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Camp Opening Statement: Hearing on President Obama’s Trade Policy Agenda

February 9, 2011 — Opening Statements   

Washington, DC – Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) today delivered opening remarks at the Committee on Ways and Means Hearing on President Obama’s Trade Policy Agenda.  Below are excerpts, followed by the full remarks.

Administration’s Lack of Commitment on Trade
“Frankly, the lack of commitment on these critical, job-creating agreements is hindering the rest of our trade agenda – most notably ATPA and TAA.  The President’s unwillingness to engage, especially on Colombia, has ground everything else to a halt and our workers are suffering as a result.”

A Timeline for the FTAs
“Where is the roadmap for these agreements?  Why isn’t there a clear identification of the outstanding issues, an outline of reasonable steps that must be taken to address those issues, a timeframe for resolution, and a commitment to action?”
 
“As I have said repeatedly, I would like to see all three agreements considered by July 1st.”

Free Trade Agreements as a No-Cost Job Creator
“While the President has often spoken about the merits of trade over the past two years, there is little to show for it.  The American people are demanding more and deserve more from this Administration when it comes to the job creating potential of our trade agreements.”
 
America Falling Behind

“I fear we’re ceding our influence and authority to the EU, China, and countries that don’t have our best interest at heart, diminishing our influence on the international economy, foreign policy and security issues.”

“Not only will these agreements create new opportunities abroad, I am equally concerned that the failure to move them will severely disadvantage U.S. businesses, workers, farmers, and ranchers who now sell their products in these markets.”
 

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Good morning.  I want to welcome everyone here and also extend a special welcome to our guest, United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Ron Kirk.  Ambassador, this is the first time you have been invited to appear before this Committee, so we’re looking forward to a thorough discussion of the Administration’s trade policy agenda and, particularly, the path you see forward on the three pending trade agreements. 

International trade has been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy for the past sixty years.  We must have a robust trade agenda to ensure our economic future and create U.S. jobs.  While the President has often spoken about the merits of trade over the past two years, there is little to show for it.  The American people are demanding more and deserve more from this Administration when it comes to the job creating potential of our trade agreements.

Now, we’ve seen some steps in the right direction in recent months, and I appreciate your work and the President’s work on the South Korea agreement.  But there is much more we need to do, and I fear we’re ceding our influence and authority to the EU, China, and countries that don’t have our best interest at heart, diminishing our influence on the international economy, foreign policy, and security issues. 

Most pressing on the trade agenda are the pending agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea.  As I noted, the President’s leadership has helped move the South Korea deal forward, but there has been no similar action with regard to the Colombia and Panama agreements.  Where is the roadmap for these agreements?  Why isn’t there a clear identification of the outstanding issues, an outline of reasonable steps that must be taken to address those issues, a timeframe for resolution, and a commitment to action? 

While the President made positive reference to completing the agreement with South Korea in his State of the Union address, Colombia and Panama were mentioned only briefly – almost as afterthoughts – with no action plan or commitment, characterizing them as items the Administration intends to “pursue.”  But we already have trade agreements – signed three and a half years ago!  Ambassador, I hope you will provide clarity on what the President meant and lay out today a concrete timeline for the consideration of all three agreements.  As I have said repeatedly, I would like to see all three agreements considered by July 1st. 

Frankly, the lack of commitment on these critical, job-creating agreements is hindering the rest of our trade agenda – most notably ATPA and TAA.  The President’s unwillingness to engage, especially on Colombia, has ground everything else to a halt and our workers are suffering as a result.

The Administration’s strategy makes no sense.  These agreements are important to U.S. strategic and economic interests, and they will help support jobs here in the United States – 250,000 jobs using the President’s own measure.  Given that our unemployment rate has been at or above 9 percent for the last 21 months, we must explore all possible opportunities to sell to the world and create and support existing jobs in the United States.  

I am equally concerned that the failure to move these agreements will severely disadvantage U.S. businesses, workers, farmers, and ranchers who now sell their products in these markets.  Other countries recognize the value of these markets and are signing agreements that lower barriers for their exporters and seize our opportunities. 

In addition to our pending trade agreements, we must focus on enforcing our rights worldwide.  Take China.  It’s now our second largest trading partner overall and our third largest export market.  While China presents the potential of 1.4 billion customers for our exports, China purposefully impedes market access for U.S. goods and services and blatantly steals the intellectual property of American businesses.  The litany of China’s trade distorting policies is deeply troubling and cannot be allowed to stand.  Part of our strategy for addressing these issues should include resumption of our bilateral investment treaty negotiations.

I strongly support the Administration’s efforts to promptly conclude an ambitious Doha Round of negotiations at the World Trade Organization and hope that renewed efforts over the past few months will lead to success.  I also strongly support the Administration’s efforts to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership.  I hope the President will be able to conclude a high-standard agreement when he hosts the APEC leaders in nine short months.  Such an agreement would show our commitment to the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region as well as create American jobs by opening markets.

A robust international trade agenda puts U.S. business, workers, farmers, and ranchers back on the offense.  Let us seize this opportunity. 

I look forward to hearing your testimony, Ambassador Kirk, on the Administration’s ideas on how to kick-start the U.S. trade agenda.

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SUBCOMMITTEE: Full Committee    SUBCOMMITTEE: Trade