Mark Udall: “I rise in support of H.R. 6406, the Omnibus Trade Act. Overall I believe the bill provides many important benefits for…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 6406, the Omnibus Trade Act. Overall I believe the bill provides many important benefits for consumers and businesses in the United States. While Vietnam has not fully evolved into the kind of free society I would like to see, the improvement of relations between the United States and Vietnam is a welcome development. That is why I support the extension of presidential authority to grant permanent normal trade relations with Vietnam. Implementing normal trade relations is an important step toward ensuring that American business and agriculture will be able to benefit from a full and open market--a goal that is enhanced by Vietnam's inclusion into the World Trade Organization (WTO). It will also ensure that Congress and the Bush administration have the ability to enforce important commitments, including intellectual property protections and the elimination of trade distorting subsidies that ultimately do injury to American producers and consumers alike. I have supported a number of efforts to expand access to foreign markets for exports as part of a long-term strategy to strengthen our domestic economy. While expanding markets for businesses and farmers is critical, it needs to be carefully monitored and responsibly implemented. As structured, I believe the agreement with Vietnam largely meets this test.”