Senate bill aims to bulk up trade enforcement

A bipartisan pair of senators unveiled a measure on Tuesday that they say would cinch up trade enforcement and better protect U.S. businesses.

Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), co-chairmen of the Senate Manufacturing Caucus, introduced legislation that would make permanent the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center (ITEC), which is responsible for coordinating enforcement among several federal agencies, and also would create a chief trade enforcement officer to run the center.

{mosads}”This bill will help crack down on countries that are breaking the rules, which will ensure our businesses and workers can fairly compete,” Stabenow said.

The senators cited the White House’s recent release of a nearly 400-page report listing illegal trade barriers used other countries to block U.S. exports as evidence that more needs to be done. 

Graham said that he backs trade but “when others break the rules, they should be held accountable.”

“I have no doubt that as unfair trade practices are eliminated and barriers are removed, America will continue to compete and have even more success in the international marketplace,” he said. 

The ITEC was created in 2012 to ramp up U.S. challenges to unfair trade practices.  

The senators said the agency has already produced several U.S. victories, including one that China applied extra duties on American cars and SUVs.

They say the measure could potentially affect billions of dollars in exporting energy products, electronics and machinery, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, motor vehicles and vehicle parts.