WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) released the following statement after he helped pass the bipartisan Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 Conference Report:

“The United States does not have the tools to quickly and efficiently crack down on trading partners that cheat on agreements and violate our labor, human rights, and environmental standards. This puts the jobs of hardworking Americans at risk, and undermines our ability to ensure we are putting products on shelves that were produced by workers protected by high safety standards.

“San Diego is a port city that depends on trade to grow our economy and create high-quality jobs. This bill will strengthen enforcement measures and make it easier to break down unfair barriers. It’s not perfect, but it allows the United States to continue its global leadership in reducing harmful emissions that threaten public health and contribute to climate change.

Congressman Peters also voted in favor of the Democratic Motion to Recommit, which would have sent the bill back to the Senate and House Conference with instructions to further improve the human trafficking and environmental provisions.

Key Provisions of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act

• Ends the importation of goods made with child and forced labor.
• Reauthorizes the successful State Trade and Export Promotion grant program at the Small Business Administration through 2020 and increases funding for the program by $5 million per year to help small businesses reach new markets and opportunities created by new trade agreements.
• Introduces a new tool to help companies identify trade surges so that they can act faster when jobs are threatened by unfair trade.
• Establishes a new process to require quick action on allegations of evasion of duties on unfairly traded goods, including the ENFORCE Act from the Senate as well as provisions from the House PROTECT Act. It enables interested parties to submit evasion allegations, provides expedited timelines for investigations, and authorizes enforcement actions. It also gives CBP and the private sector tools to combat the evasion of antidumping and countervailing duties.
• Prevents trade agreements from rolling back our laws limiting greenhouse gas emissions.