[CTC] DeLauro & Over 40 House Democrats Call for Better Engagement with Congress, Public on Proposed Indo-Pacific and Americas Trade Deals Ahead of IPEF Ministerial

[Arthur Stamoulis]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                             
September 7, 2022
 
Contact:
King Green <mailto:Green,%20King%20%3cKing.Green at mail.house.gov%3e> (DeLauro) – (202) 381-8621
 
DeLauro & Over 40 House Democrats Call for Better Engagement with Congress, Public on Proposed Indo-Pacific and Americas Trade Deals Ahead of IPEF Ministerial
 
WASHINGTON, DC – Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), along with 42 House Democrats including 6 Committee Chairs today sent a letter to the Biden Administration requesting that the agencies involved in negotiations on the recently announced Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP) engage in robust consultation with Congress and outside stakeholders. 
 
The letter urges the administration to learn from the failures of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). It comes as United States is set to host the first in person Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Ministerial in Los Angeles, California on September 8-9, 2022. 
 
“We urge you to consider the lessons of past trade negotiations that too often were conducted in secret, with members of Congress, workers and their unions, environmentalists, and consumer advocates largely unable to review text and ensure their interests were addressed,” the lawmakers wrote. “…If negotiations on IPEF and APEP proceed, we urge you to ensure that any agreement benefits American workers, not corporate offshoring, and to provide Congress and the public with clearer insight into your approach to the negotiation process, including through robust consultation throughout the process and congressional approval of any binding commitments.”
 
The proposed partners for IPEF include nations such as Vietnam and Malaysia with autocratic governments, terrible human and labor rights practices, and poor environmental protections. While the Office of U.S. Trade Representative has committed to including strong labor standards, including country-specific provisions where needed, other agencies have yet to make a similar commitment.
 
The letter was sent to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. You can read the full letter here <https://delauro.house.gov/sites/delauro.house.gov/files/DeLauro_Warren%20IPEF%20letter_v2%209.6.22.pdf>.
 
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delauro.house.gov <https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-introduces-legislation-boost-infant-formula-supply-better>
Arthur Stamoulis
Citizens Trade Campaign
(202) 494-8826




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