’s important that we have those powers because trade is a challenging topic in today’s political climate. In order to grow our economy and create jobs, we can’t simply buy American, we have to also sell American all throughout the world.”  

On the Trans-Pacific Partnership

“Trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, when done right and strongly enforced, break down barriers that exist in other countries, allowing our American producers to sell their goods and services to customers around the world and hire, consequently, more workers here at home.  

“As I have said before, the Trans-Pacific Partnership as is today is not perfect. But we are committed to working with this Administration to resolve the outstanding issues. By working together and addressing Members’ of Congress remaining concerns, we can help ensure that the Trans-Pacific Partnership is the best agreement possible for the American people.

“It is critically important that America not abandon the trade field in the Asia-Pacific region because we will lose out. That will give a huge advantage to China and our competitors throughout the world. So it’s critical we continue the hard work to resolve the remaining issues in the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

“Enforcement goes hand-in-hand with the creation of new markets through these trade agreements. Our trade agreements, including the WTO rules, give us the means to act, as today’s action against China shows. And when that happens, America wins.”