Schakowsky and DeLauro Lead House Democrats in Urging Secretary Ross to Address Russia Trade Violations
WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswomen Jan Schakowsky and Rosa DeLauro (CT today led 31 Members of the House of Representatives in writing a letter to Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, urging the Administration to address the United States-Russia bilateral trade relationship. Despite the President’s focus on trade, the Administration has not addressed Russia’s predatory and protectionist policies that put American workers, farmers, and businesses at an unfair disadvantage.
“While trade enforcement issues continue to be raised by this administration, to-date there has not been sufficient attention to the U.S.-Russia bilateral trade relationship. In a March 1st address to the Commerce Department, you pledged to implement policies that “put American workers first.” We support this goal,” wrote the Members. “That is why we urge immediate action to combat ongoing Russian practices that cost American jobs, violate international trade rules, and break commitments Russia made when it joined the World Trade Organization.”
Today, the Russian Federation uses a range of illegal, unfair, and often opaque, trade and industrial policies that undermine America’s manufacturers and agricultural producers with extensive barriers to the Russian market,” continued the Members. “In the manufacturing sector, Russia continues to use massive subsidies to sustain failing industries, to undercut American exports with state-driven import substitution tactics, and uses Russian state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to promote Russian suppliers over American competitors.”
“You have publicly cited the modern-day wisdom of the Benjamin Franklin inscription that is enshrined on our nation’s Department of Commerce, that “commerce among nations must be fair and equitable.” We look forward to working with you to ensure that the U.S.-Russian bilateral trade relationship is fair, equitable and in the best interest of America’s workers. Russia’s predatory and protectionist trade practices must not go unchallenged,” concluded the Members.
The letter to Secretary Ross follows a letter Schakowsky and DeLauro wrote to then-President-elect Trump in January regarding Russia and the critical issue of trade enforcement, an issue that he raised repeatedly during the campaign.
The full letter is available here.
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