“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And welcome to all of our witnesses - I’m looking forward to hearing your testimony.
“The Miscellaneous Tariff Bill helps our manufacturers and their workers compete in the global economy.
“U.S. manufacturers that have relied on MTB provisions that expired years ago are currently facing higher costs - higher costs that would be problematic in any environment, but which are particularly difficult in the current one. These companies deserve the support that the MTB provides - to help keep their workers on their payrolls, and to potentially add more workers. The bill we’re discussing today provides a path forward to providing that support.
“And perhaps most importantly, the jobs supported by MTB legislation do not come at the expense of others. The process outlined in this bill codifies a process which ensures that there is no domestic production of any product included in the final legislation.
“That is why I am so glad that we have finally developed a bipartisan, bicameral solution to the MTB process. This bill builds upon the transparency that this Committee has exercised in previous versions of the MTB bill. It also uses the expertise of the non-partisan U.S International Trade Commission to make sure that all of the individual MTBs are thoroughly and accurately reviewed. The bill also calls for the Administration to provide its input on each MTB, consistent with past practice. Further, this bill preserves the ability of the Administration and every Member of Congress to weigh in with their views.
“This bill has both the support of large business organizations, such as the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the support of small- and medium-sized enterprises, as is demonstrated by each of the witnesses we have with us here today.
“Simply put, this is a modest but important jobs bill. With the growing concerns about international trade and the potentially harmful effect it can have on certain sectors of our economy, this is the type of legislation that we should be focused on - one that undoubtedly boosts the competitiveness of our companies and the workers they employ.
“With that in mind, I’ll conclude my opening remarks. I look forward to hearing the testimony of the U.S. manufacturers on our panel."
