Max Baucus: “Our trading partners should also understand this point. There are many countries that want to weaken U.S. trade laws.…”

“Our trading partners should also understand this point. There are many countries that want to weaken U.S. trade laws. Why? Because they want to be able, if you will, to dump subsidized products--ship products that violate the basic principles of WTO-- within the United States. It is very difficult for us to protect ourselves if we don't have our antidumping and countervailing duty and section 201 trade laws. I must say almost every country in the world, and certainly many in South America, are eager to negotiate free trade agreements with the United States. There are many South American countries that want to do so. Unfortunately, a thorn in our side and a thorn in the side of the countries in our joint effort to try to reach agreement on FTAA, for example, I say very respectfully, is the country of Brazil. I think it is important to step back and ask why countries such as Brazil want us to weaken our trade laws. The answer, of course is pretty simple: their companies and their workers will benefit--at the expense of ours.”