Southern West Virginia News

Congresswoman Carol Miller from West Virginia raised concerns about the current trade policies in a recent hearing with Ambassador Jamieson Greer, the United States Trade Representative. Miller expressed dissatisfaction with the Biden administration's lack of action on trade, suggesting that it has allowed other countries, such as China, to gain an advantage.

She stated, "The past administration’s failure to engage in meaningful conversations with our trade partners has opened the door for countries to run afoul of World Trade Organization tariff agreements and impose excessive non-tariff barriers." Miller praised President Trump for his decisive trade measures, highlighting their positive impact: "Due to President Trump’s swift action, more than 70 countries are knocking down our door, ready to negotiate a trade deal.”

Miller focused on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), questioning how it could bolster U.S. manufacturing. She emphasized the significance of the agreement, noting, "The growth in the manufacturing sector, spurred by our cooperation with Canada and Mexico, has helped sustain thousands of jobs in my district." She then inquired about the commitments that Ambassador Greer could make regarding the USMCA review and how they would align with President Trump's domestic manufacturing goals.

Greer responded, acknowledging the agreement's importance and stating, "With the USMCA, it's important that Canada and Mexico not be used as an export platform for third countries...USMCA should be an agreement that promotes manufacturing in America."

The discussion also touched on the challenges in the digital trade sector, with Miller noting the "dangers of South Korea’s anti-competitive policies toward American digital companies." She inquired about Greer's strategies to counter these policies while ensuring the competitiveness of American tech companies against Chinese counterparts. Greer asserted the U.S. stance: "We're not going to outsource that regulation...we need to make sure that they're American companies, right?"

Further, Miller questioned Greer about the United States Trade Representative's efforts to strengthen the U.S. supply of critical minerals. To this, Greer simply affirmed his commitment: "Yes."