May 10,2001

Grassley on the President's Trade Agenda


Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, made the following commenton the President’s release of his trade agenda.

“I’m pleased President Bush put forth his trade agenda to Congress today. Like thePresident, I also consider passing trade promotion authority a top priority this year.“The President is wise to start pitching Congress on the benefits to the Americaneconomy of free trade. Free trade is vital to our continued economic growth. Ourworkers, farmers and service providers must be given equal opportunity with thosefrom other nations to compete in the global environment.

“For too long, we’ve been deadlocked over the relationship between trade and laborand the environment. The President’s agenda includes a lot of fresh ideas on how toaddress concerns about labor and the environment in trade agreements. I hope theseideas will help us break the log jam on those issues and move forward on tradepromotion authority legislation this year.”