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| U.S. Rep. Phil English on the Issues - Trade Since being elected to Congress in 1994, I have been a vocal advocate of fair trade and a strong, rules-based U.S. trade policy. As a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, I help develop trade legislation. One of my priorities is to strengthen our trade laws to further level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers, protect jobs and promote economic growth. I also serve as Vice-Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus and have been a member of the President's Export Council since 1998. Western Pennsylvania is home to one of the largest manufacturing-based communities in the country. Due to unfair foreign trade practices, our manufacturing sector is experiencing great hardship that has resulted in numerous lay-offs and shop closings. To help American workers displaced by trade, I helped lead the effort among Ways and Means Republicans to have the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Programs reauthorized to help train workers in new fields and get them back into the workforce. As co-chair of the Congressional TAA Coalition, I have also worked to promote the TAA for Firms program in order to increase competitiveness before job losses occur. In fact, this Congress, I have introduced the American Competitiveness and Adjustment Act to strengthen and expand the TAA for Workers, Firms and Farmers Programs. I believe that we must maintain strong trade laws which enable us to police our domestic market and ensure a level playing field for American workers. I have been on the forefront in Washington, working to strengthen U.S. trade remedy laws and ending Chinese mercantilist trade practices so that Pennsylvania manufacturers will have the necessary tools to compete in the global market. This Congress, I have re-introduced the Nonmarket Economy Trade Remedy Act of 2007 (H.R. 1229) to close an existing loophole in U.S. trade policy by applying countervailing duty (CVD), or anti-subsidy, law to both market and nonmarket economies. The bipartisan legislation would finally put an end to a major obstacle for employers seeking relief from illegally subsidized imports from nonmarket economies and explicitly require the Department of Commerce to review CVD cases against nonmarket economies. I have also introduced a comprehensive strategy to reform and strengthen U.S. trade laws to provide more effective, and World Trade Organization (WTO)-consistent, remedies for U.S. workers, farmers and businesses. Specifically my bill, the Trade Law Reform Act of 2007 (H.R. 708) would amend U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty law, strengthen the global safeguard, and create a commission to review WTO decisions against U.S. interests. In addition to working on policies that will strengthen our trade remedy laws to level the playing field for American manufacturers, I have also been pushing legislation to attack the issue of currency manipulation head-on, placing pressure on China to allow its currency to float or face steep tariffs. In my view, the Chinese currency regime is a poison pill in the global trading system and one that threatens America’s manufacturing base. Unless China begins to predict concrete, not cosmetic changes in its currency policy, it is imperative that Congress act this year. My legislation, The Currency Harmonization Initiative through Neutralizing Action Act of 2007, which I originally introduced in 2003, would impose automatic tariffs if the Treasury Department finds that China is manipulating its currency to gain a trade advantage. I believe that, if given the opportunity to compete on a level playing field, U.S. manufacturers will rejuvenate and thrive. As we move through the 110 th Congress, I will continue to work side by side with my colleagues to keep the economy on the right track and push for the revitalization of our local manufacturing industry. Please visit these links for more information:
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