James Traficant: “I oppose the resolution, I oppose the waivers. Current law says that no one may be appointed as U.S. Trade…”

“I oppose the resolution, I oppose the waivers. Current law says that no one may be appointed as U.S. Trade Representative or Deputy Trade Representative if they have ever in their past represented a foreign government in a trade dispute or a trade negotiation with the United States. Now look, I think Charlene Barshefsky is a great woman, a great American, and may be doing a great job. However, one of the reasons we passed this legislation is some of these trade representatives, after they leave, go on the employ of some of these foreign governments and companies overseas. Now, we just passed this law a year ago, and now we are about to waive it, with Japan approaching $70 billion in trade surpluses, China approaching $50 billion in trade surpluses. I have nothing against Charlene Barshefsky, but here is the question I pose to the Congress of the United States: Can we not find one qualified American to be the trade representative of our country that has never been in the employ of, represented a foreign interest, or had a connection in resolving or monitoring or negotiating or resolving a trade matter on behalf of a foreign country with our Nation? I think that is the issue. I am certainly not going to ask for a vote, and I know this is going to pass overwhelmingly, but it is no surprise our young people are responding to ads in the newspaper box so-and-so where the job is in Mexico and overseas. There is not going to be a damn job left in this country.”