AFTE Statement on U.S. Innovation and Competition Act
WASHINGTON (June 8) –Today, the Alliance for Trade Enforcement commended the Senate for including important trade enforcement elements in the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA). AFTE Executive Director Brian Pomper issued the following statement:
“AFTE applauds the Senate’s bipartisan inclusion of key trade enforcement provisions in the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act. These measures make needed investments in U.S. inventive capacity and will help America maintain its global leadership in cutting-edge research and technology.
“The Alliance is particularly pleased that the bill includes two of AFTE’s previous recommendations — namely, a requirement that the U.S. Trade Representative report its expenditures from the Trade Enforcement Trust Fund, and a requirement that USTR annually publish its Special 301 country action plans and assess progress toward those goals.
“In addition, AFTE applauds the adoption of two bipartisan amendments that will help hold our trading partners accountable to the agreements they’ve made: one led by Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and another led by Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
“The Daines-Cortez Masto amendment requires the Biden administration to monitor and produce a report on China’s compliance with the intellectual property provisions of its 2020 trade deal with the United States. This amendment — and its bipartisan backing — acknowledges the pivotal role IP protections play in technological advancement.
“The amendment from Senators Crapo and Wyden strengthens efforts to dissuade China and other nations from engaging in unfair trade practices like forced labor, intellectual property theft, and counterfeiting. This bipartisan amendment will level the playing field for U.S. workers and businesses and strategically position the United States to out-innovate its competitors.
“Another amendment by Senator Crapo that sought to safeguard and enforce intellectual property protections at the World Trade Organization was not adopted. The Alliance encourages the Senate to revisit this important issue in the near future.
“The Senate’s inclusion of key trade provisions in the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act represents a win for U.S. global competitiveness. And the bipartisan support for those provisions demonstrates a shared commitment to advancing U.S. economic competitiveness now and for years to come.
“AFTE looks forward to working with Congress to advance U.S. trade interests and to ensure that U.S. businesses can compete in this rapidly changing global economy.”
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.