Failure to do so would harm American farmers, workers and businesses and risk Congressional approval of Doha negotiations

WASHINGTON - Ways and Means Ranking Member Charles B. Rangel joined Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) today urged United States Trade Representative Rob Portman to reject the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) language pertaining to antidumping rules in the upcoming Doha Round.  The Rangel / Cardin letter is attached.

Selected text from the letter:

“The text opens the door to a broad re-negotiation of the WTO Antidumping Agreement and contains numerous other flaws.  Accordingly, I urge that it be rejected as a basis for further discussion or negotiation in this critical area.”

“I, like many Members of Congress, strongly oppose weakening the WTO Antidumping Agreement, let alone subjecting it to a broad renegotiation.  The antidumping remedy ensures that American farmers, workers and businesses have a remedy against a key unfair trade practice of many foreign businesses.  Weakening these vital rules would, in my view, put at substantial risk approval by Congress of the results of the Doha Round.” 

--##--

The letter, in its entirety, is attached to this release.