Mike Levin: “Mr. Chairman, before we move on, I do want to say just a few words about the matter that we have just been discussing.…”

“Mr. Chairman, before we move on, I do want to say just a few words about the matter that we have just been discussing. The distinguished chairman of the subcommittee and I have discussed this matter briefly, and I understand the budget constraints under which he is working. I hope, however, that we do not translate those constraints into an argument that the amount provided herein is adequate for the compliance efforts that are needed in terms of trade legislation, including China PNTR. Because that is simply not correct. If the administration request is not met eventually in terms of USTR, here is what would happen. This relates to critical legislation relating to trade. The USTR would not be able to fund 13 trade compliance positions, including seven related to China; I repeat, 13 trade compliance positions, including seven related to China. We simply cannot abide that. The economic relationship with China, as well as with other countries, is a complex one, and we simply have to meet the challenges of compliance.”