Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators, including Bill Cassidy, Ron Wyden, and Mike Crapo, have urged President Biden to halt secretive trade negotiations by the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The senators expressed concerns over USTR's efforts to modify key trade agreements without adequate transparency or consultation with Congress.

The agreements in question include the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, and the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). The proposed changes could become legally binding if finalized before the end of the presidential term.

“Unfortunately, USTR is pursuing substantive changes to congressionally approved trade agreements on an abbreviated timeline, out of the view of the public, and without meaningful congressional consultation. USTR did not consult with, or even notify, Congress before drafting these interpretations and seeking approval by the Executive Branch agencies,” wrote the senators.

The group warned that concessions made during these negotiations might weaken U.S. leverage on various priorities. For instance, they believe USTR should address Mexico's fishing practices and energy laws favoring domestic fossil fuels in USMCA talks. They also highlighted issues with Canada's dairy policies and digital service taxes.

“Robust consultations with Congress and stakeholders would help USTR ensure that its engagements help Americans get what they were promised under U.S. trade agreements," continued the senators. "To put it simply, trade policy is too important to keep Americans in the dark."

The letter emphasizes that any new interpretations of investment obligations within these agreements would significantly impact legal rights and dispute resolution processes for stakeholders. Therefore, it calls for comprehensive consultations before proceeding with further negotiations.

In conclusion, the senators stressed their concerns about inadequate communication from USTR regarding ongoing negotiations and urged President Biden to ensure greater transparency moving forward.