Reps. Slaughter and Jones Introduce Bipartisan Trade Legislation to Protect U.S. Manufacturers and Workers

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC) introduced bipartisan trade legislation to protect U.S. manufacturers and workers. The legislation, titled the Reciprocal Market Access Act (RMAA), would strengthen the federal government's ability to enforce trade deals and hold foreign trading partners accountable. RMAA has bipartisan support from both Republicans and Democrats, and has been endorsed by both labor and business groups.

One of the ways foreign countries exploit U.S. manufacturers and workers is by securing access to American markets through trade deals and then implementing policies that keep U.S. goods out of their markets. The result is that U.S. manufacturers face unfair competition at home and sell fewer goods abroad. RMAA would require the U.S. trade representative to temporarily suspend provisions of a trade agreement if a trading partner implements barriers to keep U.S goods from being sold in their country. Once that issue is resolved between the two countries, the trade agreement could go back into effect.

"If we want to build a better economy for the future, we need a smarter and tougher trade policy that benefits U.S. workers and manufacturers," Congresswoman Slaughter said. "Other countries have been eating our lunch when it comes to trade, and we need to stand up for ourselves before it's too late. If we are going to allow foreign companies to sell their goods here in the United States, then American manufacturers need to have fair access to foreign markets."

"U.S. manufacturers and workers often get a raw deal when foreign countries are given access to our market yet keep our goods out of their markets," Congressman Jones said. "It's not right, and a failure to level the playing field will further perpetuate our struggling economy. I will continue to do everything I can to fight for U.S. manufacturers and workers."

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