Southern West Virginia News

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On April 18, 2023, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) joined the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee hearing on Countering China’s Trade and Investment Agenda. Congresswoman Miller highlighted the rise of Chinese Communist Party’s influence on our allies, and asked the witnesses for their suggestions for the United States to maintain a competitive, economic, trade advantage on the global stage. 

                                                                                            Click Here to watch

Congresswoman Miller began by asking Mr. Goodman what he recommends Congress do to prevent the United States being at a disadvantage between trade deals in the Indo-Pacific, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.  

“Do you think IPEF goes far enough to help the United States compete economically with countries like China in the Indo-Pacific? If not, what do you recommend we do to better compete?” asked Congresswoman Miller.   

“I agree with your analysis that we are losing ground and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is diverting trade away from us and towards China. We need to be back in this game. I think that the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework has some promise. If these discussions can lead to being the tributary for us to get back into the river of major trade agreements, then I think it could be useful. But in of itself as an executive agreement that’s not going to have enforcement mechanisms, it’s not going to have the incentives for our partners to want to aspire to these higher standards that we’re seeking. I am concerned that it’s not going to be enough, so we need to think about it as a way to feed into a formal trade agreement,” said Mr. Goodman.

Congresswoman Miller continued her questioning by asking Mr. Greer how the Western Hemisphere can make their supply chains more resilient and competitive under the Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).  

“What can we do to make apparel supply chains in the Western Hemisphere more competitive and resilient? How can we support more growth and job creation in this region?” asked Congresswoman Miller.

 We already have a series of strong FTA’s in the region. I sound like a broken record, but with section 301 we put tariffs on China. Actually, giving preferential tariff treatment to all other kinds of partners relative to China as their major competitor. They should be poised to take advantage of this preferential tariff treatment relative to China. Take advantage of CAFTA and look at modernizing it as you might suggest,” said Mr. Greer.

Congresswoman Miller concluded her questioning by asking Mr. Greer if the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and U.S law enforcement agencies have the resources to ensure compliance with the law of banning imports made with forced labor, including the use of ethnic minorities in China as slave labor.  

“In my home state of West Virginia, we have a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Advanced Training Center, and I would hope that preparing to enforce our forced labor law would be a priority at this facility. Do you have a sense of whether CBP and other U.S. law enforcement agencies have the training and resources to ensure compliance with this law?” asked Congresswoman Miller.

“They are certainly moving forward on it. I hear from many companies that they are trying to come into compliance. I think the CBP could use additional resources for enforcement and could also benefit trade to have a better sense of what CBP expects, with respect to proving that you’re in compliance and having some kind of a safe harbor where you can actually go in and say, “Here’s where I am and this is everything that I’m doing. I’m trying to do the right thing under the law, can you please work with me,” said Mr. Greer.

Witnesses:

• Jamieson Greer, Partner, King & Spalding LLP: Former Chief of Staff, Office of the U.S.Trade Representative
• Mark McHargue, President, Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation
• Thomas Duesterberg, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute
• Matthew Goodman, Senior Vice President; Simon Chair in Political Economy, Center for Strategic and International Studies
• Roy Houseman, Legislative Director, United Steelworkers

Original source can be found here.