AFTE Statement on 2022 State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON (March 1) — Today, the Alliance for Trade Enforcement released the following statement in advance of President Joseph R. Biden’s 2022 State of the Union Address:
“President Biden’s State of the Union Address comes exactly one year after his administration released its 2021 Trade Policy Agenda. On that day, the Office of the United States Trade Representative committed itself to ‘act when our trading partners break the rules’ because ‘[s]trong trade enforcement is essential to making sure our trading partners live up to their commitments and that U.S. trade policy benefits American workers, manufacturers, farmers, businesses, families, and communities.’
“The Alliance for Trade Enforcement agrees that strong trade enforcement benefits the American economy and U.S. workforce. AFTE therefore encourages the Biden-Harris Administration to enhance its enforcement efforts and hold U.S. trading partners accountable to the commercial commitments that they have made through binding agreements.
“Tonight’s State of the Union Address presents a valuable opportunity for President Biden to recommit his administration to strong trade enforcement. When realizing this commitment, USTR’s top priorities should include bringing Korea into full compliance with KORUS, using USMCA enforcement tools to accelerate biotech approvals in Mexico and halt the country’s discriminatory treatment of U.S. energy companies, and curbing efforts to undermine American innovation and intellectual property in Brazil, India, Indonesia, and elsewhere. These are just a few of the many ways the Administration can use trade enforcement to strengthen the U.S. economy and protect the 40 million U.S. workers and their families who depend on trade.
“AFTE looks forward to working with the Biden-Harris Administration as it recommits to eliminating unfair trade practices and ensuring that international trade agreements support U.S. workers.”
About the Alliance for Trade Enforcement: The Alliance for Trade Enforcement is a coalition of trade associations and business groups that advocates for foreign governments to end unfair trade practices that harm U.S. innovative industries and supports U.S. policymakers in their efforts to hold our trading partners accountable.
