Earlier this week, Congressman Rick Crawford sent a letter to Chairman Paul Ryan and Ranking Member Sander Levin of the House Committee on Ways and Means urging consideration of legislation granting stronger enforcement remedies for U.S. trade laws. While the letter acknowledges the positive economic growth TPA and further trade agreements will allow, it also highlights the past transgressions of foreign nations in trade agreements and the need for vigilant protections of American businesses in the face of evasive maneuvers by our trading partners. Twenty-four other members of Congress signed the letter requesting the judicious application of trade laws to keep American businesses competitive and on a level playing field. The steel industry in particular has suffered in recent years as it faces a flood of imports from countries that heavily subsidize their steel industry. The letter can be found here.

Congressman Rick Crawford issued the following statement concerning the letter.

  “U.S. trade with other countries opens new markets for American products and services around the world, but accountability and enforcement are essential for ensuring that our trade agreements aren’t just free, but fair. In the past we’ve seen that our trade laws aren’t always applied as judiciously as they should be, and my letter strongly requests the protection of American business by creating a level playing field as we move forward in this process.”