Sewell: Any trade agreement must protect Alabama workers and industries

WASHINGTON — Representative Terri Sewell (D-AL7) is urging the nation’s lawmakers to make sure any trade agreements approved by Congress and the president include protections for American workers and industries, particularly the steel industry, which has a significant presence in her West Alabama congressional district.

“My vote on trade legislation hinges on stronger trade enforcement provisions on anti-dumping and currency manipulation, which directly affect the steel industry in my district,” said Rep. Sewell in letter to U.S. House leadership. “Any trade legislation that comes before the House must contain provisions that protect American workers and industries against unfair competition and deceptive trading practices. At the very least, the House should adopt measures to timely consider anti-dumping and countervailing claims before the International Trade Commission (ITC), and provide the Department of Commerce with the flexibility to use prices that are not distorted when calculating dumping.”

In recent years China has been accused of both manipulating their currency to be worth less than the dollar—making their exports artificially less expensive—and so-called “dumping,” or flooding the market with underpriced goods to undermine competition, particularly in the steel market.

While China is not included in negotiations surrounding the much-debated Trans-Pacific Partnership, some of the countries involved have been implicated in facilitating the nation’s unfair trade practices.

“One-sided trade practices like dumping and currency manipulation are hurting American businesses, particularly our steel industry, and the U.S. trade remedy laws only correct the problem after the fact,” wrote Sewell. “By the time that the process has been completed, American workers have already been laid off and our businesses have already lost their market share.

“American industries should not be forced to compete on an uneven playing field. Unfair trade practices hurt our domestic economy and our competitiveness abroad.”

Several lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been adamant that any potential trade agreements with other countries both enforce fair trade practices and protect American workers.

Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions (R), has written multiple op-eds in national newspapers and letters to leadership urging Congress not to weaken its authority by giving the president “fast-track” authority. Sen. Sessions has also warned that approving a “living agreement” trade partnership could weaken U.S. immigration laws and displace American workers.

Sources in Washington say leadership is considering scheduling a vote on the TPA for later this week.

As for Rep. Sewell, in her letter she intimates that Alabama’s workers—particularly those in the 7th district—are her top priority.

“The steel industry supports an estimated 63,000 jobs across Alabama, and is one of the largest employers in the 7th Congressional District of Alabama,” Sewell wrote. “We cannot afford to lose even one job because other countries are not playing by the rules.”