WASHINGTON, DC - Senior House Democrats today sent a letter to President Barack Obama, renewing their commitment to work with the Administration towards stricter enforcement of U.S. rights under trade agreements. The letter was sent in anticipation of the Administration’s annual “National Trade Estimate" (NTE) report listing barriers to U.S. exports. (Please click here to view a pdf of the letter and attachment)
In their letter, the Democrats expressed concern that lax enforcement under the Bush Administration contributed to the largest trade deficits on record, which observers believe played a role in the current global economic crisis. The Democratic leaders called upon the Administration to “systematically improve its ability to eliminate barriers and open foreign markets to U.S. exporters."
In the Democrats’ view, stricter enforcement of trade laws could help to reduce the U.S. trade deficit. In 2008, the U.S. trade deficit was $677.1 billion - the fourth highest in history and a five percent of the U.S. economy.
In an appendix to the letter (attached), the Democrats identified existing trade barriers with America’s trading partners and their impact on the U.S. economy. The letter also encourages the Administration to instruct the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to “take appropriate action" with key trading partners to resolve outstanding issues.
