Mike Levin: “as co-chairman of the Senate auto parts task force, I offer, with my colleague Senator Specter, the other cochairman of…”

“as co-chairman of the Senate auto parts task force, I offer, with my colleague Senator Specter, the other cochairman of the Senate auto parts task force, a bipartisan resolution in support of obtaining full compliance with the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement on Autos and Auto Parts. Last summer, the United States and Japan signed an historic trade agreement that promises to open Japan's closed markets to United States autos and auto parts and deregulate Japan's convoluted and discriminatory auto parts safety inspection process. However, the success of this agreement pivots on its strict monitoring and enforcement. An important part of that process is the annual consultations with Japan that are built into the terms of the agreement. The first annual review of the agreement between United States and Japanese negotiators takes place on September 18 and 19 in San Francisco. With September 18 quickly approaching, Senator Specter and I, as cochairs of the Senate auto parts task force, offer this resolution today in strong support of the goals set out in the framework agreement and in support of our U.S. negotiators. With this resolution, we want to make it clear that there continues to be strong bipartisan congressional support for achievement of the commitments made in the agreement.”