March 21, 2018

New Democrat Coalition Members’ Statement on Trump’s Request for Extension of Trade Promotion Authority

Today, New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04); New Democrat Coalition Trade Task Force Co-Chairs Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Gregory W. Meeks (NY-02); and Ways & Means Committee Members Ron Kind (WI-03), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), and Terri Sewell (AL-07) released the following statement after President Trump formally requested a three-year extension of Trade Promotion Authority:

“New Democrat Coalition Members were integral to the passing of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) in 2015. Past presidents since Franklin Roosevelt have had the authority to negotiate and expedite Congressional consideration of trade agreements, and our Members worked closely with Congressional Republicans and the Obama Administration to grant President Obama that same authority. TPA was the result of months of negotiations, hearings, and serious discussions with President Obama and his Administration.

“President Trump and his team have shown no serious commitment to consulting with or listening to Congress on trade. Instead, the Trump Administration has continually threatened to terminate NAFTA negotiations, taken punitive measures against our allies through broad reaching tariffs and barriers, re-opened KORUS with minimal consultation with Congress, and hurt American consumers and workers through unilateral trade actions. As Congress considers President Trump’s TPA request, we hope that Congressional Republicans will join us in exercising greater oversight and demanding the Trump Administration significantly step up their engagement.”

 



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