Jay Rockefeller: “I certainly share the Senator's concern regarding the potential for new trade agreements to weaken U.S. trade remedy…”

“I certainly share the Senator's concern regarding the potential for new trade agreements to weaken U.S. trade remedy laws, in particular the antidumping and countervailing duty laws. These essential laws level the playing field on which our firms and workers compete internationally, and serve the crucial function of offsetting and deterring some of the most harmful unfair trade practices affecting international trade today. The steady leadership the Senator has provided on this issue has been admirable, and I certainly hope the message has gotten through. It would be a serious mistake indeed to think that an agreement or package of agreements can be successfully presented to Congress for approval, under fast-track rules or otherwise, if it includes any weakening changes to our trade remedy laws. I believe the Senator has accurately captured the general definition of a 'weakening' change, and I agree fully with the examples he has laid out.”