Senator Coons' statement on key trade votes

Statement

U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement after he voted yesterday to help pass two critical trade bills and advance legislation that includes trade adjustment assistance (TAA) measures and trade promotion authority (TPA).

The two pieces of legislation that passed the Senate yesterday, the Trade Preferences Extension Act and the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, will support sales of American goods around the world and significantly strengthen U.S. enforcement of fair trade rules. Specifically, the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act would end imports of goods made with child or forced labor, take steps to combat currency manipulation from other countries, and help protect American businesses from unfair trade practices.

"Delaware's workers and businesses deserve to compete on a level playing field with economies around the globe, and while I believe that free trade can help level the global economic playing field, I remain concerned about the very real consequences some previous trade agreements have had for workers across the country, particularly in the manufacturing sector. That's why I refused to vote to begin debate on TPA without simultaneously voting for TAA and two separate bills to strengthen enforcement of fair trade rules and support American businesses.

"As I have considered these bills during the last few weeks, I have spoken with a significant number of Delawareans with a wide range of opinions on trade issues. I've asked tough questions of top Administration officials, including the Secretaries of Labor and Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative. I've also had extensive conversations with President Obama and Vice President Biden about the impact of a potential trade agreement on Delaware workers and businesses. After much consideration, I am compelled by the argument that if we don't take steps to set the rules for fair trade in the Pacific and around the world, China and our other competitors will. In fact, China is already working to establish trade agreements with other countries on their terms.

"That's because in today's economy, global trade is already a reality. In Delaware alone, 120,000 jobs and billions of dollars in exports are tied to trade with 187 countries. So as we debate our nation's trade policies, the choice is not whether we should trade goods and services around the world, but instead, how we can best position American workers to succeed in the global marketplace. By requiring countries with which we already trade to treat their workers better, raise their environmental standards, and protect intellectual property as stringently as we do, this trade promotion authority legislation would give American workers more of the support they need to compete with workers abroad. Ninety-five percent of the world's consumers live abroad, and with American manufacturing resurgent, now is exactly the time to make them more competitive in those overseas markets.

"As negotiations over TPP proceed, I will continue to press the Administration to enact policies that hold our trade partners to strong human rights, labor, environmental, and intellectual property standards with enforcement mechanisms that have teeth. I am encouraged that TPA includes parameters for a potential trade agreement that this administration and future administrations must follow, but the true test will be the agreement itself. My vote today does not guarantee my support for a potential trade agreement, and I take seriously the provision within TPA that allows us to revoke the President's "fast-track' authority if he does not adequately consult Congress."

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