Levin: Trade Adjustment Assistance Renewal Long Overdue

Statement

Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) today made the following statement:

"It is outrageous that Republicans have blocked an extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance for nearly five months, cutting off vital retraining programs for American workers. I am pleased to see a path to renewal of this critical program, but remain dismayed that some Republicans seem intent on stonewalling any agreement on TAA, which until this year was long hailed as a hallmark of bipartisan achievement.

"Democrats have fixed the Korea and Panama free trade agreements, both of which I actively support. On Korea, the renegotiated agreement opens a market for a key sector -- the automotive industry -- that until now has been shut out of the Korean market and sets an important precedent for ensuring that future agreements reinforce a two-way street for American products. Panama has now brought its labor laws into compliance and it has addressed our tax haven concerns and this FTA deserves our support.

"The development of an Action Plan on Labor Rights is a vital prerequisite to action on the Colombia FTA. Without referencing the action plan, the implementing bill is fatally flawed and so I will actively oppose it."

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