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I'm watching USTR Lighthizer testify before House Ways and Means this morning.
He says that some pushed to delay the implementation of USMCA on July 1 due to COVID, but “one of the reasons I wanted to get this into effect on July 1 was so that we could start enforcing it"
He says that some pushed to delay the implementation of USMCA on July 1 due to COVID, but “one of the reasons I wanted to get this into effect on July 1 was so that we could start enforcing it"
Lighthizer says it's unlikely that the US and UK will conclude a trade agreement before November and "almost impossible" that such an agreement would be introduced to Congress in that timeline
Brady asked Lighthizer when the administration will put in place promised steps to treat Hong Kong the same as China. “We’re continuing to look at what it really means to be treated the same, but that really is a decision that the president has made," Lighthizer says
Lighthizer is flattering to and chummy with both House Democrats and Republicans, per usual
“I think the WTO is a mess," LIghthizer says, saying it has failed America and the international trading system. Says he's looking for a candidate for the next WTO director general who understands the fundamental problem that China can't be disciplined under current rules
If I see any whiff of anti-Americanism in the person’s past actions, I will certainly be willing to veto their appointment, Lighthizer says of WTO director general candidate
Lighthizer says tariffs on foreign wine imposed in the Airbus case will stay in place "until we resolve that issue."
"I understand that there are people who import wine who don’t like the tariffs," he says, but we make good wine in the United States
"I understand that there are people who import wine who don’t like the tariffs," he says, but we make good wine in the United States
There will be disagreements over ag in the UK agreement, he says, particularly over sanitary standards. There is a perception in Europe that American food is unsafe, but this is actually a form of “thinly veiled protectionism." The US will not compromise on fair access for ag
Now discussing shellfish sanitation standards. The glamorous world of trade negotiations!
Lighthizer says a trade deal with the EU is "not looking good in the short term” but that we need to figure out something in the long run.
“The president will use tariffs if he has to to get a fair shake for American businesses," he said.
“The president will use tariffs if he has to to get a fair shake for American businesses," he said.
Blumenauer asking whether the US should look at its own ag standards in response to UK and EU criticisms. Do we need to wash chickens in chlorine? Wouldn’t reasonable people have concerns about US slaughterhouses?
“Should we really export our weak standards to another country?”
“Should we really export our weak standards to another country?”
Lighthizer responds that ag policy is set by the US Congress, not by the trade representative. The United States has the best agriculture in the world, it has the safest standards, he says. "We shouldn’t confuse science with consumer preference."
Lighthizer defends USTR moves not to extend tariff exclusions for companies importing stuff from China. “We’re saying if you have a year or two years to make the change, then you should have made the change... people have had a substantial period of time to find another source.”
