Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) President Scott Paul wrote Members of Congress on Tuesday to voice strong opposition to legislative attempts to undermine America's trade enforcement laws, including Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
Any action to undermine these important laws will send a clear message to bad trade actors like China and Russia that the United States is not serious about defending its workers and vital industries. Doing so will also remove significant negotiating leverage while multiple trade actions are ongoing.
Paul writes:
“Whether you agree or disagree with the actions of President Trump, it cannot be ignored that one of the reasons voters elected him was for his promise to chart a new path on trade. Thus, any congressional action to remove trade enforcement tools could further intensify the desire of the electorate for America to defend its rights and impose harsh consequences when trade partners behave unfairly.”
Trade enforcement is part of the "three-legged stool" of U.S. trade policy, along with expansion and adjustment. Any action to break off one leg of that policy stool would be a huge mistake.
Paul adds:
"Americans believe that trade can benefit our economy, but the 'free trade at any cost' approach of recent decades has left many in our country feeling left behind — especially the growing pool of working-class voters who are working multiple jobs just to keep up."