Hearings to examine a review of the activities and fiscal year 2026 funding priorities of the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
2025-12-09
Source: Congress.gov
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Thank you for joining us. I expect we may have a few more senators arrive as well. And the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, as I indicated just a few moments ago, will come to order for purposes of a hearing, an oversight hearing, with the Office of United States Trade Representative. And I welcome our witness. Our witness has been a willing witness for a number of occasions. And now that government is back open, And the ambassador is in the United States. We appreciate his willingness to testify before our subcommittee on what I think is a really critical topic for our economic and our national security. I appreciate the administration's goal of addressing the trade deficit our nation currently faces, as well as its efforts to ensure U.S. farmers, workers, and manufacturers are able to compete on a level playing field. American tariffs are, however, often met with reciprocal tariffs. and we've seen tariffs force other countries to seek new markets and close their doors to the U.S. entirely. Kansas farmers watch the buyers of their commodities turn to other countries and fear those markets may not return. As harvest season is moving to a close, commodities have piled up with no place to send them. Ambassador, I used to show your predecessor a photo of grain sorghum, and I think I showed it to you when you were in the office. The grain piled as high as a grain elevator in Kansas. because there was no market for what we produce because of the ability to export those items and commodity prices. At a time when the cost of production is high and the prices are low, it's hard time for farmers across the country to see if there's a light at the end of this tunnel. It is important to recognize the progress, and progress is being made by our trade negotiations. The agreements reached And those under discussion provide meaningful incentives to other nations to invest in America and to buy U.S.-made products. This includes bilateral agreements with the EU and U.K., which would expand market access for various industries, including agriculture, biofuels, aerospace products that are important in our state.
Additionally, prospective deals across Asia will result in increased foreign investment directed toward American communities. I especially appreciate your efforts, Ambassador, to ensure that the tenets of the 1979 Agreement on Civil Aircraft, which eliminates tariffs on civil aviation aircraft engines and their parts and components, is honored in these trade agreements. This is important to ensuring the United States maintains its dominance in this essential industry that provides Kansas, the air capital of the world, with the ability to proudly contribute and to increase the nation's trade surplus in aerospace. During President Trump's first term, he was able to bring Canada and Mexico to the table to renegotiate the North America Free Trade Agreement to the now U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, resulting in significant benefits for North American agricultural producers, workers, and businesses. But at present, many of these deals and agreements seem to be just at their preliminary stages. We hope that there is a swift finalization of these agreements that secure further market access for American goods and decrease our reliance on China. While we've seen meaningful progress, there is still work to be done to ensure the U.S. remains the world's largest economy and a leading global exporter. To complete this work, USTR is requesting its largest budget increase in agency history. The know-how provided by additional expertise will be crucial to ensure these trade agreements get the details right. Ambassador, as you know, this is an appropriations hearing, and anything that you would like to tell us about your appropriations, past, present, and in the future, we would be happy to hear. Ambassador Greer, again, thank you for your testimony today. I look forward to hearing more about the actions this administration has taken to improve the outlook on the future of trade negotiations. And Senator Van Hollen, I now recognize you as the ranking member.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome, Ambassador Greer. I look forward to the conversation about our trade policy and the impact the Trump tariffs have had on consumers and businesses across the United States. And I do want to be clear at the beginning, I support fair trade that protects American workers and benefits American consumers. The American economy is the strongest and largest in the world, and we need access to foreign markets. That's why I support tariffs when they're judiciously targeted and apply to address unfair labor and trade practices. Congress, as you know, has provided a number of authorities to the President to levy such tariffs, but the International Emergency Economic Powers Act is not one of them. I believe the IEEPA tariffs are illegal and unconstitutional, and I'm hoping the Supreme Court will overturn the President's decision. Additionally, the cost to consumers from this administration's trade wars cannot be ignored. Families are paying higher prices for everyday necessities, from groceries to clothing to home goods. because of the Trump tariffs. President Trump acknowledged this risk himself months ago when he said, well, American kids might have to have $2 instead of $30. I don't know what family, other than the Trump family and some others, can provide $30 to their kids, but that was an admission by the president of the impact on cost of those policies. And of course, just last month, As part of an effort to reduce prices, the administration lifted the tariffs on staples, including beef, coffee, and bananas.
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