Bipartisan Trade Enforcement Bill Becomes Law

Congressman Patrick Meehan (R/PA-07) issued the following statement after bipartisan legislation strengthening enforcement of our trade and customs laws was signed last night by the President. The Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, H.R. 644, modernizes our customs and border protections and gives the United States new tools to enforce antidumping and countervailing duty laws.

“America’s workers are the best on the planet, but unfair trading practices by nations like China have left them at a competitive disadvantage,” said Congressman Meehan. “Illegal dumping, countervailing duties and currency manipulation have cost us jobs here at home. Our customs and trade laws are useless without the right tools to enforce them.”

Passed by the House in December, the customs bill enacted yesterday is the product of months of work by the House Ways and Means Committee. Congressman Meehan is a member of the committee, which has jurisdiction over trade matters.

“This will help our manufacturing, steel and other industries fight back against unfair and illegal trading practices. It strengthens country-of-origin labelling that promotes goods made in the U.S. And it will help workers who have been affected by unfair trade access aid and relief.”

The bill also included two measures important to jobs in Pennsylvania: a measure authored by Congressman Meehan that ensures the establishment of customs preclearance facilities doesn’t harm American jobs, and language that makes permanent a ban on states and localities taxing Internet access.

“This bill is a bipartisan win for middle class families and will help us create and protect jobs here at home. It will level the playing field for our workers and help us hold other nations accountable for failure to trade fairly.” Congressman Meehan said.