Focus is on American Jobs and Businesses

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin joined senior Democratic members of the Ways and Means Committee today in introducing the Stand Up for America Act.  The measure is aimed at charting a new direction for U.S. trade policy by promoting American jobs and helping American businesses and farmers compete globally. 

“America fails to see the benefits of trade agreements if we don’t enforce our rights with other nations,” said Rep. Cardin, the top Democrat on the Trade Subcommittee.  “We need to use the tools at our disposal to pry open foreign markets, enforce our intellectual property rights and make sure China, Japan, the European Union and other countries are not given an artificial trading advantage.  American workers and businesses can compete, and win, against anybody as long as the rules are properly enforced.”

“It is time for our nation’s trade policies to take a new direction,” said Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-NY, Ranking Member of the Ways & Means Committee.  “The Bush Administration has been asleep at the wheel, missing crucial opportunities to stand up for American workers and businesses.  Rather than a trade policy based on partisan politics, we should get back to the fundamental principle of helping our nation compete on a level playing field in the international market.” 

Rather than the standard Bush Administration trade policy based on reports and statements, Democrats propose a plan of action, including:

• Creation of a Congressional Trade Enforcer (“CTE”) to promote and protect the rights of American workers, farmers and businesses, so that instead of exporting jobs, the United States will be exporting goods and services. 
 
• Aggressive enforcement of U.S. rights under trade agreements - The Bush Administration filed only 13 cases in the WTO in the last five years, as compared to the Clinton Administration, which brought an average of 11 cases per year.

“Congress can no longer sit on the sidelines while this Administration fails to act,” said Rep. Sander Levin, D-MI.  “A vital part of shaping globalization to benefit American businesses and workers is to make sure trade is a two-way street not a one-way street.”

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NOTE: PDF of the bill is attached.